Hike the Ventura River Estuary to Emma Wood State Beach

Midsummer Mojo

Ultimate vistas, a Griffith Park classic, and a bonanza of national parks make midsummer sensational. See our roundup of top outdoors adventures to do right now. Outside is so in!

Week: 08.05.2020
Regions: Southern CA

Cherry on Top

Hike to the Ultimate Destination in Cherry Creek Canyon Park LA County

Hike Cherry Canyon Park
How do you reach the Ultimate Destination in LA County? Cherry Canyon Park has a 2.5-mile out-and-back hike with a vista point called, well, the Ultimate Destination.
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National Parks Road Trip: Circle of Discovery!

National Parks Road Trip in Northern California and Southern Oregon

National Parks Road Trip in Northern California and Southern Oregon
Love national parks? Love road trips? Combine the two on one fabulous Circle of Discovery route in Northern California and Southern Oregon! This itinerary features 7 national parks with wondrous features.
Circle of Discovery Road Trip

Peak-a-View!

Hike to Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park

Hike to Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the entire country and the seventh deepest in the world. For one of the very best perspectives of this shining blue beauty, hike up to Garfield Peak.
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Griffith Park Classic

Hike the Griffith Park Classic Fern Dell to Mount Hollywood

Hike the Griffith Park Classic Fern Dell to Mount Hollywood
This Griffith Park hike is a 5-mile instant classic lollipop loop with landmark locales, including the famous observatory, hidden gardens, and an amazing view of the Hollywood Sign. There's also guided weekday evening and monthly full moon hikes in the park.
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Back to the Future

Bike a section of SoCal's Pacific Electric Trail

Bike the Pacific Electric Trail in SoCal
Remnants of the Pacific Electric Trail’s railroad days are scattered throughout this 10-mile out-and-back ride traversing Rialto and Fontana in SoCal's Inland Empire. This stretch showcases the railroad legacy of the bike path. Old railroad stations and packing houses have been converted for a variety of new uses, including one station that was converted into the Fontana Art Depot.
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River, Meet Ocean

Exploring the Ventura River Estuary

The city of Ventura is officially known as Buenaventura, meaning “good fortune.” That applies to one of the least-known but most abundant estuaries in the region, where the Ventura River meets the Pacific Ocean at Emma Wood State Beach. If you have the good fortune to visit, you’
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. 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

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  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

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  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

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  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.

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