Fall's First Hikes

Saying goodbye to summer can be hard, but autumn brings its own beauty and seasonal fun. Here are three suggestions for that first fall hike.

Week: 09.25.2024
Regions: Southern CA

Apple of Your Eye

Hike and see fall colors at Oak Glen Preserve near Yucaipa

Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California
sunflowers on a trail at Oak Glen Preserve near Yucaipa
HIkers' boots amid fallen apples on the ground at Oak Glen Preserve near Yucaipa
Hiker in a redwood grove at Oak Glen Preserve near Yucaipa in Oak Glen Southern California
That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.
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Nature & Nurture in Reno Tahoe

Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone in Reno Tahoe

Reno Tahoe doesn’t want you to step outside of your comfort zone this fall. It wants you to leap outside of it! Find your true nature in a place where there are no limits on how you adventure, and how you relax.
Discover Your Reno Tahoe Adventure

Solstice Treasure

A Hike in Solstice Canyon

Solstice Canyon Malibu
Solstice Canyon Malibu
Solstice Canyon is itself a hidden treasure, but the Sostomo and Deer Valley Loop Trail is a treasure within the treasure.
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Big Bear Hug

Hike to Grays Peak in Big Bear and Visit Oktoberfest

Hike on Grays Peak Trail in Big Bear California
Sign for Grays Peak Trail in Big Bear Southern California
Fall colors on Grays Peak Trail in Big Bear Lakes Southern California
Hiker on Grays Peak Trail amid fall foliage in Big Bear Lakes
Grays Peak in Big Bear is fall-loaded with vibrant colors. This 6.8-mile (round-trip) hike in the San Bernardino National Forest provides all the fall feels, with crisp mountain air and beautiful churning leaves.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

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  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

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  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

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  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

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  2. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

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  3. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

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  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

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