The Outbound Collective

Like camping in remote locations? Love oysters? This is it! Tomales Bay offers boat-in only campgrounds along the east side of the peninsula. We departed from Chicken Ranch Beach, which is on the west side of Tomales Bay. We jumped in our kayaks and headed north in the bay for a quick breather at Heart's Desire Beach. This beach has restrooms, so keep that in mind when you head up. One thing th...

The most common route, sometimes called the standard route or the Lavender Col route, begins at or near the top of Yankee Boy Basin, just outside of Ouray. Take the Camp Bird Road as far as you can, though be warned that the last few miles of the road are extremely rough and should only be attempted in a vehicle with four-wheel-drive and high-clearance. From the upper trailhead, the route to ...

This quick, yet challenging trail run is located just minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Grab your dog (on-leash), park in the large lot next to Rodeo Beach and hit the trail! The climb starts up the Coastal Trail to the right end of the parking lot if you're staring at the beach. Take the Coastal Trail up to Hill 88. You'll see the Coastal Trail veer off into multiple directions during ...

Are the beaches of Santa Cruz too cold to swim in? Of course they are. But this swimming hole has your back. The Bay Area isn't blessed with a bounty of freely accessible, dog-friendly swimming holes. The Garden of Eden, just off Route 9 in the Henry Cowell Redwoods is one of them. Park on the side of the road (arrive early to guarantee yourself a spot) and hike down the quick, steep trail to ...

Take an early morning swim and watch the sunrise over the east bay or catch an afternoon swim on a sunny SF day. A full lap around the buoys (out-and-back) is about 1/3 mile and the perimeter of the park is 1 mile. Bring your dog for a swim too! Afterward, you can head up Columbus to one of the many coffee shops in north beach to warm up, or even better, an irish coffee at the Buena Vista.

Goldmyer Hot Springs is a beautiful little gem nestled within the wilderness of the stunning Cascade Mountains. This hot springs complex is situated on the old remains of a mining town, and delivers steadily flowing water to a set of tiered pools along the mountainside. The “cave” pool at the top hovers around 110 degrees, but as the water cascades down into the lower pools, it cools down to a ...

Beyond McLaren's family friendly playgrounds and picnic areas, there are miles of trail to explore. The Philosopher's trail is a well-marked loop (notice the stone markings along the trail with arrows etched into them). There are several parking lots available where you can jump onto the loop. Note that the trailhead off of Mansell street at Visitacion Ave is fairly exposed for about the first ...

Diamond head has a couple of good breaks close to town if you're looking to get away from the crowds at Waikiki Beach. There are easy trails down to the beach and channels to paddle out in - the paddle is a little long, so mentally prepare yourself. The two main breaks are Cliffs and Lighthouse. Cliffs is a more user-friendly wave with rights and lefts and Lighthouse is a higher-performance wav...

The first 1.6 miles along the Pacifc Crest Trail is the same route to Summit Lake Trail. When you see the fork for Warren Lake and Summit Lake, head to the left. Although the Summit Lake trail looks easier, which it is, don't let that detour you. Start climbing up the 1,500ft incline then drop back down 1,500ft. The good news about grinding it out on the climb is that it usually keeps the crowd...

The Saratoga Gap Trail is relatively lightly trafficked trail that is good year round, although waterfalls peak in late winter and spring. Overall, this 4.7 mile partial loop hike is moderate, with about 1000 feet in elevation change. Trailhead elevation is about 3090 feet. The featured hike descends to about 2300 feet, then gradually ascends back to the trailhead. Some short sections of trail ...

Lake Tahoe has so many beautiful and breath-taking places to visit, hike, camp, wander around, etc. and Fallen Leaf Lake is definitely one of them. It's free to visit and park too and it is an easy hike from the parking area to the lake. The lake is very tranquil and serene and for those who want a more secluded place than Lake Tahoe this is a perfect spot. It is very easy to relax here and ...

Laniakea beach or Lani’s, is a world-class surf break located on the North Shore. It is also referred to as “Turtle beach”, because this natural sanctuary attracts so many of the endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle or “Honu”...making this the perfect place to see a few up close. If you're driving toward Waimea Bay, Laniakea is the first beach you'll see on your left. You can't miss it - there...

Angora Lakes is a lake located just 6.5 miles from South Lake Tahoe. The upper lake has the best fishing for small trout. Because the water is so clear, they often only bite when the lake is shaded at dawn and dusk, and they go into lockjaw mode when sunlight is on the water.

The Baker Beach Sand Ladder is a section of the Pacific Coast Trail that is comprised of 200 ten foot poles tied together to form stairs down to North Baker Beach from Lincoln Blvd. If you’re looking for a lung and butt-busting workout, and you’d like a break from your standard routine, you need to check this place out. These “stairs” are a real challenge and can be tackled as a stand-alone w...

Just off the Angeles Crest highway, you’ll find one of LA’s best waterfalls, Switzer Falls. There is a parking lot just next to the trailhead. If you go on the weekend and run into a crowd, there’s parking near the highway, adding a little distance to your trek. Once you’ve walked through the Switzer picnic area, and made it to the trailhead, start heading out on the Bear Canyon Trail. The beg...

The trail, is roughly 3.2 miles and is a great option if you're in the Kailua area. You'll hike in a covered forest along the riverbank, which leads to an amazing waterfall and swimming hole. Many people like to jump from the waterfall into the pool below, and some with a bit more courage even climb higher to the side of the waterfall to jump further (try at your own risk). While on the trail,...

Although the drive to the trailhead is mostly over gravel roads, Blanca Lake is a very popular hike. The drive is better for cars with clearance and AWD capabilities.  The trail gets right down to it gaining almost 3,000 feet in the first 3 miles. But don't worry, the hard work is well worth the reward at the end. Keep pushing forward and make sure to bring plenty of water to stay hydrated (an...

Golden Gardens Park is a beautiful, sandy gem that’s perfect for spending a sunny summer day lounging on the beach, exploring the shore, stand up paddling, or even playing beach volleyball. This park also features some of my favorite views in Seattle. As day turns to night, enjoy a beautiful sunset with friends and prepare to get that bonfire going! This is a popular summer spot, and the 12 fir...

This challenging hike offers great views of the greater Tahoe area. The first part of the hike to the waterfall is relatively easy, but once you pass that, you'll be doing a decent climb to the summit. During the summer months, you'll want to get an early start as there can be a decent crowd heading up to the waterfall. Be sure to pack a jacket as it gets windy at the summit. Plan for this hik...

The shallow nearshore ocean bottom makes Anini a great beach to visit if you have kids. Anini Beach Park is also a snorkeler's delight - here you may spot Hawaii's state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua'a (triggerfish) and uhu (parrotfish), kala (unicornfish) and other tropical fish. On the downside, there are some sharp corals and rocks on the nearshore ocean bottom, so take extra care when wadi...

From the trailhead at Stonewall Road, the 1.5-mile trail makes for an excellent before or after-work run. But the steep hills and loose ground aren’t for those looking to find an easy nature walk. The incline starts well before the Stonewall-Panoramic trailhead, so you won’t even have time to warm up before your fight against gravity begins. With a little perseverance you’ll gain about 700 fe...

The Tahoe Rim Trail is one of the world’s premier trails. It passes through two states (California and Nevada), six counties, one state park, three National Forests, and three Wilderness areas. This spectacular trail is 165 miles of single-track multi-use trail, winding from peak to peak around Lake Tahoe. It is a trail that offers something for everyone! Hiking and horseback riding are allowed...

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...

You can drive to a trailhead 1.2 miles roundtrip to the lake. If you're looking for a longer out-and-back trail, you can head out from Fallen Leaf Lake. On a hot day it will definitely have you craving a dip into Angora Lake as soon as you reach your destination. Tips: There is a refreshment stand at Angora Lake, and they claim their Lemonade is the best in Tahoe.