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1. 
   Northern CA

   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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2. 
   Southern CA

   Hikes to Holy Sites

   Nature itself is soothing and healing. Adding a visit to a beautifully situated spiritual shrine makes for a hike that will calm the most jangled nerves. Ring a peace bell. Admire the country’s largest Buddhist pagoda. Chant a quiet om in an oak-filled canyon. Here are three outings that are quiet counters to the prevailing noise. Namaste.

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3. 
   Northern CA

   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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4. 
   Sponsored

   2026-02-02

   Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

   2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

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5. 
   Southern CA & Northern CA

   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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6. 
   Northern CA

   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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7. 
   Southern CA

   Cool Canyon Hikes

   Sure, nabbing a SoCal summit earns you bragging rights, but sometimes the real action is in our canyons! Think secret swimming holes, squeeze-through sandstone clefts, and verdant shady places filled with birdsong. These three canyon hikes deliver those and other surprising pleasures, plus some astounding views along the way. Go peak-bagging another day—this week, think deep thoughts. Think canyons!

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8. 
   Northern CA

   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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9. 
   Southern CA

   Semisecret Strands

   Secret beaches is a relative term for SoCal. But there are a few where even in the height of summer you can find a bit of serenity. If you favor swimming and strolling over seeing and being seen, make for one of these strands.

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10. 
    Northern CA

    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. 
    Southern CA

    Wave the Adventure Flag!

    Parades, barbecues, fireworks, and time off! This 4th of July weekend, wave the flag of patriotism and celebrate by getting outdoors to explore our great golden state. From first-come, first-served camping, to hikes and paddles to keep your cool, here are some top ways to ensure that the fourth is with you!

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12. 
    Southern CA

    Long Lasting Hikes

    One of our favorite things about summer? Light! Make the most of longer days with any of these three longer hikes, from an iconic rock formation to a lesser known peak, and an island traverse perfect for a quick backpacking escape. Long may you roam!

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13. 
    Northern CA

    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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14. 
    Northern CA

    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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15. 
    Sponsored

    2026-02-02

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
16. 
    Southern CA

    Dip Paddle Here!

    SoCal has some dazzling paddling possibilities, and it’s quite possible you haven’t considered any of them. Time to get your paddle wet! Our top current faves: the fabled waters off Malibu, the storybook canals of Long Beach, and the Los Angeles River. Whoa, there! Did we say the LA River? You betcha! Our most famous concrete waterway has natural stretches that you have to see to believe. Happy paddling!

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17. 
    Northern CA

    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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18. 
    Southern CA

    Time to Go Camping!

    Long days, fine weather, and that restlessness you feel when you haven’t slept out under the stars for a while. Yes, it’s camping season, and we’ve got three great national forest campgrounds in mind, each within a couple of hours of DTLA. Bonus: They’re all first-come, first-served—just arrive early if you’re weekending.

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19. 
    Southern CA

    Adventure Island

    Meet Two Harbors, the tiny town that straddles Catalina’s Isthmus—the adventure venue that most island visitors never see. It’s a springboard for cool hiking and paddling amid mountain landscapes, sparkling seascapes, inspiring views, and blessed isolation, a world apart from the hubbub of Avalon. It has one restaurant, one lodge, one store, one campground, and it’s one heckuva lot of fun.

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20. 
    Northern CA

    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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21. 
    Southern CA

    LA Outdoor Confidential

    Long weekend: check. Lucky enough to live in the Golden State: check. Wondering what to do this long weekend in the Golden State? Check out these hikes, bike rides, waterfall adventures, and a place to catch the sunset. Long live the long weekend!

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22. 
    Northern CA

    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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