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LA Outdoor Confidential
Long weekend: check. Lucky enough to live in the Golden State: check. Wondering what to do this long weekend in the Golden State? Check out these hikes, bike rides, waterfall adventures, and a place to catch the sunset. Long live the long weekend!
VIEWLet the Adventures Begin!
The Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge is back for its sixth year! Don’t let the name intimidate you: it’s free and easy to participate. Just get outdoors over the next few months and take a photo of yourself in action! And we’re excited to be teaming up with Line 39—their wines are the perfect partner to weekend adventures.
VIEWBetter Than Brunch
In a pinch for a Mother’s Day plan? Three of our Los Angeles based writers took their moms on Weekend Sherpa explorations—a cruiser bike ride with wine tasting...a coast-hugging hike...a whole garden instead of a bouquet. Each adventure has been Mom-tested and approved. Cheers to you, Mom!
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SponsoredWarm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe
2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G
ViewMojave Mojo!
Ready to get your mojo working? Hoodoos, tortoises, and a hermit’s tunnel to nowhere—they’re all part of the wondrously weird, easy-to-explore high desert just beyond the town of Mojave.
VIEWSan Diego Rechargers
Jump in a brisk waterfall pool, hike the coast among rare Torrey pines, or savor a sunset from the city’s best viewpoint—you’ll dig these Diego adventures!
VIEWDate with the Outdoors!
Go out this summer and do any activity we've ever written about in Weekend Sherpa (seriously, there's 10 years' worth of outdoor activities!) and earn yourself some excellent gifts, including a Weekend Sherpa t-shirt and travel wine glasses from our "partner in wine," Line 39. Here are few ideas to get you going!
VIEWFree and Wild in Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park in spring is full of color, and visitors! But these three hikes in the heart of the park take you away from the crowds and into the park’s solitude, where signature trees grandstand, boulders are bountiful, and wildflowers paint the landscape like a rainbow. Bonus: Free admission this weekend for National Park Week!
VIEWWaterfalls, Wildflowers, Wow!
Wanna make a colorful splash this Easter weekend? Here are some hikes with waterfalls, wildflowers, or a brilliant combo of both. Hop to it!
VIEWSpringtime Stairway Walks
Who's game to take the stairs? Put a spring in your step this season by hiking any of these SoCal staircases leading to hidden wonders!
VIEWCall of the Wildflowers!
It's our best wildflower season in years! Here are three SoCal hikes for seeing a dazzling array of color and blossoms.
VIEWLast Chance Waterfalls
Ah, what a little rain will do for Southern California. Early spring is our time to savor storm-fed streams tumbling into seasonal waterfalls that are often dormant due to droughts. Drink up on these three see-them-while-you-can hikes!
VIEWGreen Hikes & Guinness
There’s something about a verdant landscape that lightens hearts and makes Irish eyes smile. We salute St. Patrick’s Day and the spirit of Éire with three hikes in this greenest of seasons—plus a suggestion for a post-hike beer (or two!) to cap off the end of each outing. Sláinte!
VIEWMagic Hour Wanders
With the time change happening this weekend (spring forward!), take advantage of the last of short days. Here are three sunset-view hikes to say goodbye to winter.
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SponsoredWarm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe
2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G
ViewHigh Hikes with Bragging Rights
When winter storms clear the SoCal skies, stunning vistas unfold. Here are three hikes with enough elevation gain to make you feel proud for living near such wild beauty. And for reaching the top!
VIEWOscars Gone Wild!
Celebrate the Oscars this weekend with short hikes through SoCal’s long film history. Here are three old movie ranches where the setting is the star of the show.
VIEWSpring Hikes
Ahhh, sunny spring days! With all of winter's rain, the trails are super-charged. Here's a roundup of some SoCal spring hiking classics.
VIEWLong Weekend, Local Outdoor Adventures
Need a little outdoor inspiration for a long weekend? How about hiking up to Inspiration Point, or to the top of a Palm Springs peak, or to waterfalls! Here are a few ways to let off a little steam and enjoy the outdoors.
VIEWSweet Snowshoe Hikes
Valentine’s Day is on its way. No plans? No worries! Make some snow hearts with your sweetheart. Here are three snowshoe hikes worth swooning over. Ready, set, snow!
VIEWHikes To Do Now in Palm Springs
Bag a peak, hike to brunch, see a waterfall: These three hikes in Palm Springs are in top form right now, with favorable weather, flowing falls, and easy access to downtown’s food and drinks.
VIEWWaterfall Hikes!
When it rains, it waterfalls, so hike to some of LA's top oases soon. Enjoy the water boon on these three adventures in the San Gabriels.
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11 Wildflower Walks, One Bloom-Filled Guide
Ready for a Flowerpalooza? POST’s complimentary 2026 Wildflower Walks guide makes it easy, with 11 floral-filled outings.
POST's 2026 Wildflower Walks Guide
Your Inbox to the Outdoors
Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.
Trending Stories NorCal
View all StoriesSecret Beach
A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.
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Cinematic Sonoma
Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.
ViewMellow in the Marsh
Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.
View![A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto]()
Baylands Bird & Art Loop
Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.
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Trending Stories SoCal
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Tree Town
Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.
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A Better Way to Baldwin
The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.
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SponsoredWarm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe
2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G
View![A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.]()
Urban Oasis Loop
Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.
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