All "Hikes" Stories in Southern CA

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  Dog Heaven

  Will Rogers once said, “If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” So it’s fitting that Will’s 186-acre Pacific Palisades ranch, preserved as Will Rogers State Historic Park, is heaven on earth for dogs.

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  Paws to Enjoy the View

  One thing is for certain: Steep Canyon lives up to its name. Long staircases, intense hills…this 2.1-mile loop trail packs a punch! But the best part? The incredible views from the

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  Woof of the Inland Empire

  Box Springs is one of the hidden treasures of the Inland Empire, and, no, we’re not talking about the one beneath your mattress. Box Springs Mountain Park between Moreno Valley and

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  You Call This a Hellhole?

  One person’s hellhole is another’s heavenly desert oasis. Hellhole Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is definitely the latter. Its name comes from cattleman Wid Helm, who said it was “one hell of a hole to get cattle out of.” For you, it’s a moderate to challenging 5.5-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike.

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  Lookout Ahead!

  A 3.7-mile loop hike to Boucher Hill Fire Lookout in Palomar Mountain State Park reminds us that fire, and fire prevention, have long been facts of life in Southern California. We’

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  Be Cabrillo!

  A big year lies ahead. Why not start it off with an explorer’s mind-set? Be Cabrillo! Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, that is, the first foreign visitor (1542) to America’s finest city. H

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  Baldy View and Candy Canes Too!

  Kids getting restless? Maybe overeager for the big day? Burn off some steam with a family-friendly 0.8-mile stroll on the Joatngna Trail in the Angeles National Forest below Mount

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  Yes, A.M.

  It's easy to find good artisan coffee in Echo Park, but it's also a great place to work up a sweat and take in glorious morning views before grabbing that morning pick-me-up. This

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  Topanga Aerie

  You’ll feel like an eagle when you reach the top of Eagle Rock, crown of Topanga State Park. The massive, pockmarked sandstone slab is a blast to hike to, play on, and perch atop o

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  Around the World in San Diego

  Ah, what wonders grow when the weather is perpetually delightful! Such is the case in San Diego, where the San Diego Botanic Garden is able to grow a ridiculous 4,000-plus species

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  California in 86 Acres

  Sometimes the biggest secrets are, well, big. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is an 86-acre gem, hidden away in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Claremont. In a way, i

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  Mediterranean Diet

  Niguel Botanical Preserve features a variety of vegetation, both native and from the similar climates of Australia, Chile, South Africa. It's also got a cool little labyrinth.

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  At Play on Rocky Peak

  Big views, big boulders, and a great hike are all good reasons to rock out on the Rocky Peak Trail in Simi Valley. This hike gradually ascends for nearly five miles to (surprise!) a rocky peak whose 2,715-foot summit straddles the border between Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

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  Jive on the Hive

  Griffith Park is home to more than one awesome rock venue. Sure, the Greek Theatre stages legendary rock concerts, but Bee Rock provides beautiful wide vistas and some fun rock scr

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  Snaking Your Way Through Joshua Tree

  You don’t have to be a rock climber to enjoy this high-friction frolic in Joshua Tree. All it takes is a sense of adventure—a willingness to plunge into a dramatic canyon that’s de

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  Redwoods Friday

  How’s this for a post-Thanksgiving plan: on Black Friday, you’ll be seeing red … as in magnificent redwoods! Yep, the day after Thanksgiving you can enjoy free day-use admission to

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  Hike-in Hidden Beach

  Blink and you'll miss some hidden beach bliss. Located in the tiny town of Elk on scenic Highway 1, Greenwood State Beach is easy to miss because it's a half-mile walk down to it.

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  Big Horn Full of Gold

  You don’t have to travel to Gold Country to strike gold in California! When it comes to old mines, SoCal has some gems. Big Horn Mine in the San Gabriels is a perfect example. You

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  Stairway to Weirdness

  Here’s one to put in your Stranger Flings file: a hike that’s also a peek into the history of several Angeleno residents and their ties to the Third Reich. This weird chapter linge

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  Shipwrecked in Palos Verdes

  Usually you need serious scuba gear and a lot of courage to get up close and personal with a massive shipwreck. But on the rocky shores of Lunada Bay in Palos Verdes Estates, you c

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