Brian HeifferonTeam

Thousands of years ago, this island was a fishing and hunting ground for the Miwok Native Americans. It has also been an outpost for the U.S. Army and a cattle ranch. Now, it’s one of the closest places to escape from the hustle of San Francisco and set up camp. Camping on the island requires backpacking to the sites as they’re between 1 and 1.25 miles from the ferry dock. The island hosts 11 ...

Just two miles north of Mendocino, you'll find this beautiful, well-maintained park that features a little bit of everything. The campsite is situated between a rugged beach and a stunning 36-ft waterfall, giving you plenty of easy and fun options.This park is most well known for the heavily forested Russian Gulch Creek Canyon, and a headland that features the Devil’s Punch Bowl (a large, colla...

Yes, it's often cold in the city. So, what's the best way to warm up? Bring some blankets, a jacket or two, and come out to Ocean Beach to enjoy a bonfire, a sunset, and some quality time with friends. The fire pits are between Fulton and Lincoln. On a sunny day, get there early if you want to get an actual fire pit! Need to kill a little time waiting for the crew to show up, go for a surf or ...

Looking for a quick summer escape filled with stand up paddling, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and picnics? Look no further than Del Valle Regional Park. Consistently considered one of the best campgrounds in the Bay Area, the centerpiece of Del Valle is a 5-mile long lake that allows swimming, fishing, and other water recreation. It is surrounded by 4,395 acres of beautiful land for hiking, horse...

The Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio is a true gem of San Francisco. It has everything you could want in a hike: a sea-side path along the ocean, relatively easy parking, gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and a secluded beach that's perfect for picnics, sunbathing, and enjoying the beauty of the Bay. While the steps leading up and down the bluffs make this hike moderately more...

If you're looking to get away from the summer crowds of Waikiki, you should consider heading to the North Shore, especially in the summer. Although this season is considered the off-season on this side of the island, it simply means the North Shore transforms into a gentle, family-friendly 7-mile stretch of pristine beach. There is no better place to head than Waimea Bay. It's centrally located...

Take in the best of Portola Redwoods State Park: towering redwoods, a waterfall, wildflowers, and a mix of narrow singletrack and wide old logging roads. This loop comes in around 8 miles, with a shorter 5-mile option if you’re looking for something more mellow. Redwood hikes are always a treat — quiet, shady, and cool even in summer. If you want a real taste of the Santa Cruz Mountains with...

Camping at Salt Point Sate Park is a dream. You have your choice of camping by the sea at Gerstle Cove campground, or tucked up into the forest at the Woodside campground…and you can’t go wrong with either choice. The rugged and beautiful coastline here is a popular destination for abalone diving and spearfishing, and features a protected underwater reserve where you can dive (no collecting). ...

If the weather forecast looks promising, you could do a lot worse than planning a picnic at the West Bluff Picnic Area in the Presidio. This area is south of Crissy Field (closer to the bridge) and before you get to Fort Point - situated perfectly to give you an amazing view of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and downtown. You'll find about a dozen nice picnic tables, and a handful with BBQ grills. ...

These West Marin campsites are often overlooked. It does get busy during the summer, but take the rest of the year to explore this state park. The main campground boasts more than 50 campsites with restrooms, hot pay showers, and piped drinking water. A few spaces can accommodate trailers, but there are no hookups available. In addition, there are several group sites, including Madrone and Dev...

San Bruno Mountain is a fun, mellow hike that climbs easily on a well-graded path to the ridge line, and then drops back to the trailhead. Along the way, the trail runs along a creek, ascends through chaparral, and provides excellent views of downtown San Francisco, the East Bay hills, and the Santa Cruz Mountains from the ridge. The spring wildflowers are outstanding; lots of variety and somet...

Rob Hill Campground is a hidden treasure, located at the Presidio’s highest point above Baker Beach amid a beautiful eucalyptus grove. The campsite welcomes groups of all kinds and is also home to the Camping at the Presidio (CAP) program, which provides youth with meaningful outdoor experiences. Rob Hill Campground offers four group campsites that can accommodate 30 people each (two are avail...

Beacon Rock is one of the most recognizable landmarks along the Columbia River Gorge. It’s an 848-foot basalt monolith (a singular piece of rock) that was once the core of an ancient volcano. To access the rock, park in a developed parking area at the rock’s base that has room for about 30 cars. You’ll take a short stroll through a forested trail before you hit the rock. Once you reach the roc...

This hike is conveniently located at Taos Ski Valley and offers two primary options: a fun 4-mile round trip hike to beautiful Williams Lake, or a 7-mile round trip hike all the way to the Wheeler Peak. You can’t go wrong with either option, but if you’re up for it, bagging Wheeler Peak is definitely worth the extra effort.The trail to Williams Lake parallels the Lake Fork of the Rio Hondo and ...

Waldo Lake is at the top of most Oregon paddler’s lists for a late-summertime adventure. Not only is the lake perfectly set up for days of exploration, but the visibility of the water is staggering…and record setting. It’s been measured over 150 feet. It’s important to note that the future serenity and water quality of the lake are protected by a 2010 ban on gas motors.The majority of the lake ...

The Maple Trail loop lies in the heart of Portland’s Forest Park, at 5,100 wooded acres, it’s the largest forested natural area within city limits in the United States. It’s packed with tons of natural variety as it winds through the park’s most heavily forested canyons. You’ll be amazed at how scenic this run is for being so close to the city.The trail alternates between sunshine and shaded fo...

Mount Tabor City Park is located in the heart of southeast Portland and is situated atop an extinct volcano. It’s comprised of more than 190 acres of beautiful Douglas Fir forest and features several relatively easy routes to the top: the easiest being the road you can drive (but what’s the fun in that?). The park is very popular with families as there are tons of fun outdoor options. There ar...

Starting and ending at Drake Park in the heart of downtown Bend, the Twin Bridges Loop is one of the most popular and scenic road cycling routes in Central Oregon.The Twin Bridges Loop covers 36 miles of rolling terrain and offers breathtaking views of the snow-capped Cascade mountains, rolling forests, and inspiring high desert terrain. You can't come to Bend, with riding in mind, and not do ...

This San Rafael neighborhood trail is quite popular, but there is plenty of room for everyone and the parking is easy. After you park at the trailhead, you walk (or bike) up a relatively short and steep path that takes you to the beginning of the trail.  This hike takes you along a scenic ridge through the Terra Linda Open Space Preserve and provides a number of different offshoots and spur tr...

Buck Gulch Falls (also known as Fairway Falls) is an easy, scenic hike that takes you through a beautiful forest on your way to a 15-foot waterfall. This little neighborhood treasure is tucked away in Novato, CA at the end of Fairway Drive and there is ample parking near the trailhead.  If you visit after some rain, you'll need to cross the creek in two different areas (or try your luck crossi...

This one-mile stretch of beach is the perfect option for those looking for a peaceful Santa Cruz experience, but without the crowds. The beach features soft sand, playful surf, an awesome view of Walton Lighthouse, and a handful of fire pits to choose from. It's a great spot to spend the entire day with friends and family, so plan on getting there early to secure a fire pit. The beach is also a...

The outer reef at Kiahuna provides opportunities for advanced surfing. For a beginner-friendly experience, head east down the beach towards Kala Kai Point and you’ll see a mellow stretch of reef and sand on the inside. Chances are you'll see a bunch of longboards in the water - that's where you'll want to paddle out. Parking is available via a public parking lot and there's a bathroom and showe...

This is a wide, beautiful beach that's an amazing spot to spend the day and enjoy a bonfire at night in one of the designated fire rings. Seabright is probably the most popular spot in Santa Cruz for a bonfire, due to its convenient proximity to the Beach Boardwalk. But luckily, this beach is tucked in between the San Lorenzo River and the Santa Cruz Boat Harbor, and is just far enough away to ...

Take the Dawn Falls trail down into the Baltimore Canyon for an in-depth exploration of northern California nature. Rather than the usual dry, hardy vegetation that speckles the hills of many nearby trails, this trail is bursting with lush ferns and mossy trees as it meanders along next to Larkspur Creek. Although it's a relatively easy and short hike, it very scenic. And for only being a short...