All Stories from Southern CA

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  Santa Year Round

  Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale is an 836-acre county park with a namesake dam. Explore highlights on a 4-mile loop featuring a lake, a beach, and beautiful mountain vistas.

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  Hot Dams!

  Hot dam! Head to Santiago Oaks Regional Park for the best dam hike in Orange County. This 3.5-mile loop goes through riparian and chaparral environments with mountain vistas and two impressive dams.

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  On A Mission

  Feeling dammed up? Head for Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego for a 3-mile out-and-back trail that features a historic dam, ancient oaks, and a fresh perspective on the value of green space.

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  Ready When You Are: Reno Tahoe

  With outdoors being essential for health and wellness, and new protocols in place, Reno Tahoe welcomes visitors! It's wide open with snowshoe trails, fire pits by the river, skating, and hot springs.

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  La Mesa Secret Stairs

  Step up to 2021 on a secret stairway hike in San Diego’s east county. Head to La Mesa for a 1.4-mile (lollipop loop) historical urban adventure with secret stairs, postcard panoramas, and bonus brews!

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  Twice As Nice

  The best hidden peak in San Diego is actually two peaks! Twin Peaks in Poway sit at 1,309 and 1,251 feet, respectively. Bag both on a 2-mile loop that rewards with classic views and solitude.

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  Kwaay Paay All the Way

  Kwaay Paay peak seems modest as the fourth tallest of five in Mission Trails Regional Park, but don’t underrate this gem. Its panoramic views are among the best in San Diego on this 2.5-mile loop.

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  Lukens Good, LA!

  A 5,074-foot mountain the city? It’s not part of a movie set—it’s Mount Lukens in LA! And you can conquer its peak on a 10-mile (round-trip) hike starting from the Deukmejian Wilderness Park.

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  Sunsetsational!

  With a name like Sunset Peak, expectations are high—as in 5,796 feet high and 1,272 feet in elevation gain—with thrilling views on this summit hike near Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains.

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  Don't Overlook This Overlook!

  Head to the Nancy Hoover Pohl Overlook in Hollywood and hike Fryman Canyon for 1.5 miles, with just under 400 feet of elevation gain, and some of the very best views of the San Fernando Valley.

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  Briar Blockbuster

  Get a fresh perspective on Hollywood and awesome views while avoiding the crowds. Briar Summit Preserve has a short and sweet 1-mile, 250-foot climb and distinct 360-degree views across LA.

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  Not Your Garden Variety View

  This vista comes with botanical beauty. In LA's Griffith Park, enjoy fantastic florals by climbing 300 feet over a 1-mile out-and-back hike that's viewtiful. Enter Amir’s Garden!

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  Thank You to Our 2020 Team

  Thank you to our wonderful 2020 team for bringing the great outdoors home in a most challenging year. Meet our contributors and get ideas from their personal favorite CA adventures this year.

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  This Walk Rocks

  Go on a 2.5-mile out-and-back hike along the San Diego River and find the colorful “Covid-19 Rock Snake,” a project encouraging people to spread joy and kindness by adding to the chain of artful rocks.

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  Rock the Hope at Lake Elsinore

  Hike the 4-mile Levee Trail on the shores of Southern California's largest natural freshwater lake, Lake Elsinore, and get a splash of positive energy thanks to the Rock Snake started earlier this year.

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  Rocking Kindness: Monrovia

  While there may not yet be a rock snake along a Los Angeles trail, in Monrovia you can search for painted rocks with positive messages hidden throughout the town.

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  Trebek Open Space

  While most hikers head over to adjacent Runyon Canyon, instead do the 2-mile hike at Trebek Open Space and pay your respects to the legendary Jeopardy host and philanthropist, Alex Trebek.

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  Mural Walk Honoring Gianna and Kobe Bryant

  Kobe Bryant is the undeniable King of LA. Pay tribute to the life of the sports icon, and his daughter Gianna, on a 2.4-mile memorial walk among eight beautiful murals honoring them.

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  Rock and Roll Hike

  Ready to rock and roll? Honor the late, great Eddie Van Halen with a visit to his old stomping grounds in Pasadena and a nearby 2-mile hike with electric views and acoustic canyons.

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  Hill of a Good Hike!

  Ascot Hills Park in East LA is an 83-acre urban respite that's got a short loop hike with excellent vantages for watching the sun set behind LA’s downtown skyline, creating a fiery silhouette.

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