San Francisco's Colorful Outdoors

Ready for a radiant year? From a hike to an urban wander and a historic gem in Golden Gate Park, these colorful San Francisco adventures will have you looking on the bright side this 2018.

Week: 01.11.2018

Regions: Northern CA

Paint the Town!

San Francisco Mural Walk from Tendernob to Chinatown

Dog Friendly, Hikes

Ready to paint the town? This 1.6-mile easy urban walk from the Tendernob to Chinatown brightens winter days with bursts of color from some of the city’s newest murals. Start your walk at the corner of Van Ness and Hemlock. Completed in September, Hemlock Alley is the newest addi

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Walk on the Wise Side

Walking the Philosopher's Way Trail in SF

Dog Friendly, Hikes

A wise man once said, “Walk it off.” And San Francisco has just the place for a colorful walk via a 2.7-mile loop along Philosopher’s Way Trail in the 318-acre John McLaren Park (San Francisco’s second largest park, after Golden Gate). The path gently dips and ascends from eucaly

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Carousel of Dreams

Historic Carousel in SF's Golden Gate Park

When was the last time you got on a merry-go-round? That long ago, eh! Take a trip back in time on a truly historic carousel located in Golden Gate Park. Built in 1914, this colorful gem is iconic in the park, yet surprisingly not well known. A beauty of over 60 animal figures an

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Afternoon on the Island
What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!
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San Francisco's Middle Earth
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.
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Your Mission Is Less Crowded
Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.
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Good Heavens
The 4-mile hike to the top of Angel Island offers Bay-mazing scenery. Some people claim you get a five-bridge view: Richmond-San Rafael, Bay, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward, and Dumbarton bridges.
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Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop
If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.
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Bear Hug
This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).
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Easiest Best Hike in the World
Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road
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National Park City Walk
See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.
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