All "Hikes" Stories in Southern CA
King of the Mountains
California’s first national park, Sequoia, is also among the least visited, and that means you get the quiet and raw beauty almost entirely to yourself. In a remote setting at the
ViewGiant Escape
Sequoia’s main tourist attraction is the General Sherman tree, literally the largest living thing on earth. Hordes of visitors make the easy 0.4-mile mini-pilgrimage to see the Gen
ViewBag the Wright Peak
Perched proudly over the largest freshwater lake located wholly within California’s borders, and visible for miles in all directions, Wright Peak on Mount Konocti is the tallest po
ViewTurnbull, Trekkin', Temple
Some hikes are like a highlight reel: they feature all of the good stuff quickly. Turnbull Canyon near the town of Whittier in LA County is the centerpiece of the Puente Hills Pres
ViewPowder Room
Between the cities of La Habra Heights and Rowland Heights lies a truly hidden gem offering a hiking experience of pure solitude and big views. Powder Canyon is home to a 5-mile lo
ViewWorsham Wow Factor
Extreme makeovers aren’t just for homes or celebrities. Garbage dumps are finally getting their time to shine too! Hikers may find it surprising that much of the available natural
ViewSweet Valley High
Sometimes you just need a fresh perspective. And getting up high to see things from a different view does the trick! At 3.6-miles (round-trip) the zigzagging Garstin Trail at the S
ViewCoachella Kinda Day
The Coachella Valley Preserve protects some 20,000 acres of wild desert, where the San Andreas Fault has worked as chief landscape architect. Seismic action forced freshwater sprin
ViewDon’t Hurry Murray
Don’t let the desert stereotype fool you: Palm Springs has a wet-and-wild side beyond hotel swimming pools. A 3.8-mile (round-trip) hike in Murray Canyon showcases Palm Springs as
ViewMake it a Margarita Day
Fallbrook is the self-proclaimed avocado capital of the world, with an annual April festival celebrating the fruit. But that’s not its only unique distinction. It’s also home to th
ViewMonster Hike to Monserate Peak
Before indulging in Fallbrook’s avocado specialties and local wines, head out for a challenging (okay, thigh-burning!) hike on terrain that towers over the landscape. Fallbrook Con
ViewLand of Los Jilgueros
It’s not often you find a 46-acre freshwater marshland gem hidden between a busy highway and a suburban neighborhood. Thank the Fallbrook Conservancy for Los Jilgueros Preserve and
ViewBasking in Berlin
The star attraction in Griffith Park is the iconic Observatory, a hotspot for tourists and locals alike—which means it sees lots of people. So how do you escape the crowds? Head to
ViewAmir's Art
At 4,210 acres, Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, home to a huge variety of trails, recreation, and hidden gems. Among the most inspiring of its bet
ViewTaco Peak Tea Time
There’s a cool new tea shop in town, and it’s turning a new leaf! It all started in June of 2015 when a group of artists used reclaimed wood from a former Griffith Park wildfire to
ViewKnapp Time
For a little taste of Pompeii in Southern California, head for Knapp’s Castle in the Los Padres National Forest above Santa Barbara. It’s a delightful oddity with stunning panorami
ViewJetty for La Jenelle
The La Jenelle was a 467-foot luxury cruise liner before retiring to Port Hueneme Harbor with plans to become a floating restaurant. Then a severe storm ripped her from her mooring
ViewSand to Snow
The Sand to Snow National Monument’s centerpiece is the 11,500-foot peak of Mount San Gorgonio (the highest in all of SoCal), but a hidden gem exists in the area’s 2,850-acre Whitewater Preserve.
ViewMojave Momentum
The largest of Obama’s monument designations clocks in at a modest 1.6 million acres! Mojave Trails National Monument is home to a variety of desert destinations, including colorful canyons, striking mountain ranges, sand dunes, and even fossil beds containing 550-million-year-old trilobite remnants!
ViewHarmony's Edge
Blink-and-you'll-miss-it Harmony Headlands State Park is small but mighty. This coastal swath of land between Cayucos and Cambria has only one trail, the Headlands Trail. But don't
View
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Shake it up, shake it all the way up to this sunniest city in the state for the most unique and fun-fueled events. Redding is true Northern California, surrounded by famous mountains, nearby national parks and recreation areas, and the sparkling Sacramento River.
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