All in Southern CA

  1. Spring Rush!

    Ready for your outdoors rush? Whether you like getting your thrills ziplining Yosemite-style or hiking to waterfalls that benefitted from winter's rains, here are some great ways to get outdoors and spring on the adventures.

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  2. Momma Said Get You Out!

    We Weekend Sherpas love and respect our moms, which is why we let them choose our adventures for this Mother’s Day week. They came up with a pedal-boat picnic frolic, a flowery canyon hike, and a Carlsbad beach stroll followed by sweet treats. Nothing’s too good for Mom!

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  3. Hydrated Hikes

    Warming weather after a wet winter: what a great combo! Streams are flowing, lakes are filled...everything is primed for water(ish) adventuring. Check out a cool streamside hike, a secret little fishing lake, and a lush desert oasis. H2O to go!

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-03-20

    Savor Spring in Paso Robles

    Take a classic California road trip this spring and find all the treasures of the season in Paso Robles. Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this laid-back slice of California country combines with the Central Coast for an absolutely spring-loaded getaway.

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  5. Yosemite Waterfalls Galore!

    The waterfalls are raging, the wildflowers are popping, and the snow-capped granite scenery is epic! This spring, make your way to Yosemite by way of charming Mariposa. Hit the trails to see supercharged waterfalls, or bike around the valley floor, stopping at highlights along the way. Just get to Yosemite!

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  6. Technicolor Hikes

    Spring for an Easter hike this weekend: From waterfalls to wildflowers and an adventure on Catalina Island, here are some hikes to get you hopping!

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  7. Flower Power

    Wildflower superblooms have gotten super publicity—and super mobbed. But there are ways to enjoy our flower displays a bit more quietly. Here’s a bouquet of three super sites for flower power where you can go on a quiet hike without big crowds. Have a bloomiful time!

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  8. Parade of Cascades

    We've had a lot of rain, and now it’s time to cash in! Old streams have new life, and waterfalls that were once a trickle are roaring down our mountain canyons. Here are a few you may not have heard of (in fact, one doesn’t even have a name). Go to the flows!

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  9. Waterside Hikes for Spring

    Thirsty for some outdoors? We've got some water for that! From strolling the shoreline of an ethereal desert lake to hiking seaside to spy some whales, here are some amazing waterside wanders perfect for spring. H2-Omg!

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  10. Joshua Tree Art Hikes

    Joshua Tree National Park is itself a work of natural art, so it’s no surprise that this gorgeous desert is a magnet for artsy individuals. Here are three hikes in the northern part of the park that are close to surprising art venues where music, movie sets, sculpture, and even crochet (!) are on display.

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  11. Ancient Wanders

    Hiking is a fantastic way to walk in the footsteps of Native Americans who thrived in Southern California long before the Spanish arrived. From Chumash villages in the Santa Monicas to Luiseño rock art in Perris, explore the vestiges of Native American culture on these three beautiful hikes.

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  12. Wild & Weird Salton Sea

    The strange, weirdly beautiful Salton Sea is the largest lake in California (sorry, Tahoe) and among the lowest in the world. Yes, a sea below sea level. It’s also the centerpiece of some of the state’s quirkiest scenery and most oddball attractions. You’ve got to see Salton at least once, and early spring is the best time to do it.

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  13. Hot Soaks

    Don't let the winter chill be a buzzkill. Sink into some warmth and soak yourself silly at hot springs. Here are a few to visit in SoCal and the Sierra.

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  14. Hidden Valley

    Vast ranchos, adobe mansions, a thriving mission—the San Fernando Valley that was, still is. You just need to know where to look. Here’s our take on three hidden treasures where the past springs to life in the sprawling 818.

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-03-20

    Savor Spring in Paso Robles

    Take a classic California road trip this spring and find all the treasures of the season in Paso Robles. Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this laid-back slice of California country combines with the Central Coast for an absolutely spring-loaded getaway.

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  16. Who Loves Ya!

    Happy Valentine's Day! Whoever you love, gather them up and get outside once the rain subsides ... here's a few fun ways to get your heart pumping in more ways than one.

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  17. Three Versions of Winter in SoCal State Parks

    What’s your winter pleasure? Snowshoeing in the crisp mountain air? Scanning for eagles by a mountain lake? Ogling whales from a dramatic shoreline trail? It's all doable, thanks to our nearby state parks!

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  18. Snowshoe Hikes

    The simplicity of snowshoeing meets the epic snowfall in Lake Tahoe! Strap 'em on and head out in wintry Sierra bliss on any of these snowshoe hikes. Oh the places you’ll snow!

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  19. Mission Bay Three Ways

    Mission Bay is the hyperactive heart of San Diego where you can do almost anything next to or in the water, but it’s also the nexus of lesser-known wonders—a sweet little natural canyon, 250 years of history, a venerable brewery, and the old-fashioned delights of Old Town. Your mission: Explore!

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  20. Super Blood Wolf Moon!

    SoCal's real star power ... is up in the sky! This year is going to be a bonanza of celestial events, starting with the super blood wolf moon on January 20. Also coming: 4 more eclipses, 3 supermoons, 1 blue moon, multiple meteor showers and … you get it! So mark your calendar and make some plans: Here are three great ways to celebrate the wonders of space, stars, the moon, and planets.

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  21. Oh Snow You Didn't!

    Mother Nature has not been stingy with snow this new year! Indeed the ski slopes are calling, but there are plenty of other fun ways to enjoy winter destinations like Baldy, Mammoth, and Big Bear. From snowshoeing to tubing to cross-country gliding, here's some ways to get outdoors and explore. Oh the places you'll snow!

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  22. Roll In The New Year

    Great air, awesome views, cool temps—conditions are perfect for jump-starting 2019 with bike rides. Choose from a scenic stretch along the San Gabriel River, an easy ramble in Riverside, or tackling the legendary PV Donut Loop. Roll call!

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  1. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

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  2. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

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  3. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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  4. Hidden Long Ridge

    After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Savor Spring in Paso Robles

    Take a classic California road trip this spring and find all the treasures of the season in Paso Robles. Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this laid-back slice of California country combines with the Central Coast for an absolutely spring-loaded getaway.

    View
  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

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  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

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