Woman standing on rocks overlooking mountain scenery at sunset in Los Angeles County at Cold Creek Trail in Moreno Valley

Short Sunset Hikes for the Holidays

Shorter days and crisper air do bring a bonus: late day hikes can be beautiful thanks to the sun's golden touch. These three hikes are beautiful, short, and sunset sweet.

Week: 12.04.2024
Regions: Southern CA

Merry in Moreno Valley

Hike Cold Creek Trail in Moreno Valley

At 2.6 miles round trip, a quick escape to the out-and-back Cold Creek Trail in Moreno Valley is a great way to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
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Something to Look Forward to

Discover Shoulder Season in Reno Tahoe

Spring for the West’s most dynamic mountain town – Reno, Nevada. The city’s very nature brings limitless possibilities for all seasons, including shoulder season! Here are some Reno Tahoe adventures to spring for in the new year.
Plan for Shoulder Season in Reno Tahoe

Diamond of a Hike

Hike Diamond Bar Loop in Los Angeles County

The 1.5-mile Diamond Bar Loop might be located in the center of Diamond Bar, but once you get out on the trail it’s easy to forget you’re in the thick of a busy place.
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Get Into The Grove

Go on a Short Hike at Oak Grove Park in Pasadena

The 1.8-mile Oak Grove Park Loop trail in La Cañada is short, easy, and close to the city; meaning it’s a perfect destination for a quick holiday hike.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    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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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. 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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  2. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

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  3. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

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  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

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