The Outbound Collective

Heading out on the Granite Chief Trail, you'll start with a challenging 3.5 mile hike to meet up with the Pacific Crest Trail. During this part of the trek, you'll gain approximately 2,000ft. The good news is that most of this hike is forested, so you'll get a little coverage to protect from the sun. The few openings you'll cross offer up great views of Lake Tahoe and surrounding peaks. Once yo...

Bagby Hot Springs is actually a set of amazing bathhouses nestled in the forest outside of Estacada. They are one of Oregon’s most poplar hot springs, and for good reason. The hike into the hot springs is easy and quite scenic. You’ll cross a bridge over Nohorn Creek and follow the Hot Springs Fork of the Collawash River up to the bathhouses. There are three sets of bathhouses at the site, eac...

To get to this beach, first make sure your vehicle can handle dirt roads. Follow the road out of Poipu east (this is where it turns to dirt) follow until road until it "T"'s into another dirt road., turn right. After the security gate (public access is fine) there is a fork in the road, stay right. Just stay on this to the parking lot at end. After you grab your gear take the trail straight out...

Strawberry Hill is one of the hidden gems of Golden Gate Park. It is named after the once abundant strawberry fields that inhabited the island. The hill, which reaches up to 430ft, is located in the middle of Stow Lake and has 2 foot bridges for access. This is a great place to run if you're looking to get away from the crowds in the park, but you may want to take a few laps to get your full wo...

Nestled along the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay is a great destination offering a blend of outdoor adventure and relaxation. With its crystal-clear waters and sandy beaches, Meeks Bay is great for swimming especially on hot summer days or after hitting the trails. Whether you're seeking an action-packed adventure or a peaceful retreat, Meeks Bay offers a little something for every...

Looking for a camping adventure without even having to leave Seattle? Camp Long is the perfect option for beginning campers, families, or anyone who just wants to spend some time in nature without having to deal with a road trip. While Camp Long isn’t necessarily a secret, it still definitely flies under the radar of most folks. It’s a 68-acre park that features forest hikes, rock climbing, and...

Mauna Kea is known as one of the most picturesque beaches on the Big Island, if not the world. This beach is predominately a sandy bottom and only gets about 10 feet deep, making it an easy and safe place for a swim. If you spend the entire day here, bring your snorkel gear, and head out on the north side of the beach near the rocks. This is where the reef starts and will have the most sea life...

Take time to stop in the first area, Rocky Ridge with it’s grassy knolls to enjoy views in all areas. Head up the Eldeberry Trail, which will take you up the muddy or sunny (depending on the time of year) side of the ridge. Once you’ve made it through the mud, the trail returns to grassier open space for your enjoyment. Just short of 2-miles, you’ll come across Upper Trail, which you’ll start t...

Honolua Bay is one of the best waves on the northwestern coast of Maui and offers up great waves during the winter months. The break picks up Northern swells and produces a near-perfect right-hand point break with big barrels and turn sections. There are 4 main sections to the wave: Coconuts, Outside, Cave, and Keiki Bowl. Coconuts is the furthest take off point, where the waves have the most s...

Perched atop the cliffs of Cape Blanco, this is a small state park that features big views of the beautiful southern Oregon coastline. The trails to the beaches and the bluffs are mostly empty, and all of the campsites are very private, so if you’re looking for peaceful solitude and salty air, this is your spot. There are four rustic cabins perched along the cliff that we highly recommend. They...

This trail is currently closed. Visit the Forest Service website for updates.  As you head down to Roberts Camp, a historic set of historic cabins, you’ll head out on a steep, paved road for approximately 0.6 miles. Once you reach the camp, head over the bridge and keep an eye out for the sign for the Gabrielino Trail, which will take you to the falls. Along the trail, you’ll have to cross th...

In the northwest corner of Donner Lake, there are public docks run by the Truckee Donner Recreation & Parks district. It's free to lay out your towels and hang out, but there is a fee for launching boats on the ramp. Come over in the late afternoon, enjoy the sunset, and go for a swim as the sun goes down!

From the parking area at Kekaha Kai State Park, it's about a 20-30 minute walk to the beach. The walk is through black lava fields and is very exposed. Depending on how much gear you're carrying, it could seem like an eternity by the time you hit the beach. If you have a 4-wheel drive car with good clearance, you can actually drive up to the beach by taking highway 19 and turning off between mi...

To get here, park at Kalama Beach Park parking lot and just walk down to the beach. The break is just off to the left, look for the surfers or bodysurfers. Shorebreak's is best primarily on a wind swell with the prevailing wind onshore. It can be hella fun and a good place to learn and also to hone your skills under any conditions. Bring a smile and a great attitude. Mahalo.

Turtle Town technically spans the area between Nahuna Beach and Black Sand Beach, but because Maluaka Beach has some of the best snorkeling on the island, many consider it the epicenter of Turtle Town. Beacause this beach is protected from trade winds by Haleakala, the water is calm, making it a great place to snorkel and an easy spot where kids can swim. If you're looking for sea life, head to...

Known for its breathtaking vistas, towering granite faces, and thundering waterfalls, Yosemite National Park truly is one of the world’s most astounding landscapes. Though the park covers nearly 1200 square miles, the vast majority of the ~4 million annual visitors spend almost all their time around the 18 square miles of Yosemite Valley. Especially between mid-April and mid-September, the va...

The city of refuge takes its name from the safe haven where defeated warriors and sacred lawbreakers would find sanctuary. The direction the bay faces protects it from most swells that hit the big island, making the calm water a great place to dive! The water stays shallow, around 10 feet deep before you get too far out and there's an abundance of sunlight, making visibility high if you're look...

The myriad rock features offer many different climbing options for each crux which can help or confuse. Sometimes it is easier to do an improbable face move to the side of a major feature. Some 5.8 moves, the crux on Haystack for example feel like 5.7 if you have the perfect beta or 5.10 if you miss a key hold. Beat? Want good food at a decent price? Strawberry Lodge is right there (http://ww...

This 7 mile round-trip hike takes you to the mountain's summit. From here you'll be able to take in an amazing view. During the hike, you'll head around the left side of Mountain Lake, and then continue on to Twin Lakes, before starting your jaunt to the top of Mt. Constitution. The hike around the lakes (stay to the left of Twin Lakes) is more of an easy stroll. Once you hit the trail to head...

This is one of my favorite quick "getaway" loops in the Pisgah Ranger District. Turn onto Black Balsam Knob Road (Mile Marker 420 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) go until you reach a dead end and park at the parking lot. You'll see the Sam Knob trail to the right of the public bathrooms. From there, it's 1.8 miles to the summit of the 6050 foot Sam Knob. I love setting up camp in the middle or clos...

Vineyard beach offers up a convenient place to get your SUP or kayak in the water. This spot is free to enter and allows for swimmers, so if you get tired or just want to hang out, this is a great spot for you. And unlike it's neighbor, Utah Lake is completely fresh water. When you head out on your paddle, you can start paddling west to check out Lake Mountain along the coast of the west side o...

At 14,309 feet, the summit of Uncompahgre Peak is the highest point in the entire San Juan range, but getting to it requires only good hiking skills, good physical shape, and a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead. From Lake City, head west along the Alpine Loop about 5 miles to a turnoff (right) for Nellie Creek. The next four miles to the trailhead are extremely ...

There are two popular starting points from Guardsman Road. The lower trail climbs and the higher one trail descends, then they converge at Scott's Pass below Puke Hill. The shuttled ride ends with a pavement rush down Mill Creek Canyon (and a possible detour onto Mill Creek Pipeline on the way down). But there are two favorite "classic" starting points: (1) Go all the way to the Guardsman Pass ...

The first portion of the trail is smooth, hard-pack dirt with a gentle slope. After a mile, the slope increases. Rocky sections will test your bike handling skills. ("Endos" are common on this trail during the ride back.) Most of the year, you'll encounter some water running in sections of the trail. We'd rate this trail a solid intermediate with some short advanced portions. Even on weekdays, ...