Throwing Shade

When summer heats hits, these hikes and bike rides throw some shade (the cool kind) thanks to sections of trail with towering firs, redwoods, and eucalyptus trees.

Week: 07.10.2025
Regions: Northern CA

Berry Good Hike (or Bike)

Hike amid beautiful forest in Sanborn County Park in the South Bay

This 7-mile out-and-back through Sanborn County Park has big views of the South Bay and offers some reprieve from summer heat thanks to shaded sections among towering firs.
Read the full story

Samuel's Place

Picnic and bike ride at Samuel P Taylor State Park in Marin

Samuel P. Taylor State Park has all the fixings for a beautiful picnic combined with a hike or bike ride: redwood forest, babbling Lagunitas Creek, barbecue grills, and beautiful trails.
Read the full story

San Francisco's Middle Earth

Hiking San Francisco's Mount Sutro

Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco
Hiker going up stairs to enter Mount Sutro in San Francisco
Hiker on a trail at Mount Sutro in San Francisco
Hiker looking up at trees in Mount Sutro San Francisco
No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.
Read the full story

Tram to Cool Treks

Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for Amazing Hiking

Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.
Get Your Ticket to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    {NOTE: Due to atmospheric rivers that can come this time of year, always be sure to check ahead for trail closures and hazards. And of course, wait for better weather and drier con

    View

  2. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View
  4. Hike at Olompali State Historic Park in Marin

    Historically Serene

    Olompali State Historic Park is a small park that packs big California history. Go on a mostly easy 3-mile loop hike where oak trees, big-leaf maples, and madrones are stunning in autumn.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    Hot Springs, Naturally

    Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.

    View

  2. Dune It Right

    Want a beach that will really get you away from it all? Monterey's Fort Ord Dunes State Park is just the ticket. And it often glows golden toward sunset.

    View
  3. A woman walks the path next to the beach at sunset at Palisades Park in Los Angeles County

    Santa Monica’s Most Beautiful Walk

    With its sweeping views of Santa Monica Bay and the Santa Monica Pier, the 26-acre Palisades Park, perched along the beach bluffs, may be a tourist’s delight for its quintessential California vibes–but it’s just as beloved by locals. Follow this 2.5-mile loop to experience it like one.

    View

  4. The Undead Ghost Town

    Every Halloween, the worlds of the living and the dead blur together. In the “living ghost town” of Randsburg that condition is permanent. This strange gold-rush town near the El P

    View