All in Northern CA

  1. Fall Hikes in Northern California

    Who says there are no fall colors in California? Here are few hikes for hue to do!

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  2. Secrets of the Sonoma Coast

    Wild, rugged, ripe with Pacific scenery, and relaxing—going coastal doesn’t get more classic than a visit to the north Sonoma Coast. From quiet beaches to less-traveled trails, and a hidden canvas tent “glamp” stay, here’s how to adventure on this stretch of coast.

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  3. Tahoe's Secluded Waters

    Keep Tahoe Blue. Keep Spooner Special. Keep Shealor Stunning. We'd like to add a couple of declarative bumper stickers to the mix. The Lake Tahoe area has some secrets to its namesake jewel, and other watery gems worth exploring.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-04-02

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

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  5. Peak of Summer

    Summer's one of the best times to bag a peak. Whether you're looking to go long and high, or keep it short and mellow, here are some of the best ways to top off the season.

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  6. Redwood Roamin'

    High, mighty, old: Redwoods are always in season, but there’s no time like in the height of summer heat to visit these towering beauties that are as cool as they are cooling. Take your pick: East Bay, South Bay, North Bay ... here are three places to get your redwoods fix.

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  7. Road Trip to Spectacular!

    Is it the wide-open two-lane highways? The galloping mountain ranges? The wily local characters? We don’t know. But we do know that Nevada makes for a hell of a great road trip! From the bling of Vegas to perhaps the best hidden-gem national park in the country, with state parks and slot canyons in between, here’s your adventure itinerary for a Nevada road trip to remember.

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  8. Go Long!

    It's the middle of summer and we live in California... that's cause for celebration, right? Enjoy the sunny season on a long and beautiful hike in the Peninsula and South Bay. We have a few to get you going!

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  9. Adventures + Brunch

    Slip into the weekend with an easygoing outdoor adventure, followed by some tasty eats. Here are a brunch of ideas!

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  10. Fourth-coming Adventures!

    1) Who Wants Seconds? America is full of second chances. And that’s a very good thing when it comes to Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. Here majestic redwoods have been given a second chance after the originals were logged long ago... 2) Land of the Lakes Dozens of high alpine lakes, spiky granite peaks, hiking trails galore… The Lakes Basin (about 90 minutes northwest of Tahoe) is a sublime Sierra basecamp with a laid back vibe. Take a weekend to explore this high-country wonderland... 3) Let's Have a Little Funston San Francisco’s Fort Funston is best known for its enormous, super dog-friendly beach as well as its cliff-clinging takeoff point for hang gliders. But it’s also a terrific place to go on a 1.5-mile scenic beach stroll...   [sponsored-story] 4) 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... 5) 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 much to see, which hike should a person do? Do the one that’s got it all!.. 6) The Carson Show Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike. The start of the hike is on a wide-open dirt fire road that offers up southern views of Mount Tam’s East Peak... 7) Do the 2017 Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge! The Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge is back for its sixth year! Don’t let the name intimidate you: it’s free and easy to participate. Just get outdoors over the next few months and take a photo of yourself in action! And we’re excited to be teaming up with Line 39—their wines are the perfect partner to weekend adventures...

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  11. Coastal Classics

    Ready for some coasting? From a bluffside bike ride in Half Moon Bay to a coast-hugging hike on Mount Tam, here are three coastal adventures that are classics to celebrate summer.

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  12. Fresh and Up!

    We all have our favorite go-to for gaining a good point of view. Ready for a change of scenery? Lucky for us, there are plenty of local options! From the South Bay to San Francisco, here are three hikes off the beaten path and up to fresh points of view.

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  13. Toast the Coast

    You have an outdoors type: strong, classic, beautiful, a bit edgy … and that’s just the start of the outdoor scenery and experiences you’ll have adventuring on the Sonoma Coast—where rugged headlands meet sandy beaches and the coastline is sublime, with hidden coves and iconic sea stacks. Camp, hike, relax. It's summer!

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  14. Hidden Beaches, Iconic Bridges

    Two of the Bay Area's most appealing features? Hidden beaches and iconic bridges. Here are three less-known beaches offering the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and both!

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-04-02

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  16. Outdoor Confidential

    Got plans for the unofficial start of summer? Make it official! We've got you covered. From hikes and a bike ride, to stairway walks, picnic spots, and sunset views. Long live the long weekend!

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  17. Let the Adventures Begin!

    The Weekend Sherpa Adventure Challenge is back for its sixth year! Don’t let the name intimidate you: it’s free and easy to participate. Just get outdoors over the next few months and take a photo of yourself in action! And we’re excited to be teaming up with Line 39—their wines are the perfect partner to weekend adventures.

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  18. Secluded Sunday

    Sunday funday … how about just Sunday seclusion? Here are three less-known spots across the Bay Area for enjoying a hidden beach, canoeing to a middle-of-the-lake island for a picnic, or climbing to views on a trail less traveled.

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  19. As You Lake It!

    This year’s rains brought many of our reservoirs back to 100 percent full! See some of the sparkling and refreshing beauty on three great North Bay hikes. They’re all dog-friendly, too. Time for a lake break!

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  20. Going Wild for Flowers!

    What’s wild and has wildflowers? Three East Bay hikes: one on Mount Diablo, one in Coyote Hills, and one across Pleasanton Ridge. It’s the call of the wild ... and the wildflowers!

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  21. Will You Go Out With Us?

    Go out this summer and do any activity we've ever written about in Weekend Sherpa (seriously, there's 10 years' worth of outdoor activities!) and earn yourself some excellent gifts, including a Weekend Sherpa t-shirt and travel wine glasses from our "partner in wine," Line 39. Here are few ideas to get you going!

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  22. Free and Wild in Joshua Tree

    Joshua Tree National Park in spring is full of color, and visitors! But these three hikes in the heart of the park take you away from the crowds and into the park’s solitude, where signature trees grandstand, boulders are bountiful, and wildflowers paint the landscape like a rainbow. Bonus: Free admission this weekend for National Park Week!

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. 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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  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

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  3. 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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  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

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  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

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  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

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