Tamarack Cross-Country Skiing
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Great cross country ski area with trails of various lengths and difficulties through scenic mountain terrain.
McGee Pass Trail (Day Hike)
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Popular day hike through a valley with beautiful mountain views, excellent fall colors in autumn, and nice wildflowers displays in the summer.
Lake Crowley Columns
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Cliffs filled with fascinating natural rock columns and caves at the edge of a lake.
Convict Lake
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Easy loop hike around a popular lake with blue waters, scenic mountains, trout fishing, and nice fall foliage.
Upper Owens River
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Popular, scenic, and easily accessible spot for trout fishing.
Lundy Canyon
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
One of the finest hikes in the Eastern Sierras, the route features waterfalls, aspen groves, beaver ponds, and beautiful scenery.
Parker Lake
Location: Lee Vining Area, Northern California, Eastern Sierras
Nice scenic hike to an alpine lake perfect for trout fishing.
Aspendell
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Cute community in the Eastern Sierras with beautiful fall foliage.
Silver City Ghost Town
Location: California, Eastern Sierras
Collection of historic buildings from mining camps and settlements through the area, restored in a picturesque state of arrested decay.
⊗ Freeman Creek
Location: California, Easter Sierras
Fun technical route with waterfall rappels, slides, and nice scenery.
Bishop Pass Trail to Dusy Basin ♦
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Great hike to a picturesque mountain basin with alpine lakes surrounded by towering peaks – best done as an overnight backpacking trip.
⊗ Seven Teacups ♦
Location: California, Easter Sierras
Super fun Class C technical canyon with numerous jumps and slides
Mission San Antonia de Padua
Location: California, East of Big Sur
Mission founded in 1771 with a mission church, garden, museum, and extant ruins of equipment intended to support a community around the mission which never materialized
Wagon Caves
Location: California, East of Big Sur
Rarely visited lovely area in the Los Padres National Forest with cool rock formations and climbing options
Tuolomne Meadows – Soda Springs
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows
Easy stroll through Tuolomne Meadows to a small cabin at a natural soda spring
Tioga Road
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows
Series of stops along the road between Yosemite Valley and Tuolomne Meadows
Cathedral Lakes
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows Area
Nice hike through pretty scenery to two lakes, both with views of Cathedral Peak
Mist Trail (to Vernal Fall)
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Short hike to the impressive Vernal Fall; spray from the falls creates impressive rainbows in morning sunlight
Sentinel Meadow ♦
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Easy hike providing several of the classic postcard Yosemite views
Bridalveil Falls
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Short and easy hike to a year-round waterfall in Yosemite Valley
Lower Yosemite Falls
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Easy stroll providing views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls ♦
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Historic trail to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls, providing outstanding views of some of Yosemite’s most iconic landmarks
Mono Lake
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
Lake with fascinating mineral towers (called tufa) exposed due to decreasing lake levels
Lake Sabrina
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Some of the nicest fall foliage displays California has to offer, set amidst lakes, streams, and country roads.
North Fork of Big Pine Creek ♦
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Big Pine
Great trail through mountain scenery to a series of lakes providing views of the Palisades and Palisade Glacier.
Bishop Pass Trail to Long Lake
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Extremely rewarding hike to an expansive lake surrounded by rugged mountains
June Lake Loop
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
Pretty lakeside resort area with lovely scenery and nice fall colors in the autumn
Limekiln Trails
Location: California, Central Big Sur
Nice hike through forests to historic limekiln ruins and a waterfall
McWay Waterfall Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Iconic view of the idyllic beach, waterfall, and bay with turquoise water
Ewoldsen Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Nice trail through redwood forests to rolling hills and sweeping coastal views
Partington Cove Trail
Location: California, Northern Big Sur
Tunnel and nice walkways lead to a picturesque hidden cove
Tanbark Trail and Tin House ♦
Location: California, Big Sur, Northern
Great hike through redwood forests with a waterfall and great views, ending at the ruins of an old tin house
Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Easy hike featuring a valley viewpoint and waterfall
Bixby Bridge
Location: California, Northern Big Sur
Iconic, oft-photographed bridge on the Big Sur coast
Golden Gate Bridge
Location: California, San Francisco
Options for viewing the Golden Gate Bridge, including some iconic viewpoints.
Sutro Bath Ruins
Location: California, San Francisco
Explore the ruins of a late 19th century swimming pool complex
Marin Headlands ♦
Location: California, San Francisco Bay Area
Explore a beautiful historic military area including old batteries and bunkers.
Muir Woods
Location: California, San Francisco Bay Area
Hiking amidst beautiful old growth redwood trees
Distance: 0.5 – 10 miles, 0 – 1240 feet of elevation gain
Napa Cycling
Location: California, Napa Valley
Basic information on cycling in Napa (with inspirational scenery pics)
Napa Wineries
Location: California, Napa Valley
Wineries in Napa that are a fun experience aside from the wine (which is also nice, of course).