All in Southern CA

  1. Amazing Coastal Hikes

    Sure, beach going is great, but sometimes you want to lace up the hiking boots before sinking your toes in the sand. These three coastal wanders offer a variety of ocean scenery, secluded beaches, and some mellow time on marshland. trails.

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  2. Woman hiking San Onofre Bluffs Trail above San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County

    Beautiful Beach Hikes

    Keep your cool this season with some seriously scenic coastal trails to these beautiful beaches in San Diego County

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  3. Hike the Griffith Park Classic Fern Dell to Mount Hollywood

    Seeing the Forest for the Trees

    With all of California's national forests shut down, outdoor recreation is getting slightly squeezed for now. So have patience, take care, and enjoy these beautiful outdoor adventures at parks where you can still forest bathe in the beauty of trees.

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  4. Lake Nacimiento
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    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  5. woman hiking to view over LA at Runyon Canyon with dogs

    Hikes with Your Best Friend

    Hiking with your furry best friend is such a pawsitive thing to do, and these three LA spots have mountain-to-sea panoramas, cinematic scenery, and inspiration points that are top dog!

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  6. Scenic Hike from Point Fermin Park to Angels Gate Park in Los Angeles

    Down by the Sea

    She may sell seashells by the seashore, but where does she hike and bike? By the sea, of course! These seaside strolls and rolls are stupendously spectacular.

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  7. hiker at Whiting Ranch Wilderness canyon

    Hidden Canyon Hikes

    Arizona and Utah get all the attention for canyons and astounding rock formations, but Southern California has a few secret ones to hike among or drop into—with the help of a ladder. And they’re not too far away!

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  8. Backpacker on Tuolumne River in Yosemite High Sierra

    How to Lose the Crowds in National Parks

    A magical thing happens when you hike just a mile or two from trailheads in popular national parks: Crowds begin to disappear. Even better, go backpacking to really have solitude. These trips in Yosemite, Zion, Point Reyes, and Channel Islands are out-of-office adventure havens.

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  9. Hike to Gould Mesa Camp in LA County

    Trails Less Traveled

    Hooray, outside is awesome and everyone now seems to know it. The challenge? Trails are a little crowded this summer. Where can you get a little space? These five hiking spots in LA County are often overlooked or under-traveled in favor of more popular nearby options.

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  10. Woman hiking the Bear Canyon Trail with huge mountain views in the background at Mount Baldy in Los Angeles County

    Beer Hikes

    Hike, then beer? We’ve brewed up some summer adventures where all trails lead to beer(s)! These three routes have plenty of great vistas, beaches, and forest features, followed by nearby brewpubs for refreshing your spirits, and quenching your post-hike thirst.

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  11. Water Hikes

    Summer in SoCal—hot, and dry right now, due to drought. Fortunately, LA’s still got some treasured and less-known waterworks for chilling out. Here are three to visit and appreciate.

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  12. No Reservations Backpacking and Camping

    No reservation? No problem! Well, at least if you have a few of these tips on camping and backpacking in California. From first-come, first-served camping, to no quotas on wilderness backpacking, here are three places to go for summer.

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  13. Hike-in to the beach at Leo Carrillo State Park

    From Sea to Summit

    America's birthday is coming in hot. These summer classic adventures go from the sea to summits: Hike-in beaches, mellow redwood wanders (in SoCal), and panoramic peak hikes await. Go fourth the great outdoors!

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  14. Woman biking the riverside bike trail from Ventura to Ojai

    AdVentura Time!

    Kick off the official start of the season with a big adVentura. Ventura pops with summer delights like a riverside bike trail to Ojai, plus lakeside hiking, camping, boating, and epic disc golf too.

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  15. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  16. Woman walking down towards Blacks Beach in La Jolla

    Outdoor Education

    Among the best places to enjoy art, sculptures, and botanical gardens? College campuses during summer are lovely places to stroll, observe natural beauty and creative art outdoors, plus find surprises like a nearby beach. Here are a few to see.

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  17. Woman hiking lakeside at Lake Hodges in San Diego County

    Lake Hikes

    Water is a scarce resource these days. Pay homage to it and enjoy the precious view hiking beside these lovely lakes and reservoirs in North San Diego County.

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  18. Woman walking at Long Beach in Los Angeles County

    Hidden Long Beach

    Think you know Long Beach? We’ve got some twists for you! Visit its less-known regional park, take a mural art walk beyond the beach, and double up on water attractions combining two urban lagoons on a local hike. Go Long!

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  19. Summer Kick-Off Hikes

    The unofficial start of summer means just one thing: official summer hikes! Blaze your trails from Nevada to LA.

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  20. Friends hiking Reno's Thomas Creek Trail in Galena Regional Park

    Bright Lights and the Great Outdoors

    Is there a city with easier access to the great outdoors than Reno? In 15 minutes you can be on hiking trails to waterfalls and big Sierra views. Or right in town you can enjoy walks and bike rides beside the Truckee River, which cuts right through downtown Reno.

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  21. Woman standing at the top of Josephine Peak hike

    Lookout for Panoramas!

    Lookout hikes are popular because the looking out from them looks really good! And these three viewtiful lookouts are no exception. Summit them before summer and enjoy the panoramas.

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  22. Blue art installation of deer near a Joshua Tree in the Antelope Valley

    Tune in to Antelope Valley

    Antelope Valley is most famous for its poppy season, but there's a lot more to see and do here: hiking among Joshua trees, wine and beer tasting, and driving the unique Musical Road. Tune in!

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  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

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  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

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  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

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  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

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  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

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  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

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  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

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