Stories
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Feb- 2023 -7 February
Yaks on the 5 – Delicious Burgers at a Top 100 Restaurant in America
We visited Dunsmuir’s favorite local eater Yaks on the 5 to find out why they were named a “Top 100…
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7 February
Despite its Chilly Surroundings, Lake Tahoe Never Freezes. Here’s Why.
Photo by Manny Alvarez Lake Tahoe is known for its icy winter temperatures and snow-covered shores, but despite its freezing conditions,…
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Jan- 2023 -29 January
Exploring the Point Reyes Shipwreck of Tomales Bay
Photo by Stephen Leonardi It’s rare to see an accident with such size and historical significance sit in its original location.…
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29 January
The Story of the Donner Party: Deadly Mistakes Over the Snowy Sierra
Photo of James F. and Margaret Reed, who were members of the Donner Party I could have died so many…
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20 January
Chico Hiker Completes Coveted 7,500-Mile Triple Crown in One Calendar Year
For avid hikers, the Triple Crown holds a special significance. The Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Appalachian trails are the…
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20 January
When Will Klamath Dam Removal Take Place? A Complete Timeline for the Largest Dam Removal Project Ever.
The largest ever dam removal project in the United States will completely change the makeup of multiple Northern California communities.…
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12 January
Remembering the Deadly Flood of 1955 that Put a NorCal Town Under 20 Feet of Water
It was just minutes past midnight of Christmas Eve 1955 when the Gum Tree Levee on the Feather River in…
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1 January
The Top 10 Active NorCal Stories from 2022
Another great year here at Active NorCal! The New Year brings new vitality to the Active NorCal office as we…
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Dec- 2022 -27 December
Sculpting an Icon: The 100 Million Year History of Yosemite’s Half Dome
Half Dome is a iconic granite rock formation located in Yosemite National Park in California. It is known for its…
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26 December
How Did Lake Tahoe Get Its Name?
Lake Tahoe is a stunning alpine lake located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California and Nevada. It is…
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13 December
The NorCal Town Named ‘Rough and Ready’ Once Seceded from the United States
The only way you’ve probably heard of Rough and Ready, California is if you’ve driven on Highway 20 between Yuba…
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11 December
7 Incredible Winter Adventures Near Redding, California
Brought to you by Choose Redding Lassen Volcanic National Park in the winter It’s officially winter in Northern California, which…
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Nov- 2022 -29 November
This Northern California Town Transforms into a Whimsical Christmas Wonderland in December
Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou McCloud, California The holiday season has arrived, meaning people are donning their homes with…
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27 November
Meet the Life-Saving Ski Patrol Dogs of Northern California
We all know that dogs are man’s best friend. Well, now dogs can be a skier’s best friend, and they…
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27 November
The 4 Volcanos Surrounding Northern California Are Some Of The Most Dangerous in America
Photo by Jeffrey Eisen It’s no secret – we have some active volcanos in our area. But are you aware that…
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21 November
Hollywood A-List Actor Spotted in Humboldt. Is He Filming a Bigfoot Movie?
There have been sightings of an A-list Hollywood actor around Humboldt recently, which makes us wonder if he’s on the…
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14 November
Tahoe Avalanche Documentary Sits Atop Streaming Charts
The film that dives deep into the deadly 1982 Alpine Meadows avalanche is currently sitting atop the streaming charts as…
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12 November
Meet the Man Who Drives His Car on the Sacramento River
“Wild” Bill Hill lives in Roseville, California, and just like any outdoor lovers in Northern California, he likes to spend…
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7 November
Documentary About the Deadly Avalanche on Alpine Meadows Coming to Video on Demand
On March 31, 1982, a large avalanche hit Alpine Meadows, burying the main lodge and parking lot in 20 feet of…
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6 November
Witnesses Claim Meteorite Destroyed Northern California Home During Taurid Meteor Shower
Many people saw a massive fireball flying across the sky in Northern California during the Taurids meteor shower Friday night.…
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6 November
The Bizarre Story of the Horse that Summited Mount Shasta in 1903
Photo by Sebastien Goldberg Who isn’t fascinated with standing on top of NorCal’s premier active volcano, the formidable Mt. Shasta?…
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5 November
What Was It? Giant Fireball Lights Up Northern California Sky.
Many people were shocked to see a massive light moving quickly across the Northern California sky Friday night. No, it…
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5 November
Mt. Shasta’s Brand-New Gray Butte Lift is Finished. Here’s How it Will Completely Transform the Mountain.
View of the Mt. Shasta Ski Park from the brand-new Gray Butte lift. Photo by Mt. Shasta Ski Park. The…
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5 November
A Total Lunar Eclipse Called the ‘Beaver Blood Moon’ Will Light Up the Night Sky this Week
Photo by Zoltan Tasi This week will see a spectacular lunar event with the “Beaver Blood Moon” lighting up the night…
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3 November
Celebrating 50 Years of ‘Wild Trout Waters’ in California
Hat Creek in Shasta County is forever linked with CDFW’s Heritage and Wild Trout Program as one of the first…
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Oct- 2022 -30 October
Movie Review: Find Northern California Views in a Spooky Setting in ‘Hotel Dunsmuir’
The film “Hotel Dunsmuir” is out, and just in time for a spooky NorCal Halloween. How do you make Dunsmuir,…
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30 October
Movie Crew Shares Haunting Experiences While Filming ‘Hotel Dunsmuir’ in Northern California
The newly-release Hotel Dunsmuir has been a hit for audiences this Halloween season, receiving positive reviews and earning Michael Zaiko…
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27 October
The Legends and Mysteries of Siskiyou County
Photo by Marco Bicca It’s well documented that the areas surrounding Mount Shasta are full of legends and mysteries. From paranormal…
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26 October
5 Survival Lessons From the Northern California Man Lost in Yosemite For Nearly a Week
Photo by Jason Strull When Alan Chow solo-hiked into the Yosemite National Park wilderness in the spring of 2018, he had…
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26 October
Meet the Underwater Fly that Rules Mono Lake by Living Underwater
Over 100 years ago, writer Mark Twain observed the case of some “incredibly weird” flies in Mono Lake, near Mammoth…
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26 October
Remembering the Deadly 75-Foot Tidal Wave that Leveled Crescent City in 1964
Beginning in Northern California and running all the way up to Alaska in the Pacific Ocean sits multiple fault lines…
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26 October
How NorCal’s Outdoor Opportunities Stack Up Against Yellowstone National Park
Photo by Steven Cordes I gotta admit, I’m torn on this one. I’ve recently returned from a fishing trip to Yellowstone…
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26 October
Could Mount Shasta Bring America’s Next Great Volcanic Eruption?
The recent volcanic history of Mount Shasta eludes us. For a long time, the last eruption was believed to be…
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20 October
The Dam Removal Era in Northern California Explained
While some Northern California dams are primed for removal, Shasta Dam provides crucial water storage and flood mitigation for the…
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19 October
How Do Northern California Wildfires Impact Wildlife and Forests?
Written by Meghan Snow Seeing a forest recently burned in a wildfire can be jarring. Green is replaced by shades…
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17 October
Sierra Notes: Four Characteristics of a Thriving Forest and How You Can Help Keep Them Healthy
Written By Cal Robinson When you close your eyes and think of a healthy forest, you may picture one that’s…
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17 October
The Literary Titans of Northern California – Part 2
Northern California has always attracted creative superstars, and the list of famous writers who either come from NorCal or spent…
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10 October
The Fascinating History of Redding Rancheria
The Wintu Tribe of Northern California When I am outdoors visiting our beautiful NorCal landmarks, curiosity always slips into my head…
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10 October
The Mystery Behind the Sunken World War II ‘Ghost Boat’ on Shasta Lake
Photo: U.S. Forest Service There have been plenty of historic structures revealed on Shasta Lake during severe drought. With multiple…
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10 October
Newly Released Horror Flick Features One of Our Favorite NorCal Mountain Towns
It’s not every day you get to enjoy a movie filmed in one of your favorite towns in the world.…
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10 October
Stand By Me Deleted Scene Shows Added Danger on the Famed Northern California Bridge
Stand By Me is a cult classic movie from 1986 about four curious boys wandering into the wilderness in search…
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10 October
This Popular Northern California Destination was Once the Scene of a Bloody Battle in 1855
Photo by Brandon DesJarlais We know Castle Crags as the beautiful Northern California wilderness area settled just between Shasta Lake and…
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7 October
‘Lucky to be Alive’: Surfer Details Vicious Shark Attack on Northern California Coast
Jared Trainor was excited for another fun day surfing on the Northern California coast on Sunday. The Fortuna man was…
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6 October
This Underwater Trail in Lake Tahoe is Home to Shipwrecks and Other Historic Artifacts
The history of Lake Tahoe sits at the bottom of its crystal-clear water and it’s now home to an underwater…
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5 October
See What it’s Like to be a Smokejumper in Northern California
It’s fire season in NorCal, which means we must keep in mind the brave men and women who put their…
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4 October
An Oral History of the Cantara Chemical Spill on the Sacramento River
Northern California is no stranger to disasters. Over time we’ve lived through earthquakes, volcanos, firenados, floods, mudslides and avalanches. Would…
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4 October
The Great Northern California Taco Trail
Northern California is typically known as a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. From Mount Shasta to cascading waterfalls to National Parks…
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2 October
The Literary Titans of Northern California – Part 1
Hunter S. Thompson began his literary journey in San Francisco When you think of famous people associated with Northern California,…
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2 October
Livin’ on the Edge: The Time Aerosmith’s Music Video Was Filmed in Northern California
Aerosmith is kind of a big deal. In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past 45 years,…
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Sep- 2022 -28 September
Eel River Dam Removal is Moving Forward. It Will Create California’s Longest Free-Flowing River.
In April, PG&E’s 50-year license for the Eel River Dams expired, with the company opting against renewing the costly Potter…
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20 September
UFO Over Lake Tahoe – Proof of Aliens or Elaborate Hoax?
A video on Lake Tahoe went viral worldwide as UFO experts attempt to dissect if it shows proof of alien…
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18 September
The Mystery Behind Crater Lake’s Old Man
A trip to Oregon’s Crater Lake should be on every Northern California resident’s Bucket List. And while you’re there, it’s…
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18 September
The Largest Corn Maze in the World Sits Right Here in Northern California
In Dixon, California sits a 63-acre fall utopia with a pumpkin patch, hay rides and the largest corn maze in…
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15 September
Want to See What the Lemurian City in Mt. Shasta Looks Like? Here Are Illustrations From the Man Who Claims to Have Visited It.
Rendition of the city of Telo in Mount Shasta from Lowell Johnson In 2021 we learned about Lowell Johnson, the…
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13 September
The Yosemite Camping Trip that Changed America
I call it a successful camping trip if I don’t forget the mosquito repellant and a roll of TP. But…
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7 September
How John Muir Almost Died on the Slopes of Mount Shasta
Many people take the slopes of Mount Shasta for granted. You may see images of people from all over the…
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Aug- 2022 -29 August
Inside the $75 Million Lake Tahoe Mega-Mansion with a Hillside Tram
One of the most expensive mansions on Lake Tahoe is worth around $75 million and it’s one of the coolest…
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28 August
The Adventures of Mark Twain in Northern California
People dream of coming to California to become the next Meryl Streep or Tom Hanks, but hardly the “father of…
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23 August
The 5 Best Places to Go Stargazing Around Redding, California
Brought to you by Choose Redding Stars over Chaos Crags When summer arrives in Northern California, the night sky comes…
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23 August
Fighting Northern California Wildfires with a Helicopter Flamethrower
While massive wildfires continue to burn through Northern California, fire officials are always looking for new techniques to gain containment…
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23 August
The West is on Fire: Short Film Documents the Lives of Surfing Firefighters in California
“I think that when people think of news here in California, they think of large-scale wildfires.” “The entire state’s a…
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23 August
Help One of Our Favorite NorCal Photographers as He Deals with 3rd Battle with Cancer
Jake and his daughter in the flowers below Lassen Peak Some of our favorite content in Northern California comes from…
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15 August
Yosemite is One of the Most Deadly Rock Climbing Destinations in the World. That’s Why It’s So Popular for Climbers.
Photo by Billy Onjea There are inherit dangers in any rock climbing scenario. Sturdy equipment, knowledge of your surroundings and climbing…
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10 August
The Bats of the Yolo Causeway Marvel Onlookers with Nightly ‘Batnadoe’
Flickr/Bev Sykes Every summer just west of Sacramento, roughly a quarter of a million migrating Mexican free-tailed bats settle at…
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9 August
The Mysterious Case of the UFO that Flew Over Northern California
The incident began at about 4:30 pm on a seemingly normal day in 2017 when the air traffic controller from…
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9 August
Nostalgic Northern California National Park Posters to Hang in Your Home
Rob Decker grew up in the Bay Area and found a love for National Parks at a young age. He…
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7 August
The Story Behind the Famed Traffic Sign that Kept Getting Stolen in Weed, California
There have been far too many giggles from people driving through Northern California near Mount Shasta who come across the…
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7 August
Watch Rob Lowe Search for Bigfoot in the Northern California Wilderness
It’s no secret that Northern California sits as the unofficial home of Bigfoot. So when Rob Lowe and his sons…
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1 August
The History Behind the Extravagant Castle Along the McCloud River
You’ve probably heard of the Hearst Castle, the magnificent residence of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. But have you heard…
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1 August
Redding Woodworker Creates $65k Table from 1,500-Year-Old Redwood Tree
A woodworking company in Redding recently created a table from a 1,500-year-old redwood tree, selling it to a local restaurant…
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1 August
Is It Possible To Jump Off Burney Falls? You’re About To See For Yourself
Years ago we wrote about the legend of Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, who also played Tarzan in the movies, diving…
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1 August
The Real Life Zorro: The Life and Legend of Joaquin Murieta
Some say he was a good man turned renegade when all he held dear was taken from him. Others claim…
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Jul- 2022 -27 July
Big Basin’s Story: How a Wildfire Completely Changed California’s Oldest State Park
On August 18, 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire blazed through California’s oldest state park – the Big Basin Redwoods.…
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27 July
How We Witnessed the Filming of Top Gun: Maverick in Northern California
It was a beautiful morning in February 2020 when Brien O’Brien (Bob) and I began our 9-mile hike to Feather…
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26 July
How the Carr Fire Ushered ‘The New Normal’ into Northern California
On July 23rd, 2018, a flat tire on a trailer sparked a wildfire in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. 39…
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18 July
An Ode to Squirrels: The Badass Rodents Living in Your Backyard
Photo by Simone Mascellari When a buddy asked if I had seen any of the “Squirrel vs. Rattlesnake” videos on YouTube,…
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7 July
The History of NorCal Names – How Redding Was Once Named ‘Reading’
Photo courtesy of the Shasta Historical Foundation Redding, California sits center stage in Northern California, nestled comfortably smack dab in…
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1 July
This Northern California Ghost Town is Cursed, According to its Visitors
Flickr/Robert Shea The workers at the Bodie State Historic Park are used to receiving letters in the mail talking about…
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Jun- 2022 -20 June
An Urban Hike to Explore Sacramento’s Spectacular Murals
Improv Alley in Sacramento’s Midtown District It was a beautiful day in Sacramento so I set out to take an…
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14 June
The Good Guys and Bad Guys of Historic Northern California – Part 1
Hollywood is obsessed with “good guys and bad guys,” and why not? There’s something very satisfying when good triumphs over…
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9 June
The Zodiac Signs as Northern California Destinations
Just like human beings around the world, the destinations of Northern California have distinct characteristics that can bring out thoughts…
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9 June
Why Are There Old Train Tracks Going Into Lake Tahoe?
If you’ve ever explored the breathtaking beaches of Lake Tahoe, you may have noticed a rare sight of railroad tracks…
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May- 2022 -4 May
The Rich History of Star Wars in Northern California
It was in the 1950’s, just east of the Bay Area in Modesto, California, where a young man named George…
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Apr- 2022 -26 April
The 6 Most Grueling Hikes in Northern California
Sometimes the snowy slopes of Mt. Shasta can look more like Everest. Photo by Todd Diemer The vast wilderness of Northern…
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19 April
Courageous Explorer or Bloodthirsty Killer? The Sobering Truth About Kit Carson in Northern California
Who hasn’t heard of Kit Carson, the steely mountain man, courageous explorer, military hero, character in numerous dime novels and…
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11 April
The Weird Controversy Behind the New ‘Tenaya Stone’ at Disneyland
Photo: Disneyland Resort Disneyland recently opened the Tenaya Stone Spa at the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, boasting a…
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11 April
Geologists War ‘Ring of Fire’ Volcanoes in Northern California are Due to Erupt
Photo by Deanna Lewis With the volcanic eruption of Kilauea in Hawaii last year, geologists are on high alert for the…
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10 April
Historic Photos Show Lumberjacks Chopping Down the Giant Northern California Redwoods
Northern California is known for being the home of some of the oldest and largest trees in the world. The…
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2 April
Guardians of the River: How the Yurok Tribe is Fighting to Save their Sacred Klamath
“Being a Yurok person, the river is our lifeblood. It’s just as important as the air we breathe.” The project…
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Mar- 2022 -31 March
Literary Review: ‘A Wall of White’ Humanizes One of the Deadliest Avalanches in American History
The list of special places in NorCal is endless, but besides getting out there and forming your own impressions, it’s…
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27 March
Ancient Aliens Dives Deep into the Mysteries and Unexplained Disappearances of Mount Shasta
The mysteries of Mount Shasta have been heavily documented on this website. Our admitted obsession with the iconic mountain and…
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17 March
22 Jaw-Dropping Outdoor Destinations to Visit in Northern California in 2022
We did it! We survived 2021! With a crazy year in the rearview mirror, it’s about time we look forward…
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Jan- 2022 -31 January
Short Film Explains the Importance of Removing the Word ‘Squaw’ from the Tahoe Basin
We have seen the typical “comment section warrior” nonsense when it comes to the name change surrounding what is now…
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31 January
Unique Northern California Redwood Forest Permanently Returned to its Indigenous Tribe
Tc’ih-Léh-Dûñ, 523 acres of forestland donated to the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council. Photo by Max Forster, courtesy of Save the…
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24 January
Everything You Need to Know About Jason Segel’s New Movie Filmed Entirely in Northern California
At the end of 2020, a Hollywood film crew descended on Humboldt County to film Jason Segel’s newest movies. With…
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12 January
These Stagecoach Drivers Were the Rock Stars of California in the 1800’s
Mark Twain tried, but no matter how good a storyteller you are, you just can’t make this stuff up. Historic…
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11 January
Why Are There License Plates Sticking Out of Trees in Yosemite National Park?
Photo: National Park Service If you’re on a summer hike in Yosemite National Park, you may come across one of…
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11 January
Dog Lost in Caldor Fire Found 4 Months Later in the Snowy Sierra
Photo: Tahoe PAWS a Community Animal Response Team When the Caldor Fire moved through the mountains west of South Lake…
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4 January
The Top 10 Active NorCal Stories from 2021
Another great year here at Active NorCal! The New Year brings new vitality at the Active NorCal office as we…
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Dec- 2021 -16 December
How to Shop Local this Holiday Season in Siskiyou County
Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou Five Marys Farms The Holiday season has arrived in Northern California and we couldn’t…
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