All Stories from Southern CA
Secret Redwoods + Camping by the River
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park is a little-known gem where skyscraping reds (the tallest living trees in the world!) fly under the radar. Grizzly’s ironically small size and location off the beaten path provide near total seclusion, not to mention relaxing camping!
ViewCaves, Waves, and a Greenroom
Etched into volcanic rock awhirl with swooping brown pelicans, sea caves make for dramatic echo chambers, hissing with foam and swelling with ocean waves. And you, in the thick of
ViewJurassic Redwoods
Times change, but the tallest living trees in the world still tower over the grasslands of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (one of three state parks located within the jurisdicti
ViewCavern Point Loop
One of Santa Cruz Island’s most accessible trails is all about the essential elements: The 2-mile Cavern Point Loop Trail will get your eyes jazzed on vivid sea vistas as it traces
ViewBlue Coast
An enchanting coastal woodland sounds like a description out of a fairy tale, until you visit Patrick’s Point State Park, where turquoise tide pools gurgle beneath bluff-top redwoo
ViewRae of Light
Want special access to some of the most beautiful lakes in the Sierra Nevada? Grab your backpack and lace up your hiking boots for a multi-night journey on Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon. On the agenda: spiky granite peaks, rivers and lakes for refreshing swims, high mountain passes, and starry nights.
ViewKing of the Mountains
California’s first national park, Sequoia, is also among the least visited, and that means you get the quiet and raw beauty almost entirely to yourself. In a remote setting at the
ViewGiant Escape
Sequoia’s main tourist attraction is the General Sherman tree, literally the largest living thing on earth. Hordes of visitors make the easy 0.4-mile mini-pilgrimage to see the Gen
View![]()
Silver Lining
Spanning prime Pacific Ocean coastline, the Bayshore Bikeway from Coronado to Imperial Beach is your 20-mile Saturday ride in San Diego.
ViewBag the Wright Peak
Perched proudly over the largest freshwater lake located wholly within California’s borders, and visible for miles in all directions, Wright Peak on Mount Konocti is the tallest po
ViewLake County Lush-ious
Wildflowers aren’t the only things dotting the emerald-green rolling hills of Clear Lake. Wineries have been popping up all over the mountain ridgelines and sun-soaked valleys of t
ViewCoast to Crest Cruiser
Imagine a multi-use trail that extends from Volcan Mountain in the pine-studded forests of Julian to the coastal city of Del Mar—nearly 70 miles away. This dream is set to become a
ViewTunnels, Trestles, and the Impossible Railroad
You’re going to need a headlamp for this bike ride. Take a 15-mile out-and-back Wild West revival ride along the “Impossible” Railroad, an engineering feat that extended from San D
ViewClear as Can Be
Leaping fish, nesting birds, and what’s believed to be the oldest lake in North America. The choice is Clear Lake when it comes to an easy afternoon paddle with plenty of highlight
ViewTurnbull, Trekkin', Temple
Some hikes are like a highlight reel: they feature all of the good stuff quickly. Turnbull Canyon near the town of Whittier in LA County is the centerpiece of the Puente Hills Pres
ViewPowder Room
Between the cities of La Habra Heights and Rowland Heights lies a truly hidden gem offering a hiking experience of pure solitude and big views. Powder Canyon is home to a 5-mile lo
ViewWorsham Wow Factor
Extreme makeovers aren’t just for homes or celebrities. Garbage dumps are finally getting their time to shine too! Hikers may find it surprising that much of the available natural
ViewSweet Valley High
Sometimes you just need a fresh perspective. And getting up high to see things from a different view does the trick! At 3.6-miles (round-trip) the zigzagging Garstin Trail at the S
ViewCoachella Kinda Day
The Coachella Valley Preserve protects some 20,000 acres of wild desert, where the San Andreas Fault has worked as chief landscape architect. Seismic action forced freshwater sprin
ViewDon’t Hurry Murray
Don’t let the desert stereotype fool you: Palm Springs has a wet-and-wild side beyond hotel swimming pools. A 3.8-mile (round-trip) hike in Murray Canyon showcases Palm Springs as
View
The 2025 Hiking Calendar Is Here!
Ready to make hiking part of your New Year’s wellness plan? Get the all-new 2025 Hiking Calendar courtesy of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).
Get the 2025 POST Hiking Calendar
Your Inbox to the Outdoors
Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.
