All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

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  This Is Paradise

  Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

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  This Urban Spot Is Tops

  Once an old military command post, today the Presidio in San Francisco is the largest urban national park in the United States. It’s also home to the relatively new Presidio Tunnel Tops a park built on top of Presidio Parkway tunnels. Not only does this offer a corridor for animals and plants to thrive in, it’s also a great community space for humans.

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  CA's Wild Coast National Park

  Its nickname is “North America’s Galapagos." Channel Islands National Park comprises five distinct and isolated islands separated from the mainland by 25 miles of open ocean. The park is home to more than 2,000 terrestrial plants and animals, of which 145 are found nowhere else in the world. At the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz, embark on a guided sea kayaking exploration among the caves of the island.

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  Forest for the Trees

  The world’s tallest trees can be seen in only one place: California. Specifically, Humboldt County in the far reaches of northern California. The county is a boon of rugged coastal beauty, wildlife like Roosevelt elk, canyons frilled by dewy ferns and trickling waterfalls, and yes—the tallest trees on the planet. The marquee hike for seeing the trees is at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (located within Redwood National Park).

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  Desert Dreams are Made of These CA National Parks

  Desert dreams are made of these two California national parks. Joshua Tree and Death Valley are both marvels for their natural formations, high ranking dark sky status, beautiful and unique blooms, and variety of animal life. Here are some of the best hikes to do in these parks.

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  Berkeley Cool

  The Bay Area’s coolest place to go this summer? Berkeley’s your basecamp! Say goodbye to summer heat and hello to cooler experiences. From its chill college town energy to the refreshing ocean breeze.

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  Wapama Wows

  Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

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  Spokane Like a Local

  Here’s an idea for an epic summer vacation: Spokane! This urban river city in Washington State shines with summer sun, a fabulous 4th of July, outdoor patios everywhere—and of course—the great outdoors.

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  Sheep Tight!

  You’re not going to have to count sheep to get a good night’s sleep at Sheep Dung’s beautiful property in Anderson Valley near Boonville. Four modern cottages—tucked far apart from each other among 500 acres of rolling hills—are designed for blissful solitude. And it’s dog-friendly!

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  Sublime in Sanborn

  Located right next door to Castle Rock State Park, lesser-known Sanborn County Park packs mighty beauty within a small hike on the 3-mile Summit Rock Loop.

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  A Very Bavarian Spring

  Ready to change up your spring scenery? Pack your bags for this alpine adventure in Washington State’s Cascade Mountains. The Bavarian-style hamlet of Leavenworth could be a stand-in for a mountain village in Europe.

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  Cañada Collage

  This 4.3-mile loop through Cañada Del Oro Open Space Preserve showcases all the highlights of the season, thrumming with wildlife and wildflowers.

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  Be Dune-spired!

  There’s only one urban park on the planet that helped inspire a major theme in Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi book, Dune. Herbert was born and raised in Tacoma, and Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park is named in honor of his famous novel—a tribute to one of the book’s main ideas ...

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  Tacoma Time

  Idyllically located on the banks of Puget Sound, Tacoma bustles with abundant outdoors, a lively urban center, and the beautiful Ruston Way Waterfront, which connects downtown to one of America’s preeminent urban parks: Point Defiance Park.

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  The Beauty of Bainbridge Island

  You know a place is special when locals head to it for their in-state vacations. Follow the lead of Seattleites and venture to beautiful Bainbridge Island in the heart of Puget Sound on the Kitsap Peninsula. Hike the Grand Forest here, meet Pia the Peacekeeper, and enjoy tasty food and drinks.

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  Little Norway

  There aren’t many small towns in America that look and feel like Europe, but Washington State sure seems to have a few! Lesser known among them is Poulsbo on the Kitsap Peninsula. Dubbed “Little Norway,” this hamlet on the waterfront of Liberty Bay is charmed with Scandinavian influence.  

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  Go Big in Bremerton

  Make your way to the largest city on the Kitsap Peninsula, Bremerton. Best known for its naval and maritime heritage, there’s also plenty of outdoors to explore, including a hidden treasure within the Puget Sound Basin: the Keta Legacy Foundation Rhododendron Preserve.

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  East Bay Bike With Blossoms

  Spring wildflowers are in full bloom on this 15.5-mile bicycle loop through the East Bay that begins at charming Heather Farm Park and features plenty of scenic highlights.

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  Sponsored

  2024 Wildflower Walks Guide

  After spring rain … comes a rainbow of wildflowers! And the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) is sharing the best places for seeing bountiful blossoms in their complimentary 2024 Wildflower Walks Guide.

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  Talk of the Town

  We're spilling the tea on this bountiful 5.5-mile loop to Gossip Rock in Hayward’s Garin Regional Park (currently whispering all the right springtime notes).

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