View All

  1. Southern CA & Northern CA

    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.

    VIEW
  2. Northern CA

    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.

    VIEW
  3. Southern CA

    Better Than Brunch

    In a pinch for a Mother’s Day plan? Three of our Los Angeles based writers took their moms on Weekend Sherpa explorations—a cruiser bike ride with wine tasting...a coast-hugging hike...a whole garden instead of a bouquet. Each adventure has been Mom-tested and approved. Cheers to you, Mom!

    VIEW
  4. Sponsored

    Boo-tifall Reno Tahoe

    Fall goes fast. Good thing Reno Tahoe knows how to make the good times last, with some of the West’s best harvest fairs, haunted happenings, and only-in-Reno celebrations.

    View
  5. Southern CA

    Mojave Mojo!

    Ready to get your mojo working? Hoodoos, tortoises, and a hermit’s tunnel to nowhere—they’re all part of the wondrously weird, easy-to-explore high desert just beyond the town of Mojave.

    VIEW
  6. Northern CA

    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!

    VIEW
  7. Northern CA

    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!

    VIEW
  8. Southern CA

    San Diego Rechargers

    Jump in a brisk waterfall pool, hike the coast among rare Torrey pines, or savor a sunset from the city’s best viewpoint—you’ll dig these Diego adventures!

    VIEW
  9. Southern CA

    Date with the Outdoors!

    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!

    VIEW
  10. Northern CA

    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!

    VIEW
  11. Southern CA & Northern CA

    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!

    VIEW
  12. Northern CA

    Waterfall Rager!

    The more it rained, the harder they fell … and they're still falling … waterfalling. Hit the trails this spring on any of these Bay Area flows that are all the rage right now!

    VIEW
  13. Southern CA

    Waterfalls, Wildflowers, Wow!

    Wanna make a colorful splash this Easter weekend? Here are some hikes with waterfalls, wildflowers, or a brilliant combo of both. Hop to it!

    VIEW
  14. Northern CA

    The Great Urban Outdoors!

    Who said getting into the great outdoors meant getting out of the city? Get your nature fix in city limits by hiking a secret stairway in Oakland or exploring a couple of handsome parks in San Francisco.

    VIEW
  15. Sponsored

    Boo-tifall Reno Tahoe

    Fall goes fast. Good thing Reno Tahoe knows how to make the good times last, with some of the West’s best harvest fairs, haunted happenings, and only-in-Reno celebrations.

    View
  16. Southern CA

    Springtime Stairway Walks

    Who's game to take the stairs? Put a spring in your step this season by hiking any of these SoCal staircases leading to hidden wonders!

    VIEW
  17. Northern CA

    Hidden Forests

    Can't see the forest for the trees? Sure you can! Take some time this weekend to walk through one of these hidden forests. It's like a cleanse for your mind!

    VIEW
  18. Southern CA

    Call of the Wildflowers!

    It's our best wildflower season in years! Here are three SoCal hikes for seeing a dazzling array of color and blossoms.

    VIEW
  19. Southern CA

    Last Chance Waterfalls

    Ah, what a little rain will do for Southern California. Early spring is our time to savor storm-fed streams tumbling into seasonal waterfalls that are often dormant due to droughts. Drink up on these three see-them-while-you-can hikes!

    VIEW
  20. Northern CA

    South Bay Spring Trailing!

    Some hikes just know how to spring forward, especially after plentiful rains. From a hike to a hidden redwood grove to epic green hills and stunning panoramas, here are three South Bay ramblers to jump-start your spring trailing. Tip: Look for blooming wildflowers too!

    VIEW
  21. Southern CA

    Green Hikes & Guinness

    There’s something about a verdant landscape that lightens hearts and makes Irish eyes smile. We salute St. Patrick’s Day and the spirit of Éire with three hikes in this greenest of seasons—plus a suggestion for a post-hike beer (or two!) to cap off the end of each outing. Sláinte!

    VIEW
  22. Northern CA

    Hikes & Beer!

    You know what's better than a beer on sunny spring day? A hike and a beer! Here are some local adventures with a refreshing reward.

    VIEW
A Hiker looking over a mountain range

Your Inbox to the Outdoors

Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman with her arms outstretched to the rolling hills scenery while on a rock outcrop at Barnabe Peak in Samuel P Taylor Sate Park in Marin

    Barnabe Bonanza

    Sure, there are higher mountains in Marin (Mount Tam) and easier ascents (Mount Burdell), but is there a more expansive North Bay view? Barnabe Peak in Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers a glorious panorama including Mount Tam, Mount Diablo, and Mount St. Helena.

    View
  2. Tamtastic Sunset

    Sure, the East Peak of Mount Tam is absolutely spectacular at sunset, but some magic-hour enthusiasts head to a nearby spot, Trojan Point, for a little more personal space in their panoramic viewings.

    View
  3. Hiker on the SCA trail in Marin Headlands with view of the Golden Gate Bridge

    Headlands Over Heels

    People come from all over the world to get a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. Get a dramatic and novel view of the bridge without all the people on this moderate 6-mile hike in the Marin Headlands.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman hiking the San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail to San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County

    Bluffing Good!

    Lovely coastline, beautiful beaches, unique geological history, and picturesque sandstone cliffs with limited foot traffic in San Diego County? Head to San Onofre State Beach and the 5-mile San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail.

    View
  2. Can We Get a Whoop Whoop!

    City, mountain, and ocean views all in one hike? Whoop whoop! It’s no surprise the the Kenter Fire Road and Whoop-de-Doos Trail (a combo of fire road and singletrack) is a favorite among local mountain bikers and hikers alike.

    View
  3. The Big Chill

    In LA, finding a place to chill can be the ultimate flex. So flex, in Franklin Canyon! This unexpected oasis has plenty of shade, cool lake breezes, and ample picnicking spots. Enjoy it on an easy-going 1-mile stroll along its reservoir and duck pond.

    View