All in Southern CA

  1. Five Faves for the Long Weekend

    Ahhh the long weekend. The end of summer is near, but you still have a few weeks to complete our Adventure Challenge. Get outdoors and send us some photos in exchange for a custom WS t-shirt, a mountain accessory bag from Topo Designs, and a chance to win a trip for 2 to Reno Tahoe. Need some inspiration? Check out these five fun outdoor escapes.

    VIEW
  2. Long Live Summer

    Summer isn't over yet. There's still time to do all the things, particularly the ones you seemed to like a lot this season. From our Adventure Challenge to national parks, stargazing, and more, here are some of this summer's greatest hits...still playing....

    VIEW
  3. Reno Tahoe Great Eight

    We’re halfway through our 2025 Adventure Challenge, and if you haven’t done so yet, you can still get our custom t-shirt, a Topo Designs mountain accessory bag, and be entered to win a trip for 2 to beautiful Reno Tahoe! Speaking of Reno Tahoe—from peak hikes and waterfalls to bike rides by the lake and craft brew patio pit stops, here are 8 great ways to raise your getaway game.

    VIEW
  4. Sponsored
    2025-08-27

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

    View
  5. Ghost Towns, Gold Towns, and Underground Gardens

    There’s gold and ghosts and underground gardens in them thar California hills! From a less-known Gold Rush town to a more popular one with seasonal ghost tours, and an underground secret garden, here are some ways to have some old-fashioned adventures.

    VIEW
  6. Newly Opened at CA National Parks

    What’s new at CA national parks? How about Sequoia’s newly re-opened cave tours; a sulfur spectacle that just opened for the season (and rivals Yellowstone); an overnight escape to “reset” in Joshua Tree; and a new San Francisco picnic space in the Presidio. That’s some good new!

    VIEW
  7. Less-Traveled National Park Peak Hikes

    During the peak of summer, tackle some national park peaks that are less-traveled and utterly spectacular. From the largest dome volcano in the world (right here in California!) to the only national park peak in Nevada, plus a Yosemite gem that’s marvelous near sunset, here are three summits to sum up the height of summer.

    VIEW
  8. Two bike riders are looking out to Lake Perris in Southern California

    As You Lake It!

    Summer by the lake sounds pretty great, and these three beauties bring something special, from bonus eats to quiet paddles and pedals amid beautiful peaks. Lake expectations met!

    VIEW
  9. Woman hiker going down steps to Coast Royale Beach in Orange County, Southern California

    Beach You To It

    Looking for that quintessential summer bliss? Don't let others beach you to it! These three hike-in havens are sandy havens for the season.

    VIEW
  10. Go Outside and Get This Custom T-shirt

    Do our 2025 Adventure Challenge! This summer, do ANY 3 activities you find on our website and get our custom t-shirt, a Topo Designs Mountain Accessory Bag and more, as your reward! Want a few quick ideas to get you going? We've got you covered.

    VIEW
  11. A hiker walks towards Leo Carrillo Beach via a hiking trail in Malibu

    Sweeping Beauties

    Awaken your sense of wonder on some coastal hikes and bike rides that get you all swept up in gorgeous scenery.

    VIEW
  12. The Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge Is On!

    It's back! The 2025 Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge is on. Get outside and get a complimentary Adventure Challenge t-shirt and Topo Designs mountain accessory bag.

    VIEW
  13. Explore Big Tree Park in Glendora LA County

    Glen-Going

    Glendale, Glendora, Glen Powell ... good things come in Glens! From beautiful big fig trees to quiet parks and a peak hike, here are three ways to gain unique perspectives this summer. (Sorry, Glen Powell not actually included.)

    VIEW
  14. Road Trip Ready

    Now is a good time to start planning a road trip with cabin or camping treasures and a variety of outdoor experiences in California and the West. Here are six ideas to get you inspired and planning.

    VIEW
  15. Sponsored
    2025-08-27

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

    View
  16. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Summer Mix

    Spring into summer with this mix of gardens, lagoons, parks, canals, and bakeries! From urban walks to serene paddles, here are five ways to have a variety of outdoor experiences.

    VIEW
  17. The 3-Mile Club

    They say good things come in threes, so here’s a trio of hikes that are 3 miles in length and endless in everything from coastal and iconic urban vistas to mountain and garden scenery.

    VIEW
  18. The Greatest Outdoors of Reno Tahoe

    It's the Reno Tahoe you might not know: fly fishing adventures and nature walks along the Truckee River, mountain biking in a hidden gem canyon, a sunset hike to a sprawling vista, and a sacred and serene lake with hidden beaches. Add in a fun and creative art and cuisine scene, and, well, it's time to rise and Reno Tahoe!

    VIEW
  19. Call of the SoCal Wild

    Sometimes you just feel like going wild, but not too wild … just maybe enough to get a good fill of nature’s treasures like waterfalls, caves, rock scrambles, wildflowers, and wowing views. These three short hikes in Ventura County, the San Bernardino National Forest, and Riverside County pack in plenty of wild, wonderful scenery on short trails within sweeping landscape.

    VIEW
  20. Road Trip to Real California

    Smack between San Francisco and Los Angeles is a part of California that flies a bit under the radar—for now. It’s where an immersive and magical light show comes to life when the sun sets over the rolling hills. It's where a guided horseback ride through wildflowers meets unpretentious wine tasting. It's where after an afternoon e-biking adventure you can kick back in a walkable downtown that's a true foodie haven. It’s authentically California. It’s Paso Robles.

    VIEW
  21. Woman sitting on bench at Peters Canyon overlooking canyon scenery in Orange County

    O-Regional Hikes

    We love our national and state parks, but SoCal's also got plenty of scenic space in its regional parks. Whether you're looking for some peaceful trails or more adventurous terrain, but all with great views, here are three regional park gems worth exploring.

    VIEW
  22. A woman on a hiking trail fringed in yellow wildflowers with San Diego County's Hemet Lake in the background and a mountain.

    Wildflowers by the Waterside

    If timing is everything, then Easter arrives around the same time that SoCal blooms with a bevy of beautiful colors, courtesy of wildflowers that pop up this time of year. Here are three places where you can combine waterside adventures with some fresh blooms. 

    VIEW

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Camp at Goose Lake in the Lakes Basin

    Duck, Duck, Goose!

    Try to get a first-come, first-served campsite at one of the Lakes Basin’s lakeside campgrounds. We love Goose Lake Campground, where there are just 13 sites and no motorized boats.

    View
  2. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  3. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  3. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View
  4. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View