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  1. Northern CA

    Irish Spring

    You're gonna have to wait a bit for trails to dry, but there'll be plenty of green on the scene at these East Bay parks that are part of the John Muir Land Trust. When the skies clear, spring for some hikes, bike rides, and guided walks.

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  2. Southern CA

    Spring Forward

    Spring forward, ideally past all this weather. While waiting for many parks and trails to reopen, try some of these urban walks that end in spots to grab a bite to eat and drink.

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  3. Southern CA

    Best Supporting Scenery

    It may be rain delayed, but you can celebrate the Oscars in an outdoors fashion. These three adventures are in places that provided supporting scenery for three Best Picture nominated movies: The Fabelmans; Everything Everywhere All At Once; and Top Gun Maverick....

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-04-09

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

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  5. Northern CA

    Gray's Anatomy

    We understand if you’re hiding under the covers until the wild weather subsides, but when you’re ready here are three places to go gray-whale watching, with bonuses like food, wine, beer, even a hot tub!

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  6. woman snowshoeing in Sequoia National Park
    Northern CA & Southern CA

    Snow Daze

    Now that all of California is a snow-globe, give it time, and when it's safe to venture out, try some of these snowy adventures that will take us into spring.

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  7. Northern CA

    Pitch Perfect Hikes

    Hike. Camp. How about hike + camp? Whether you just want to go on a fabulously scenic day hike or bike ride, or would prefer to pitch a tent and add camping to your adventure, these three Bay Area spots have got options! Take your pick, and be ready to pitch!

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  8. Southern CA

    Winter Glow

    Get that natural glow, naturally! Head outdoors for an afternoon hike where winter sunshine is sublime. Here are three to do, including bonus guided options for a classic park.

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  9. Southern CA & Northern CA

    Presidential Sweet!

    In honor of Presidents Day we've rounded up eight great adventures to enjoy in national monuments, parks, and public lands created by US Presidents.

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  10. Northern CA

    Hill Yeah!

    Not all hill hikes are created equal. Some may seem small, yet surprise and delight with big views! Here are three to discover in the South Bay, East Bay, and Wine Country. Hill Yeah!

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  11. Descanso Trail hike Los Angeles
    Southern CA

    Free Yourself from Freeways

    You can’t always escape Southern California’s busy freeways, but there are some ways to rise above them! These three hikes are located close to busy freeways, yet take you far beyond the fray, letting you hit the trails for a brief respite, beautiful views, even a quick workout!

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  12. Northern CA & Southern CA

    Coasting Along

    Cooler temps, crisp days mixed in with warming sunshine—it’s time to coast. Here’s your cabin getaway with beaches and bluff hikes to round out the fun and relaxation.

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  13. Northern CA

    Keep It Flowing

    With water still flowing, we’re going to keep the theme going, with more waterfall hikes in their prime right now. Here are three to see!

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  14. Southern CA

    National Park Adventures to Get on Your Calendar

    With their explosion in popularity, now’s the time to start planning ahead for some national park adventures! From booking a cabin stay at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to backpacking a spectacular part of Zion and visiting one of California’s most spectacular places not named Yosemite, here are three to get on the calendar.

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-04-09

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  16. Northern CA

    Wet, Wild, Waterfalls

    Well, this is a wet and wild start to 2023! Stay safe, and when the storms pass, head out on any of these three hikes where the water will be flowing big. Wishing you a waterfall new year!

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  17. Southern CA

    Flowbiz!

    Well, who knew Pineapple Express was more than a Seth Rogen movie? Stay safe, and when the storms pass, hike to some waterfalls that have come to life after heavy rains. That's what we call flowbiz!

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  18. Northern CA

    Put it On the Calendar!

    With all the uncertainty surrounding California's back to back to back (to back!) atmospheric rivers, travel and trail conditions are unpredictable. So we're thinking of bigger trips for later in the year. Here are three national park adventures to get booked for 2023! 

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  19. Southern CA

    Out with the Old, In with the New Year

    Stay safe, and when the storms have passed and it's okay to travel, venture out to these three places where you can get your fill of art, culture, park space, and botanicals, with nearby shelter as backup.

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  20. Northern CA

    Top 10 Outdoor Adventures of 2022

    For this year’s Top 10 adventures we used an old school algorithm. What did we like? Actually, these are what you liked too! Some are near, others are a bit further afield, and all are excellent ways to explore our natural environment. So as we bid adieu to 2022, here’s to you and the great outdoors.

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  21. Southern CA

    SoCal's Top 10 Outdoor Adventures of 2022

    It's not easy choosing the year's best outdoor adventures for our annual year-end Top 10 issue. Like a band choosing their greatest hits album, there's just so much good stuff. As we bid adieu to 2022, cheers to you, and the great outdoors.

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  22. Woman jumping on the beach at Pescadero Marsh
    Northern CA

    Freedom of Beach

    Wishing you a very happy holiday season. Deck the halls and the trails with these three winter wanders that have beautiful beach bonuses. Stay tuned next week for our annual Top 10 adventures of the year. Merry and bright!

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

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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. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

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  4. Up and Umunhum

    Early risers can experience one of the Bay Area’s best morning glory hikes on this 7.4-mile out-and-back up beautiful Mount Umunhum. In early spring if you arrive at the parking area right before sunrise, you’ll get a beautiful eastern view of the sun coming up between Bald Mountain and the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains. On days when fog settles into the valley, the colorful view is nothing short of magical.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

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  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

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

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

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