All Wrightwood!

Fall Getaway to Wrightwood

Fall is a beautiful time to be in the mountains, and one of the best places to go that's still close to home? Wrightwood. Called the "best kept secret in Southern California," Wrightwood sits at 6,000 feet in the San Gabriels, surrounded by dramatic peaks and those famous Jeffrey pines towering to 100 feet. It's fall of fun outdoor adventures:

Hike the Icons: Surprise—many of Southern California's bucket-list hikes are around Wrightwood! Lace up and do a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs through the Wrightwood area and offers sweeping alpine scenery. Or get to huge views on a more easygoing trek. Wrightwood has a variety of hiking trails, including the challenging Mount Baden Powell Trail and the more moderate Big Horn Mine Trail (both options lead to epic panoramas!). Check out the best hikes to do in the area.

Zippity Do! 14 ziplines, 3 sky bridges, and speeds of up to 55 miles per hour: oh hell yeahhhhhhh! Big Pines Zipline Tours unleashes your inner Indy as you fly through pine-scented forests at an elevation of 7,000 feet, rappel down trees, take big leaps, and do a side-by-side race to the finish! The spectacular eco-friendly course lets you take in views of the San Gabriels, and on a clear day, the Mojave Desert. Check out all of the zipline packages (including one with two freefalls!)

Find other outdoor adventures in Wrightwood, located just 76 miles northeast of LA. Make it an overnighter by reserving lodging or a campsite.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) standing in front of his wood-fire oven at the Sonoma Valley Farmers' Market

    NEW! Walkin' and Talkin': Break Bread, Go On a Panoramic Hike

    What’s a world-traveling, medal-winning baker’s favorite local hike? Weekend Sherpa co-founder Brad Day caught up with Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) at Sonoma’s Friday farmers' market, where his wood-fired loaves draw loyal crowds. Between bites of fresh-baked bread, they talk baking, travel, and why Sonoma's Overlook Trail is one of his favorite quick, panoramic hikes.

    View
  2. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View
  3. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  4. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on ice learning to curl at Hollywood Curling

    You Go, Curl!

    Hollywood Curling’s Learn to Curl classes make the perfect setting for newcomers. Take the ice, and friendly curling instructors will teach you the basics.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Warm 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
  3. Fall for These Falls

    Chase waterfalls in Redding’s Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. This 42,000 acres of wilderness park is home to four waterfalls. Hike to the tallest, the three-tiered, 220-foot Whiskeytown Falls.

    View
  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

    View