Outbound Collective logo

Tyler DrakeTeam

COO / Co-Founder

Founder of the Outbound Collective. On a mission to make the outdoors more accessible for everyone!

Team

07/21/20

This is a relatively quick hike from the Duck Lake parking area. I wouldn't say this is the most scenic of Mammoth lakes, but if you have a larger group of varying hiking abilities, this can be a good one to take on. Bring your fishing pole if you've got one.

Hiked this trail with my wife and mom over the 4th of July weekend. (If you're there over a holiday, make sure to get to the trailhead early, before 8am, as parking gets pretty packed). This hike is only about 15-20 minutes from the village. The sandy beach at the lake is great for hanging out and getting a little rest before hiking back. I did jump in the water for a quick swim. It was probably somewhere in the high 40s to low 50s range...needless to say, the swim was short.

This trail is a bit of work to get up with 800 feet of elevation gain, but that's what makes the view at the top that much better! Get panoramic views of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. Make sure to bring plenty of water and a snack to enjoy at the lookout.

This path / walk in Santa Cruz has amazing ocean views and plenty of people watching. Grab a coffee and take a walk, check the surf, and enjoy!

This hike isn't too far out of town (~20 minutes up lake mary road). If you're going on a holiday weekend, make sure you get there early (before 8) to get parking. For a large portion of the hike and just before dropping down to Crystal Lake in the last 1/4 mile, you'll have expansive views of Lake George, Lake Mary, and Twin Lakes. I made the mistake of too many photo ops with the best views at the top! Once you make it to Crystal lake, head to your left for a little more trail and better seating. You can also get closer to the rock island if you're bold enough for a quick swim. Just a heads up, the water is brisk (~low 50s). We brought a fly rod up, but had no luck.

Panorama Dome is located in town just before you hit Twin Lakes. You can either park in the established parking lot off Lake Mary Road or park in the pull-off just before the trailhead. The hike can be ~0.5 miles out-and-back if you choose not to do the loop, but with that said, the lakes basin bike path is a pretty easy/pleasant stroll. From the top of the dome, take in scenic views of town and Twin Lakes. After the hike, stop off at Distant Brewing or Public House for a well-deserved cold one!

Took us about 20 minutes from mammoth to get to the trailhead. We did this hike over 4th of July weekend in 2019. It was very sunny and warm, so be sure to pack plenty of water. There are amazing views of Horsetail Falls and agnew & gem lakes, but you have to work for a bit. All things considered on a holiday weekend, this trail wasn't very crowded, so if you're looking for something with a little more solitude, this could be it.

The trailhead for the hike is only about 10-15 mins from the village making it very accessible. The trail gets a little steep, but is well worth it once you get to the Sherwin Lake. I recommend bringing a lunch or snacks so you can enjoy the time once you're up there. If you're looking to really get some miles in, continue on the trail and head up to Valentine lake. Just remember to take the trail to Sherwin Lake on the way back down so you don't end up at the wrong trailhead.

This hike/run has a parking lot at the trailhead and easy street parking if the lot is full. The trails provide great views of the area with slight inclines for a little extra workout. This is a great spot to get some movement before indulging in a Napa wedding weekend or wine tasting.

If you're visiting Chiang Mai and making a day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park, this is a must see. These pagodas were built for the king and queen as presents. On top of the historical significance, there is also a stunning garden view where you can take a break and catch your breath after a long day of touring around waterfalls in the park.

Did this hike with my dad in a little less than 2 hours. There wasn't too much elevation and gain and the trail was well maintained. This was a great autumn hike with plenty of fall colors along the trail. Once you get to the falls, there are a few different viewpoints to see the falls. In terms of crowds, we went on a Friday and maybe saw 10 people along the trail. If you're worried about losing service and navigation, as you head into the forrest on Wind River Rd (from PDX), there will be a sign on the right-hand side pointing to the trailhead. Also, we made the drive in a rental camry, so low clearance is possible, but with how many potholes there are in the last mile, higher clearance would have been nice.

This is a pretty quick hike to oneonta falls at the end of the gorge. I'd suggest wearing shoes with a sticky sole as you'll have to climb over logs and other slippery surfaces. Please exercise caution and move at a comfortable pace to avoid falling. Definitely go during the week if you can as other reviews have mentioned that the gorge gets pretty crowded on summer weekends.

This run is from the top of the Peak Chair all the way down to the Creekside Gondola on the Whistler side of the mountain. If you're snowboarding and decide to connect to other runs off the lower part of peak to creek, keep in mind that there are cat tracks, which lead to a fair amount of unclipping. It's important to note that if the lift's running, it closes at ~3pm. This makes for a great last run then straight into Dusty's for nachos and beer.

Team

01/26/17

The trail for this hike starts off uphill with a little gravel, but isn't too tough. The trail gets much easier as you begin to flatten out and then head down to the waterfall. Be sure to go after a recent rain to see the waterfall at its best.

Camp Navarro is an amazing campground located 2.5 hours north of San Francisco in Mendocino county. Yes, the drive is a little windy once you hit the 128, but it's well worth it once you make it to Navarro. There's something for everyone at the campground: creeks, swimming holes, campfires, beautiful redwoods, etc. This is a must-do if you're looking to have a group camp out!

This is a great hike if you have time and are in the Kailua area. There are two trailheads you can park at. The directions for the trailhead on The Outbound put you in a little less crowded neighborhood with more parking, but the hike to the pillboxes is longer. This hike is moderate (it can be a little tough if you're bringing the whole family and/or don't have great shoes for the trail). You'll be walking on roots, rocks, and tackling a decent incline on the way up. Once you make it to the ridgeline, the hike becomes much easier. If you want a shorter hike to the pillboxes, the trailhead is at 21.38847,-157.7222644.

This is a great way to stretch your legs and get a little exercise on angel island. With that said, you want to keep an eye on the weather. The day I hiked up Livermore, it was pretty foggy, so the views toward San Francisco and the Golden Gate weren't visible. I'm sure on the right day at the right time, it's unbeatable.

This hike is a quick hour roundtrip unless you plan to stay and jump off the rock on the south side of the lake. You can also continue on the trail to Duck Lake or Pika Lake.

Iron Mountain made for a great hike/run at the end of the day. I went on a weekday, so it wasn't too crowded. I saw a handful of folks on the trail with their dogs. If you have an hour to an hour and a half, this is great spot to stretch the legs and get a little exercise. Catch your breath at the summit with views overlooking Park City.

This spot on the Russian River is about an hour and a half north of San Francisco (traffic dependent). The canoe trip down the river is pretty easy with calm water almost the entire way. There are plenty of great spots to pull off for lunch and a few rope swings along the route if you're up for it. If you have shoes you don't care about or water shoes, I'd recommend bringing them if you plan on wading through the river bed. If you're headed back to SF afterward, it's a quick side trip to stop by Russian River Brewing.

Great spot to soak in the views and relax just a few miles down highway 395 from Mammoth Lakes. Don't head there on the weekends if you're hoping to get the hot spring to yourself.

On a sunny San Francisco day, the Sutro Baths are a great stop especially to enjoy a sunset. If you time it right, you can hike there via Lands End, then hike back before it's too dark. If you don't have time to hike as well, there's parking right near the baths (parking lot and street parking). Once you've gotten your fill, I'd recommend heading to Park Chalet or Tee Off (clement btwn 32nd and 33rd) for a bite and a beer.

Saddle Rock is a good hike/run and a close option if you're staying in Santa Barbara. The uphill portions aren't tough, but good enough to get a sweat going and the trail is pretty well established. There were a few small creek crossings when I did this hike as it was raining really hard all weekend, but during drier weather, it shouldn't be too challenging. At the high point, you'll come across a heart-shaped gathering of rocks.

This is a great hike if you can do it on a weekday or during the winter months to avoid the crowds. The drive is only about 20 miles from Seattle, so you can get there pretty quickly on a weekend morning. Be sure to bring a jacket if you hang out at the top to watch the paragliders.