Upside Down Hikes

Hiking up and up isn't the only way to get to the good stuff. Flip the order and get a different point of view. Here are three hikes where starting with a descent has an upside. Down you go!

Week: 05.26.2015
Regions: Southern CA

Take Paws

Fryman Canyon Hike Los Angeles

Fryman Canyon hike Los Angeles
Runyon Canyon may be Sparky's favorite spot to see and be seen, but the hordes of people (not to mention the lurking pawparazzi), can really put a damper on things. Bark up a different tree by heading to a much less crowded dog-friendly hike that's just a 15-minute drive up Laure
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Go North and Prosper

Vancouver North Shore Mountains Adventures

Which direction for true adventure? North! British Columbia, Canada, is an outdoor mecca and its heart is Vancouver, a cosmopolitan city surrounded by spectacular nature, including the North Shore Mountains, hidden cove beaches, and rainforest. It's also the launch point for the
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Keep It on the Radar

Nike Missile Hike in San Vicente Mountains

You won't find your next pair of sneakers at this Nike outlet, but you'll still need a good pair of shoes for this 4-mile (round-trip) hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Nike Missile Control Site, a decommissioned Cold War military outpost in San Vicente Mountain Park is you
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Top Notch

Top of the World Hike in Aliso and Wood Canyons

If you like the depths as well as the heights, set out for Top of the World and Laguna Canyon. This is a 2.5-mile (round-trip) "reverse hike" in the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. You'll start by hiking downhill and finish with 700 feet of cardio climbing on the return j
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Purely Purisima

    Take a relaxing hike on the lower section of Purisiima Creek Trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.

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  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

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  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

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  4. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Ballona Beach Hopper

    This easygoing bike escape is proof that you don't have to drive for hours to feel the vast benefits of nature. The Ballona Creek Bike Path is part of the “Park to Playa Regional Trail,” a 13-mile network connecting parks and open spaces from Baldwin Hills to the Pacific Ocean.

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  2. Lookout Ahead!

    A 3.7-mile loop hike to Boucher Hill Fire Lookout in Palomar Mountain State Park reminds us just how stunningly beautiful are the mountains of this remote, lightly visited portion of northern San Diego County.

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  3. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

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  4. Strawberry Peak Lookout Hike

    Strawberry Sunday

    The 2.5-mile (round-trip) lollipop loop climb to the Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout near the town of Lake Arrowhead dishes up some delicious views.

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