Two women hikers looking out to the foggy coast from a hiking trail at Jenner Headlands on the Sonoma Coast

Oh That's Cool

We're all for a little sizzle in life, but this is next level! Since you can't crank the air conditioning outdoors, we found some ways to beat the heat and cool down, courtesy of nature. From coastal bike rides to redwood hikes and picnics, here are some ways to chill out(side).

Week: 06.16.2021
Regions: Northern CA

Jenner's New Views

Hike new trails at Jenner Headlands Preserve in Sonoma County

Two women hiking a trail at Jenner Headlands on the Sonoma Coast
The beautifully developed trails at Jenner Headlands Preserve in Sonoma County offer access to quiet stretches of coastal redwood forest and huge views of the Pacific. It’s also a refreshing escape on hot days.
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Hike Reno Tahoe!

Amazing Summer Hikes Around Reno Tahoe

hiker on Tunnel Creek Trail Lake Tahoe
woman hiking Mount Rose by Lake Tahoe and Reno
Man looking at Truckee River in Reno Oxbow Nature Study Area
Man and woman enjoying food trucks in Reno
With its vibrant summer events and easy outdoor access, Reno Tahoe is a fantastic choice for adventure. From mountain peaks to premier views of Lake Tahoe, here are some of the best hikes in the region.
Discover Hikes Around Reno Tahoe

Forest Bathe Under the Redwoods

Forest Bathing Among Redwoods at Sanborn County Park

Hiking and forest bathing under redwoods at Sanborn County Park
Giant Douglas firs and a peaceful madrone- and tanoak-studded forest make the hiking at Sanborn County Park sublime, but there’s an added majesty here thanks to the Todd Creek Redwoods Grove.
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Strolling With Sam

Redwoods Hike in Samuel P Taylor State Park

Most people come to Samuel P. Taylor State Park for the beautiful creekside campground and picnic areas. But the hiking here can be pleasantly peaceful on a short trail featuring old-growth redwood trees.
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Ridgetop Rolling

Bicycle Ride the Nimitz Way Trail in Berkeley's Tilden Regional Park

Bicycle Nimitz Way Trail Tilden Berkeley
Tilden Regional Park is the flagship of the East Bay Regional Parks system. And its best views? Find them along Nimitz Way, a paved, multi-use ridgetop trail. We recommend biking this trail for about 4 miles.
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Ride and Seek

Bike the Coastal Trail to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay

Bike the Coastal Trail to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay
Oceanside breezes, beautiful beaches, a car-free pathway for biking, and beer at the end: You’re on a roll! The San Mateo Coast was made for beach hopping and beer tasting …
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

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  2. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

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  3. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

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  4. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

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  2. Hot, Wet, and Wild!

    At Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, you can soak up a primeval landscape that’s amazingly close to Mammoth Lakes and Highway 395—it just feels a few geological epochs away.

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  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

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  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

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