California

From the Hole in the Wall information center, drive north on Black Canyon Road. Table Top is a fairly identifiable mesa to the east. Pick what you think is a suitable approach point and park your car in a dirt pullout. Grab your backpack and make a beeline for the mesa, straight through the dese...

Donohue Pass lies on the border of Yosemite National Park and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Both the John Muir Trail (JMT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) route through this pass at 11,056 ft. A challenging but beautiful hike that starts from Tuolumne Meadows and follows the JMT for 12.5 miles t...

This location turned out to be one of our favorite unplanned stops in the Yosemite Valley to photograph and explore.Stoneman Bridge was constructed in 1933 and spans 72 feet long. The Merced River flows under this classic stone bridge providing very photogenic reflections, with Half Dome in the b...

My favorite hike in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. From the visitor center you will take Kennedy Memorial Drive towards the dam, make a left at Brandy Creek Road. At a junction for Sheep camp/Shasta Bally make a left. You will arrive at the trailhead. This hike follows a beautiful stream t...

Although this hike can be done as a day hike, there are incredible camping spots near the lake. The easiest way to start this hike is to start at the Echo Lakes. There is ample parking above the marina and you even have the option of taking a water taxi across the echo lakes to cut off around 2.5...

Getting There: Take Highway 395 heading toward Benton Crossing Road. Turn onto Benton Crossing and you’ll see an adorable wee green church. Continue two miles down the road. You’ll make a left turn and head down a dirt road. Cell service is scant in this area, so you'll probably want to...

Hike along the easy Wall Street Mill Trail for about one mile and you will reach the mill - if you are into night photography, this is an amazing subject that will bring you back again and again, always capturing something different. Explore around off trail - there are tons of boulders to play a...

To get to the trail, take Big Tujunga Canyon Road until you see signs for Trail Canyon Road. The entry point is easy to miss, but keep an eye out for a stop sign and cars parked at the bottom of a dirt path. Drive up the dirt path for direct parking at the trailhead (4x4 is definitely recommended...

Itching to climb outdoors near San Francisco?  With only a quick drive from the city, Ring Mountain is a beautiful nature preserve overlooking the city of San Francisco offering two main rock formations, Turtle Rock (Pictured) and Split Rock.  Split Rock is the slabby rock south of the parking ar...

June sunshine blazes on your shoulders during this scenic stroll through the Point Reyes Seashore. The trail is alive and awash with colorful wildflowers around every corner. Beginning at the trailhead, just off Home Ranch Road, with a convenient parking lot and bathroom, you'll wade through a h...

Whether you're a beginning, intermediate, or advanced paddler, there are numerous ways to explore via sea kayak the protected waters off the coast of Laguna Beach. You can bring your own or rent and book a tour from several shops in town. An excellent starting point is at Fisherman's Cove just of...

This loop begins at the Tall Trees Trailhead.  To access this parking area, you must have a permit that you can obtain from the Kuchel ranger station.  The gate is locked.  When you get the permit, the ranger will also give you the combination to the gate.  Once you drive through, close the gate ...

This is a great stop when passing through the Anza Borrego Desert. The drive is very scenic, and passes through Sunrise Highway. Once you turn off the road, it's a very short drive up the hill where you will find a large spot to leave your car. There is a service gate that you can't drive through...

Park at the lot in the China Camp State Park. Hop onto the Bay View trail to gain to begin the loop trail. Switchbacks take you up to a long and easy path passing through shaded and open areas. Enjoy the grasslands speckled with oak trees and coyote brush. You can see the San Rafael bay and bridg...

Cabrillo National Monument is named after Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European explorer to reach America's Wet Coast. There are many knowledgable rangers in the park who are eager to share interesting historical facts.  Activities in the park include hiking: the Bayside Trail offers 2 mile...

Mt. Tallac may be one of the Lake Tahoe Basin's most famous peaks to hike because of its fantastic views of Lake Tahoe, but my personal favorite view in Tahoe is from the top of Freel Peak or Jobs Sister. Freel Peak is the tallest peak in the Lake Tahoe Basin at 10,881 feet.From the top of Freel...