All Stories from "Northern CA"

All Stories from Northern CA

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Nevada's Hidden Waterholes
One of the most famous festivals in the world happens in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert every September (Burning Man), but what you may not know is that in spring the “playa” is a comp
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Leapin' Lupine!
Seasonal wildflowers and evergreen vistas make this a locals’ favorite hike in Sonoma Valley Regional Park. Go soon to see popping lupine and buttercups on this scenic 2-mile (round-trip) route with beautiful picnic spots.
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Tunnel Vision
Don’t expect logic from oddball desert hermits! At Burro Schmidt Tunnel, that’s to our great benefit. It took 32 years for William “Burro” Schmidt to dig through a mountain in a re
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Red, White, and Hoodoos
“Don’t stay on the trail” sounds like an odd suggestion, but it’s the best way to explore the crimson sandstone cliffs and hoodoos that crosscut Red Rock Canyon State Park in the n
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The Tortoise In Its Lair
The Mojave Desert’s most extraordinary creatures are rarely seen, but at the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area, you’ll have your best chance. Tortoises live in higher density i
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Tempe Temptations
Wildflowers, wildlife, and a wildly great view of Mount Tam as the backdrop … get your wows at Bon Tempe Reservoir, one of the five lakes on Mount Tam’s northern flank, and a water
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Yosemite Cabin This Spring
This spring in Yosemite is one for the records: Waterfalls are raging and dogwoods are blooming! And the cherry on top: a secluded cabin or private vacation home right in the heart
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Lake Loop
The template for a perfect multipurpose park? Hundreds of acres of open space, wending hiking and biking trails, glistening lakes, and picnic spots galore. Spring Lake and Howarth
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Pleasanton Pursuit
The rolling green hills of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park are bringing an extra burst of color this spring—wildflowers hidden in the emerald grasses are popping up and should soon
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Call of the Coyote
Wild and scenic Coyote Hills Regional Park is probably best known for its birdlife—from hawks to herons, kestrels to kingfishers. But its 978 acres of marshland and grassy hills is
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Diablo's Back Way
A hike with sweeping East Bay vistas, rushing creeks, and colorful wildflowers—Mount Diablo’s got your back! As in Mitchell Canyon Back Creek Loop, a 7-mile (round-trip) hike with
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Wine up for the Weekends!
In California we’re pretty lucky; we’re home to the great outdoors and amazing wines—and Line 39 celebrates both! The 39th parallel runs right through the heart of California wine
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Pine City Blooms
Where do you find the most condensed and diverse display of wildflowers of any hike in Joshua Tree National Park? Plus pine trees and a powerful sense of solitude? Why, in Pine City—which isn't a city at all. It's a 4-mile out-and-back trek.
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Willow Hole in Wonderland
All of Joshua Tree National Park might seem like a rocky wonderland, but this hike takes you into the Wonderland—the Wonderland of Rocks—home to a secluded watering hole. Lace up!
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Unoccupied Wall Street
Going wild on Wall Street doesn’t have to mean buying and selling stocks. It can be about hiking and exploring a quiet trail in Joshua Tree National Park. One that leads to the int
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The Original SF Giants
Before the baseball team, came the original San Francisco Giants: coast redwoods, the tallest living things on earth! And Golden Gate Park’s Botanical Garden is home to the century-old Redwood Grove, splendored with these fog-loving beauties.
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Secret Stairway Hike
Secret passageways aren’t just found in the movies. The East Bay has over 400 of them winding unseen through the hillsides. Explore Oakland’s hidden passages on a 6-mile urban loop
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Rove the Cove
Today’s San Francisco still has a few places where bits of interesting grit exist. Warm Water Cove is an urban waterfront blending serene bay views and relics of days past when thi
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Full Moon Adventureland
Located forty minutes from Redding in Northern California, iconic Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to famous Lassen Peak, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range.
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San Francisco's Middle Earth
No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.
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