Big Wild Hikes

Happy New Year! Get started on an adventurous 2016 with any (or all!) of these three epic hikes, featuring peaks, marshland, a cave, a labyrinth, some scrambling, and classic coastal scenery.

Week: 01.04.2016
Regions: Southern CA

Epic Aliso

Hike Aliso and Wood Canyons in OC

Get ready for a highlight reel of all that's wild and wondrous in Southern California: This 11-mile (round-trip) loop hike in Orange County's Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park showcases some of SoCal's best in wilderness. Begin at a native plant garden featuring colorful int
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Best Seat in the House

Winter Biking in San Bernardino County

Desert to mountain terrain and beautiful scenery that changes around every corner. One of the best ways to explore the vast landscape known as California's Outdoor Playground just east of LA is on two wheels, thanks to an exceptional network of bike trails offering something for
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Crystal Ball

Hike Crystal Cove and Moro Ridge

Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County is prized for its glistening beaches, but there's also 2,400 acres of backcountry, including a 9-mile hike (or mountain bike) to a high point that rewards with gorgeous coastal scenery. Begin at the trailhead just past El Moro Elementary S
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Ancient Volcano and a Labyrinth

Hike to Mount Calavera and the Hidden Labyrinth

Hike to a new point of view, and find a hidden labyrinth too! Tucked in the urban sprawl of Carlsbad is Lake Calavera Preserve, with trails criss-crossing the terrain, including a 4-mile loop leading to a panoramic vista, rock formations, and an oasis.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

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  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

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  3. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

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  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

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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. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

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  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

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