All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

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  Tall Drink of Waterfall

  Tucked between Echo Summit and Lover’s Leap on US 50 there's an impressive display of water barreling down a mountain. Hello, Horsetail Falls! The commanding 800-foot-tall waterfal

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  Meet Margaret!

  You have an adventurous side and enjoy lakeside solitude, but you don’t want to be too far from your comfort zone. Time to meet Margaret! Tucked just north of Kirkwood and just off

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  Seaing is Believing

  The best way to truly experience Sea Ranch on the northern Sonoma Coast is to walk its famous coastline, a cliff-hugging sensation with pocket beaches, wildlife sightings, and soar

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  Stump for It!

  Ready to go wild, then kick back and relax? It’s so easy to do on a beach-to-bluff hike in the lightly visited Salt Point State Park on the Sonoma Coast. Most people do the 1.2-mil

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  Secret's Out

  The turquoise waters and pristine beauty of Secret Cove on the east shore of Lake Tahoe are like an ode to Tahoe’s iconic spirit. And while this lovely spot near Incline Village is

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  Spooner Afternoon

  Tucked quietly away above Lake Tahoe’s eastern shore, Spooner Lake hides in plain sight. Just 12 miles north of Stateline on Highway 50, hikers, bikers, and beach loungers jet past

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  Shealor Stunner

  Robust mountains, striking slabs of granite, and deep green pine reflections make Shealor Lake near Kirkwood resort a jewel of the El Dorado National Forest. Reach this alpine oasis on a 1.3-mile hike.

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  Tae Go Sah Temple

  A startling vision greets you deep in Sand Canyon outside Tehachapi. Like an ancient Oriental woodblock print come to life, a Buddhist temple sits at the confluence of two narrow w

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  Leap Frog!

  So the whole family’s visiting and Muir Woods is full? Good thing it has a doppelganger! Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve near Sonoma County’s Russian River is an 805-acre

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  Stately in the Santa Cruz Mountains

  Rolling hills, mountain panoramas, and towering redwoods said to be the largest in the Santa Cruz Mountains—Sam McDonald County Park just can’t seem to get any better … until you f

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  Great Is an Understatement!

  Tucked against the Utah border in eastern Nevada, Great Basin is a hiking wonderland of 13,000-foot peaks, ancient forests, sub-alpine lakes, and marble limestone caves.

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  Slot Canyon Cathedral

  Ready to play the slots? We’re not talking the casino kind. We mean exploring the only slot canyons found in Nevada! Located right off Great Basin Highway (aka Highway 93), Cathedr

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  Life Aquinas

  Reach a new height and gain a round-the-compass panorama at El Sereno Open Space Preserve. Just off Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Los Gatos, the preserve’s 7.5-mile (

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  Hike to a Swim Hole

  Long hikes on a summer day call for a cooling-off period. Dip in! This 10-miler (round-trip) rewards with a mid-hike swimming hole. Located in the South Bay’s vast and scenic Henry

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  Seaside Summit in a State Park

  With tangled trails and unmarked spurs lawlessly winding up the rugged 1,898-foot Montara Mountain, McNee Ranch State Park feels like the Wild West Coast. Even wilder? Its endless

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  Tamorama!

  Wide-open coastal views, wildflowers, and a waterfall—get spring-loaded on a 6.5-mile (round-trip) hike that links together Mount Tam's Matt Davis, Bolinas Ridge, and Cataract trails.

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  Half Moon Highroller

  For an easy bike ride with enormous coastal views, head a few miles south of Half Moon Bay. The Cowell-Purisima Trail stretches for 3 sea-breezy miles along high coastal bluffs.

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  Point Reyes Grand Slam

  Wildflowers, hidden beaches, coastal forests, babbling creeks and awesome Pacific views are just a few of the things that make Point Reyes a world-class hiking destination. With so

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  Glen's a Ten

  The big wild right in our backyard? You bet! San Francisco’s Glen Canyon Park is 62 acres of dramatic rock formations, whimsical tree tunnels, and calming views amid constant city motion. Go on a 1.6-mile loop hike here and enjoy a piece of the wild, with a little urban flair too.

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  Loch In!

  Tucked in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Loch Lomond Recreation Area is known for its gorgeous reservoir, less known for its charming Clar Innis Island (reached only by kayak or canoe)

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