All in Northern CA

  1. Woman hugging sheep at Hidden Villa Farm in the South Bay

    Comfort and Joy Outdoors

    From a hike that includes a farm filled with delightful animals, to a trail less-traveled on Mount Tam and a San Francisco classic, here are some holiday hikes for comfort and joy outside.

    VIEW
  2. Woman watching a sunset at Windy Hill Preserve in the South Bay

    Sunset and Mistletoe Hikes

    The holidays are different in 2020 but you can still find comfort and joy outside. Go on a sunset hike that's quieter this year, or see the mistletoe and fall colors that are still making a splash.

    VIEW
  3. Biking in Alameda

    Let's Roll!

    Looking for some fun ways to spice up the holiday season outdoors? These 3 easy bike rides include patio pit stops to grab a drink & bite. Wheels down, masks up, the holidays are on!

    VIEW
  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  5. Woman at Got Rock Beach Taking Photos at Sunset

    Gobble Up These Outdoor Adventures

    If there’s one thing 2020 has made vividly apparent, it’s how much we appreciate getting outside. Here’s to a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and a few ways to enjoy some local adventures.

    VIEW
  6. Autumn Outdoors in Apple Hill and Nevada City

    Gold Rush Outdoors

    California's closest thing to autumn in New England is in places like Apple Hill. From trails festooned in fall foliage, to local farms and wineries, plus apple cider donuts, go for gold country!

    VIEW
  7. Hike Olompali State Historic Park

    Color-fall Hikes for the Holidays

    Cooler temps and colorful foliage make autumn a great time of year for hitting the trails. These three easy hikes pack in a bit of extra fall color to go with your pumpkin spice whatnot.

    VIEW
  8. Meditative Redwoods Hikes Forest Bathing in the SF Bay Area

    Redwood Therapy Hikes

    Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese art of forest bathing, developed as a way to take care of one’s health. These three meditative redwoods hikes will help to soothe your soul.

    VIEW
  9. San Francisco Sutro Baths

    Haunted Hikes

    Who ghosts there? Find out on any of these Bay Area hikes filled with ghost stories and mysteries from the past ... and where spirits may still be present. Boo-yeah!

    VIEW
  10. Hike the Oursan Trail at Briones Reservoir

    Secret Watersides

    From a tiny beach with warm-ish water to a creekside ramble and a wide-open trail less traveled: Explore, hike, and relax at any of these less known waterside escapes throughout the Bay Area.

    VIEW
  11. Sonoma County Great Outdoors Boon Hotel and Spa

    Uncork These Adventures!

    Discover Sonoma County's coastal hikes, hidden beaches, secret redwoods, tent-cabin stays, and vineyard bike rides. Come for the wine, stay for the outdoors!

    VIEW
  12. Hike the redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park

    Redwoods Right Now

    2020's symbol of resilience: the redwood. While some redwood havens are currently closed, there are still places you go in the South Bay for your redwood fix. Here are 3 redwood respites to hike right now.

    VIEW
  13. Briones Regional Park hike in autumn

    Autumn Trails

    Autumn is a lovely season for exploring Northern California's outdoor wonders: coastal trails, picnic spots overlooking the ocean, and churning colors along the oak-dotted East Bay hills.

    VIEW
  14. Bike the Coastal Trail to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay

    Cooler Heads Prevail

    We know, there's a lot going on! Keep your cool by getting out into nature for a change of scenery. These hikes and bike rides have big views, from redwoods to sea.

    VIEW
  15. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  16. Hike Tomales Point Trail in Point Reyes

    Renewed Perspective

    Ready for a renewed perspective? Check the air quality, then hike any of these Bay Area beauties, from a classic in Point Reyes to a less known loop in the East Bay and a tranquil trail on the Peninsula.

    VIEW
  17. Bernal Heights Park in San Francisco at Sunset

    Parks and Rec

    San Francisco's parks are places of respite and discovery. Here are some ways to go explore them anew. Bonus: you'll also some great points of view!

    VIEW
  18. Bike the Napa Valley Vine Trail & Grab Beers at Stone Brewing

    Waterside Hikes and Bike Rides

    Get Refreshed with these waterside hikes and bike rides featuring beautiful views, craft brews, and iconic bridges.

    VIEW
  19. Sierra Nevada Lake Camping California

    Four Goodness Lakes!

    Enjoy the Sierra Nevada's most refreshing assets: lakes! Here are four lake camping destinations in the Sierra Nevada where you can escape for some lounging, paddling, and hiking.

    VIEW
  20. Lakes Basin Camping and Hiking in the Sierra Nevada

    Secret Sierra

    The Lakes Basin is the High Sierra, simplified. About one hour northwest of Tahoe you'll find chill lakeside camping, miles of uncrowded hiking trails, and a lookout like no other.

    VIEW
  21. Hidden Labyrinth Hikes and Bike Rides in the Bay Area

    Hidden Labyrinths

    Meditative, contemplative, creative, and sometimes just simply fun, labyrinths seem to pop up all over the Bay Area. Here are three to discover on hikes and bike rides.

    VIEW
  22. Hike-in to Marin's Black Sands Beach

    A Midsummer Weekend's Dream

    Get your midsummer mojo workin' with river kayaking, ridgetop hikes and bike rides, and a hideaway beach. These are some great ways to mix it up outdoors this summer.

    VIEW

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. 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!

    View
  2. 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.

    View

  3. Berry Good Hike (or Bike)

    This 7-mile out-and-back through Sanborn County Park has big views of the South Bay and offers some reprieve from summer heat thanks to shaded sections among towering firs.

    View
  4. Hike top Angel Island Mount Livermore San Francisco Bay

    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.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  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.

    View

  2. 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

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    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.

    View
  4. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    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.

    View