All Stories from Northern CA

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  California's Serengeti

  When people talk about our great golden state, rarely included in that conversation is the Central Valley’s Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, or, as we call it: California’s Serengeti. It’s home to some of the most spectacular concentrations of waterfowl in the entire continent, and fall and winter are prime times for viewing action.

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  The Carson Show

  Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

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  From Town to Falls

  Mount Tam’s Cascade Falls is a bit under the radar, tucked back off a residential area in Mill Valley. Some people drive up to the tiny parking lot nearest to the falls. Do an easy 3-mile (round-trip) hike right from downtown Mill Valley, weaving through quiet streets and secret trails.

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  Get Coasting

  Rain or shine, there’s one getaway that’s good all the time. San Luis Obispo (SLO) is just a few hours from both San Francisco and Los Angeles, and it’s the liveliest hub for easy

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  What a Rush!

  Mount Tam’s Cataract Falls is the bobsled course of waterfalls: over a mile of twisting, turning, tumbling water—gushing, rushing, and making a splash! The real joy is hiking right

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  Bend In

  Have you heard? Bend is in. From carving powdery turns all the way down a volcano or snow-biking to a roaring waterfall, to snowshoeing with epic views and enjoying some craft brew

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  Sun Tam

  If you’ve ever driven Mount Tam’s West Ridgecrest Boulevard, then you know how dramatic it is, with its sweeping coastal scenery, edged by rolling headlands and hulking cliffs, wit

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  Sunset in a Pinch

  Sometimes you’ve only got minutes to get to a high point in time for sunset. So keep it simple on a short hike that delivers a sunset punch within twenty minutes. The East Bay’s Cl

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  Sunset Gone Wilder

  So you’re sort of snobby about your sunsets? You like a brilliant technicolor all across the sky as the sun sets on the horizon? Great! Go Wilder! Wilder Ranch State Park’s Old Cov

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  Romancing the Snow

  We know a dozen roses is romantic. But to really impress? Uncork a weekend escape with some serious champagne powder! North Lake Tahoe is experiencing record-breaking snowfall this

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  Romancing the Redwoods

  This Valentine’s Day, instead of a dozen red roses, give your better half the gift of thousands of redwoods. Just a few hours from the Bay Area, magical Humboldt County is home to

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  Four-Legged Falls

  Love your dog? Love waterfalls? Get the best of both on this easygoing hike hidden in Novato. Indian Valley Open Space Preserve is tucked behind the College of Marin campus, and those who discover it are in for a treat.

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  Viva Las Trampas

  A clear winter day calls for a long hike to savor some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful scenery, including some flowing cascades after rain. Hike this nearly 7-mile loop in Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.

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  Bello from the Hills

  Vast rolling hills, serene forest, breathtaking vistas, and hardly any people … it’s not hermit-ville, it’s hiker-ville! Monte Bello Open Space Preserve in the South Bay spans 3,43

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  See It To Believe It

  It’s the snowiest January North Lake Tahoe has seen in over 45 years! Here are some top reasons to get up there this winter: Best Conditions + Variety: The snow conditions are the

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  Castle of Wonders

  A demure waterfall best after fresh rains, sandstone formations pockmarked by time, epic ridge vistas, and currently flowing seasonal streams … it all comes together at Castle Rock

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  Maple in the Redwoods

  Over the creek and through the redwoods you’ll go, on this 9-mile (round-trip) partial loop hike in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. This hike is loaded with charms, but the

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  Long Distance Relationship

  Pacifica wants to get something off its chest. It’s got a lot more going on than a laid-back vibe, good surf, and a beachfront Taco Bell. It’s got a hidden waterfall back in the ca

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  Time to Meet the Neighbor

  It’s home to the Loneliest Road in America. And we guarantee you’ll come home with more stories than souvenirs when you go on a weekend road trip in Nevada! As the most mountainous

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  Big Burdell!

  Summiting Marin’s Mount Burdell isn’t on many bucket lists, but it should be. At just over 1,500 feet, it’s the highest peak in north Marin, and the summit payoff is plentiful.

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