All in Southern CA

  1. Hiker at Horsethief Canyon on a trail overlooking the San Gabriels in San Dimas

    Views and Brews

    Easy magic trick: one, two, three ... San Dimas! This city tucked within the San Gabriel Valley is a gateway to glorious hiking trails less traveled, with stellar views and a few places to grab bonus brews.

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  2. Hiker on Grays Peak Trail in Big Bear

    Fall Color Hikes and Apple Cider Bonuses

    Fall colors, apple cider donuts, did we mention seasonal beer, too? Combine them all this fall with these fantastic harvest hikes filled with apple orchards, peaks, mountain views, and tasty treats.

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  3. Hike Elysian Park in Los Angeles

    Savoring Fall

    All aboard the wild train to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years! Not ready to board that train? We don’t blame you—take some time to enjoy the onset of autumn with one of these beautiful and chill fall adventures.

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    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.

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  5. Wild Hikes

    So close, yet so far away. These cities in SoCal offer fantastic nearby hiking destinations where you can go wild without having to go to the wilds!

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  6. Hiker at the top of Fiji Hill overlooking the mountainous background in Los Angeles

    Hill New Perspective

    If heading for the hills brings to mind the Hollywood Hills, it’s time for a new point of view. These three hills in parks and open spaces take you to a fresh perspective.

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  7. Amazing Coastal Hikes

    Sure, beach going is great, but sometimes you want to lace up the hiking boots before sinking your toes in the sand. These three coastal wanders offer a variety of ocean scenery, secluded beaches, and some mellow time on marshland. trails.

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  8. Woman hiking San Onofre Bluffs Trail above San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County

    Beautiful Beach Hikes

    Keep your cool this season with some seriously scenic coastal trails to these beautiful beaches in San Diego County

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  9. Hike the Griffith Park Classic Fern Dell to Mount Hollywood

    Seeing the Forest for the Trees

    With all of California's national forests shut down, outdoor recreation is getting slightly squeezed for now. So have patience, take care, and enjoy these beautiful outdoor adventures at parks where you can still forest bathe in the beauty of trees.

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  10. woman hiking to view over LA at Runyon Canyon with dogs

    Hikes with Your Best Friend

    Hiking with your furry best friend is such a pawsitive thing to do, and these three LA spots have mountain-to-sea panoramas, cinematic scenery, and inspiration points that are top dog!

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  11. Scenic Hike from Point Fermin Park to Angels Gate Park in Los Angeles

    Down by the Sea

    She may sell seashells by the seashore, but where does she hike and bike? By the sea, of course! These seaside strolls and rolls are stupendously spectacular.

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  12. hiker at Whiting Ranch Wilderness canyon

    Hidden Canyon Hikes

    Arizona and Utah get all the attention for canyons and astounding rock formations, but Southern California has a few secret ones to hike among or drop into—with the help of a ladder. And they’re not too far away!

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  13. Backpacker on Tuolumne River in Yosemite High Sierra

    How to Lose the Crowds in National Parks

    A magical thing happens when you hike just a mile or two from trailheads in popular national parks: Crowds begin to disappear. Even better, go backpacking to really have solitude. These trips in Yosemite, Zion, Point Reyes, and Channel Islands are out-of-office adventure havens.

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  14. Hike to Gould Mesa Camp in LA County

    Trails Less Traveled

    Hooray, outside is awesome and everyone now seems to know it. The challenge? Trails are a little crowded this summer. Where can you get a little space? These five hiking spots in LA County are often overlooked or under-traveled in favor of more popular nearby options.

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  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.

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  16. Woman hiking the Bear Canyon Trail with huge mountain views in the background at Mount Baldy in Los Angeles County

    Beer Hikes

    Hike, then beer? We’ve brewed up some summer adventures where all trails lead to beer(s)! These three routes have plenty of great vistas, beaches, and forest features, followed by nearby brewpubs for refreshing your spirits, and quenching your post-hike thirst.

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  17. Water Hikes

    Summer in SoCal—hot, and dry right now, due to drought. Fortunately, LA’s still got some treasured and less-known waterworks for chilling out. Here are three to visit and appreciate.

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  18. No Reservations Backpacking and Camping

    No reservation? No problem! Well, at least if you have a few of these tips on camping and backpacking in California. From first-come, first-served camping, to no quotas on wilderness backpacking, here are three places to go for summer.

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  19. Hike-in to the beach at Leo Carrillo State Park

    From Sea to Summit

    America's birthday is coming in hot. These summer classic adventures go from the sea to summits: Hike-in beaches, mellow redwood wanders (in SoCal), and panoramic peak hikes await. Go fourth the great outdoors!

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  20. Woman biking the riverside bike trail from Ventura to Ojai

    AdVentura Time!

    Kick off the official start of the season with a big adVentura. Ventura pops with summer delights like a riverside bike trail to Ojai, plus lakeside hiking, camping, boating, and epic disc golf too.

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  21. Woman walking down towards Blacks Beach in La Jolla

    Outdoor Education

    Among the best places to enjoy art, sculptures, and botanical gardens? College campuses during summer are lovely places to stroll, observe natural beauty and creative art outdoors, plus find surprises like a nearby beach. Here are a few to see.

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  22. Woman hiking lakeside at Lake Hodges in San Diego County

    Lake Hikes

    Water is a scarce resource these days. Pay homage to it and enjoy the precious view hiking beside these lovely lakes and reservoirs in North San Diego County.

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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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