Stranger Flings

Remnants of faded dreams and nefarious schemes can make for pretty compelling journeys. Here are three hikes into history that also serve up some nifty vistas.

Week: 11.09.2017
Regions: Southern CA

Big Horn Full of Gold

Hiking to Big Horn Mine in the Angeles National Forest

You don’t have to travel to Gold Country to strike gold in California! When it comes to old mines, SoCal has some gems. Big Horn Mine in the San Gabriels is a perfect example. You may not strike it rich here, but you’ll have a great adventure and some beautiful photo ops along th
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Your Trip to Patagonia!

Take a Guided Trip to Patagonia

Patagonia's been on your bucket list forever? Make it the trip of a lifetime by going with the experts in small group adventure travel: Active Adventures! Explore classics and hidden gems by day, sleep in a cozy wilderness lodge or charming town inn at night. Two of Active Advent
Visit our sponsor Active Adventures

Shipwrecked in Palos Verdes

Hiking to the SS Dominator in Palos Verdes

Usually you need serious scuba gear and a lot of courage to get up close and personal with a massive shipwreck. But on the rocky shores of Lunada Bay in Palos Verdes Estates, you can experience the wonder of the SS Dominator, which has been slowly rusting away on the stony beach
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Stairway to Weirdness

Hiking to Murphy's Ranch in Rustic Canyon

Here’s one to put in your Stranger Flings file: a hike that’s also a peek into the history of several Angeleno residents and their ties to the Third Reich. This weird chapter lingers in what remains of Murphy’s Ranch in Rustic Canyon, once the 1930s and ’40s lair of Norman and Wi
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  1. 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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  2. Hike to New Lights

    For an enlightening late-day hike, catch the San Francisco skyline at sunset from high atop Ring Mountain in Tiburon. This 2-mile (round-trip) hike to Turtle Rock is a perfect late afternoon wander.

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  3. A woman looks out to the scenery while standing next to a bench on a high point on a hike in Orinda Oaks Park in the East Bay

    Orinda Original

    This 3.5-mile out-and-back through Orinda Oaks Park and Moraga offers scenic vistas right inside the city.

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  4. 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.

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  1. Redding Ironman Whiskeytown lake
    Sponsored

    New Year, New Goal: IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California

    2026 is off and running! And swimming. And biking. Don't get left behind! Commit to one of the upcoming year’s most exciting endurance events—IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California in Redding.

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  2. Hikers stand atop Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park

    Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

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  3. O Enchanted Night!

    Prepare to be mesmerized! Holiday-season nights in Descanso Gardens are a magical interplay of lights and natural beauty that dazzle as you stroll through the Enchanted Forest of L

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  4. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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