All Stories from Northern CA

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  June in September

  Fall may be June's best season. At least, when it comes to lakeside lounging. Set beneath the spiky mountain backdrop of the Ansel Adams Wilderness and looming Carson Mountain, Jun

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  Drama-ramic Hike

  It's not just the granite peaks—including famous Mount Morrison—encircling Convict Lake that make it such a dramatic place. Carved by glaciers from the Ice Age, this giant canyon f

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  Mammothly Epic Hike

  You're going to need your hiking game-face for this adventure. Trekking in the Sierra high country at any time of year requires common sense and a check of the weather; doing it du

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  Waterfall Way to Spend the Day

  Three waterfalls, two swimming holes, and a beautiful hike to boot: That's some H2-Oh! And September's a good time to visit McCloud River falls for a 3.8-mile (round-trip) hike. Lo

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  Ferry Trail Bike Ride

  You don't need a car for this three-part Tiburon adventure to a hidden beach. But you will need a boat, a bike, and picnic provisions! Starting from San Francisco's Pier 41, hop ab

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  Beach Access Sorta Granted

  There's a secluded and scenic beach on the San Mateo Coast that's been kept under wraps for years. The reason? A homeowner has kept this beach to himself, and the Surfrider Foundat

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  Your Guide to Islands of Adventure

  Okay, let's cut to the chase: New Zealand has been at the top of your travel list, and you've just been waiting for the right opportunity to make it happen. Well, here's your oppor

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  Touch the Skyline

  The Peninsula's Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve knows how to make a grand entrance when it comes to changing seasons. Combine ridgetop vistas, and a tranquil lake on a 4-mile (round-trip) hike that includes a section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

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  Fall Farmsteading

  Rolling hills alight with the leaves of deciduous oaks; maples abloom with orange hues; persimmon trees flowering along fence lines—fall has arrived at Rancho San Antonio Open Spac

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  Frog Days of Summer

  It's still officially summer but even in fall Henry Coe State Park offers a bounty of beauty in its 87,000 acres of rolling hills, mountain ridges, and redwood and oak trees. Locat

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  The Great California Road Trip

  Buckle up for the great California road trip. Destination: Monterey County! Autumn on this part of the California Coast is simply magnificent. Gas up, here we go! The Great Beach C

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  Fall Hard for Redding

  School's back in, the summer crowds are gone … who's ready for a fall getaway?! With 225+ miles of hiking trails and premier national parks, Redding is your year-round go-to for ad

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  Eyes Wild Open

  You've got eyes like a hawk when it comes to spotting an owl of a good time. So mark your calendar and get up to wine country for the 4th Annual Wine Country Optics and Nature Fest

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  First Place

  First national park? Yellowstone. First state park? Big Basin. First urban national wildlife refuge? You'll have to be a bird nerd to know the answer to this one. So spread your wi

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  Wetland Makeover

  With egrets mingling in the maze of marshes, and unobstructed views of Mount Burdell to the north and Mount Diablo to the east, it's hard to imagine that just over a year ago Novat

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  Strait Talk

  Cyclists rejoice: You're getting the hook-up you've always wanted on the Carquinez Shore's newest section of the Bay Trail. It provides the 1.7-mile missing link from Martinez to C

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  Adventures Beyond

  Lounging beside turquoise waters, rafting through lush green jungle, hiking along volcanoes, sipping tropical cocktails at sunset … however you adventure, you’re just one low airfa

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  Swing on Up

  We know of a hidden playground. The catch: You have to hike to it, and there's just one swing. Relive your recess days, gently swaying back and forth under a eucalyptus tree while

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  Beach Rambler

  So you're in the mood for a long walk on the beach. Get an early start and get to Stinson Beach. Larger than Muir Beach and less rocky than Bolinas Beach, this Bay Area staple of p

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  Hiking with Old Friends

  Stinson Beach can get packed on the weekend. We recommend arriving early or later in the day. No dogs on the hiking trails. 

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