Two people at the water basin of the historic Brown Mountain Dam in Angeles National Forest Southern California

Water Hikes

Summer in SoCal—hot, and dry right now, due to drought. Fortunately, LA’s still got some treasured and less-known waterworks for chilling out. Here are three to visit and appreciate.

Week: 07.13.2021
Regions: Southern CA

Dam Cool!

Hike to the Historic Brown Mountain Dam in the Angeles National Forest

Historic Brown Mountain Dam in Angeles National Forest Southern California
Man standing at the edge of the water at the historic Brown Mountain Dam in Southern California
Two men wading into the water basin of historic Brown Mountain Dam in Southern California
Hikers descending into a canyon in the Angeles National Forest Southern California
Head to the accessible southwest section of the Angeles National Forest, where you’ll find a hike to the historic Brown Mountain Dam. Few hikers, one refreshing reward!
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Summer's Must Sea

Marine Wildlife and Easy Adventures at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium
whale watch Monterey
kids at Monterey Bay Aquarium
The newly reopened Monterey Bay Aquarium never misses a “Best of” list—for good reason. The Aquarium’s location right on the shores of Monterey Bay, with waves crashing below the decks, is a mesmerizing experience.
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Crystal Ball

Hike and Camp at Crystal Lake Recreation Area in the Angeles National Forest

Woman staring out at Crystal Lake in Crystal Lake Recreation Area in Angeles National Forest Southern California
Find the magical snow-, rain-, and spring-fed Crystal Lake perched at 5,539 feet in the center of the Angeles National Forest. There's camping too. And it's first-come, first-served!
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Haines Your Way

Hike Haines Canyon Debris Basin in the San Gabriels

Haines Canyon Debris Basin in the San Gabriels Southern California
Hiker and dog on a trail in Haines Canyon Debris Basin in the San Gabriels Southern California
High point vista of Haines Canyon Debris Basin in the San Gabriels Southern California
Mountain Bikers on a trail in Haines Canyon Debris Basin in the San Gabriels Southern California
Enter the Debris basins, one of the less-visited, less-appreciated water features of the San Gabriels. Go on an out-and-back hike that highlights the Haines Canyon Debris Basin, and features some awesome valley views.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

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  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

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  4. 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.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

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  2. Two women on e-bikes at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles

    Eat, Drink, E-bike!

    No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

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  3. Jurupa Jamboree

    If you like a short hike with a side of adventure, try the Jurupa Hills North Trail in Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park.

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    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

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