Destinations

Lassen Volcanic National Park Named ‘Yosemite Without the Crowds’ by Reader’s Digest

You don’t hear about Lassen Volcanic National Park when the top national parks in the United States are discussed, and…

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The Best Places to See the Perseid Meteor Shower in Northern California

Photo by Michael Andrews On the nights of August 12th and 13th, the Swift-Tuttle comet will put on an extraordinary…

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Celebrate Lassen’s Birthday with 2-Day Event in the Park – Discover Lassen

Lassen Volcanic National Park turns 103-years-old this week and the only way to celebrate this milestone is to head up…

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The Historic Hike To Faery Falls

Combining history and nature, the Ney Springs Canyon Trail near Siskiyou Lake in Mount Shasta City is an easy hike…

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An Unforgettable Summer Day on Shasta Lake

Brought to you by Visit Redding I had some good friends looking to come up from Los Angeles for the…

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Discover a Wildlife Utopia at Lassen’s Manzanita Lake

Sitting right outside Redding, California is one of the most underrated National Parks in the United States – Lassen Volcanic National Park.…

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The 8 Best Adventures in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Brought to you by Visit Redding Photo: Joe Parks Sitting right outside Redding, California is one of the most underrated…

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Best View in NorCal? The Unforgettable Hike to Heart Lake

We don’t take the designation of “Best View in NorCal” lightly. Northern California is full of beautiful destinations, and Mount…

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5 Awesome Adventures in the Lava Beds National Monument

Sitting in the the tippy-top of Northern California is one of the most beautiful, historical parks in all of California.…

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NorCal Destination Makes Outside Magazine’s List of ‘Best Campsites in the U.S.’

Flickr/daveynin When it comes to some of the best camping in the United States, Outside Magazine knows its stuff. That’s…

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Mt. Shasta Ski Park Prepares Mountain Biking Course for Opening Day

View this post on Instagram It's what we've been waiting for. As the snow melts and the sun comes out,…

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Steal My Northern California Summer Bucket List

The sun has inspired me to start thinking more about summer. In case you missed it, one of the activities…

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Whiskeytown NRA Celebrates the Reopening of Brandy Creek

Following a 10-month closure at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area due to the Carr Fire, park officials today reopened the lake’s popular…

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The 8 Best Places to Catch BIG Fish Near Mt. Shasta

Photo: Wild Waters Fly Fishing When it comes to fishing, there aren’t many areas in the world like Northern California.…

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The 5 Best Northern California Swim Holes to Beat the Heat

The excessive heat is about to hit Northern California for the duration of the summer and I’ll be spending a…

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5 Places to Find Blooming Wildflowers in Siskiyou County

As the long winter of 2019 finally comes to a close, the wildflowers of Northern California will be coming later…

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Mt. Shasta’s Underground Adventure – Going Deep in Pluto’s Cave

After exploring Lassen’s Subway Cave, my spelunking desire wasn’t quite satiated. Subway Cave in Lassen was wild, eerie, and strangely…

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The Ultimate Northern California Summer Bucket List

It’s time to prepare for summer in Northern California, meaning we put away our rain coats and boots and switch…

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The Stunning Drive Through Northern California’s Avenue of the Giants

Sitting in in the middle of the Humboldt Redwoods State Park is the Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile two…

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NorCal Mountain Biking Trail Rated One of the Most Popular in the U.S.

Photo: Yuba Expeditions Singletracks, a popular mountain biking website, recently named the most popular mountain biking trails in the U.S.…

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We Stayed in a Railroad Caboose in Northern California

We were in Dunsmuir, California and decided to stay at the Railroad Park Resort nestled right under the majestic Castle…

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Hiking the Seven Summits of Siskiyou County

Siskiyou County has proven to be one of the most beautiful outdoor destinations in the United States. With the mighty…

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Gold Fever: Catching Big Fish on the Remote American River Middle Fork

“To find the goods, you have to be willing to go to places where no one else is willing to…

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17 Breathtaking Waterfalls Just Outside of Redding, California

Photo by Matthias Rossini It’s springtime in California, which means it’s waterfall chasing season for any outdoor adventurer. Finding great…

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A Day at The Eighth Wonder of the World – Burney Falls

Brought to you by Visit Redding We drove an hour northeast of Redding, California to see what President Theodore Roosevelt…

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The 12 Most Instagrammable Destinations in Northern California

There are just so many beautiful destinations in Northern California that everyone should see once in their lifetime, and what…

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A Weekend in Redding, California – The Gateway to Northern California’s Outdoor Mecca

The Sundial Bridge, Burney Falls, Shasta Dam and Lassen Peak are all located within a short drive from Redding, California…

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To Glamp or Not to Glamp? Luxury Airstream Campsite Opens in Yosemite

Camping is great but if you prefer the comfort of glamping, you can stay in an iconic silver bullet Airstream…

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Hiking Lassen’s Cinder Cone is Hard but the Views are Incredible

My first attempt to hike Cinder Cone this summer did not go as planned, as I ended up getting stuck…

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Where the Wildflowers Are: See NorCal’s Super Bloom at Table Mountain

Flickr/Sathish J Spring has arrived and that means wildflowers have begun to embellish many of our favorite trails. Strolling through…

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Hiking to the Isolated Toad and Porcupine Lakes

“The trail has got to be around here somewhere….” was our refrain for the day. After the long, windy, and…

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Explore the Diverse Wildlife of Tule Lake in the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Tule Lake Refuge, established in 1928, rests in the fertile and intensely farmed Tule Lake Basin in Modoc County. The almost 40-thousand-acre refuge…

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10 Destinations To Mark Off Your Shasta Cascade Bucket List

The Shasta Cascade region is one of a kind. The collection of waterfalls, trails, mountains, caves, rivers, museums and other…

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Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove to Reopen Soon with Winter Conditions

Photo: National Park Service The Mariposa Grove Road will reopen to automobiles on Friday, Apr. 12, officials in Yosemite National…

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Find a Biking Utopia in Siskiyou County

Northern California’s Siskiyou County is one of the most popular biking destinations in the world. From relaxed rides with stellar…

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Finding Mossbrae Falls – Northern California’s Forbidden Waterfall

Flickr/Michael Moore By Zach O’Brien Northern California is full of incredible waterfalls, many of which sit in the Shasta-Cascade region.…

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Discover a Captivating Underground World at Lake Shasta Caverns

BIt was a foregone conclusion that I would love the Shasta Caverns tour. First, you find it off the O’Brien…

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Crystal Ice Cave Tours at Lava Beds National Monument

Crystal Ice Cave contains some of the most spectacular ice formations among Lava Beds’ many caves. Because of the sensitive…

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The Frozen Lake of Mt. Shasta – Ice Skating Castle Lake

Castle Lake is one of those destinations in Northern California that the visitors will rave about. In the summer, it’s…

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Eat the Burger That Wears A Skirt at Napa’s Squeeze Inn

Their popular "Squeezeburger w/Cheese" comes with it's own unique "Cheese Skirt" that always astonishes and satisfy's guests...

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Northern California Waterfalls are FLOWING HEAVILY Following Winter Storm

Winter season is alive and well in Northern California, as three straight weeks of winter storms increased snowpack in the…

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Find Hundreds of Northern California Campsites with this Interactive Map

Camping is one of NorCal’s favorite pastimes. Who can deny the appeal of sitting around the campfire surrounded by family…

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NorCal’s Frozen Gem – The Siskiyou Ice Rink is a Unique Winter Experience

Whether it’s a sunny day under the shadow of Mt. Shasta or a cold night under bright, illuminating stars, the…

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Now You Can Rent This Backcountry Cabin Above Mt. Shasta Ski Park

Every once in a while, the true enthusiasts of skiing and snowboarding have to venture outside the boundaries to go…

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Exploring the Rich History of Rough and Ready, California

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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Chaos, Lava and Snow – A Winter Trip to Lassen’s Crags Lake

By Ryan Loughrey For an area replete with unattractive names, the trail to Crags Lake is filled with beauty. Last…

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Phantom of the Falls: A Great Winter Spectacle

Photo: Flickr/Lisa Ouellette A flowing phantom haunts Table Mountain near Oroville. It disappears during the summer, and remains well hidden in…

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Beautiful New Trail System Coming to the Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods

The Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, located in the northwest corner of California near Crescent City, is one of the most…

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This Northern California Town is Responsible for America’s First Bike Lane

The ever-popular bike lanes you see all around the country are a pretty new phenomenon. San Francisco received its first…

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A Snowshoeing Adventure Around Lassen’s Manzanita Lake

Photo by Darlene M. Koontz By Ryan Loughrey Despite the current sunny weather, this most recent storm imbued Northern California with…

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See the Waterfalls of Whiskeytown Following the Carr Fire

The Carr Fire impacted so many people when it broke out in July and eventually burned 230,000 acres in Shasta County,…

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A Winter Exploration of Lassen’s Subway Cave

By Ryan Loughrey It is one of the locations that is close enough to make a day trip, and one…

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A Winter Expedition to Heart Lake

By Ryan Loughrey Covered in a thick blanket of snow, Heart Lake virtually disappears in the winter. Familiar summer landmarks…

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These 7 Northern California Waterfalls Look Incredible During the Winter

It may go against all your instincts to go chasing waterfalls during the winter months. After all, many of the best…

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New Plan in Motion to Build Trail to Mossbrae Falls

Mossbrae Falls is the most unique and possibly the most beautiful waterfall in Northern California. Located in Dunsmuir, the waterfall…

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A Picturesque Stroll Through the Cypress Tree Tunnel

There are so many beautiful places in Northern California that are prime destinations for photographers – Mount Shasta, Burney Falls,…

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Brand-New Adventure Park Opens in Northern California

Following months of delays, Quarry Park Adventures, a brand-new “adventure park” in Rocklin, has opened to the public. The park…

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Finding Burstarse Falls – Castle Crag’s Fickle Waterfall

By Ryan Loughrey Burstarse Falls has been on my radar for a long time, but I have never had the…

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Hiking the Lush Meadows of Mount Shasta’s South Gate

One of the best hikes available on Mt. Shasta, the South Gate Meadow Trail combines nearly all the elements that…

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The Waterfall of Fire – Horsetail Fall is a Rare Natural Phenomenon

Horsetail Fall is typically not that unique in Yosemite, where waterfalls are vast and beautiful. It is a somewhat low-flow waterfall…

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Trinity Alps Wilderness Highlighted in Outside Magazine’s “Favorite Fall Backpacking Trips”

The Trinity Alps Wilderness, located just northwest of Redding, is a gorgeous mountain range providing backpackers with stunning views, pristine…

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Mount Shasta Named “Most Charming Ski Town” by TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, conducted a survey in order to name the “Most Charming Ski Town in America,” and…

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Video Previews the Sunken Ships of Tahoe’s First Underwater Trail

The California State Parks streamed a live video on Facebook last week, previewing the sunken ships of the brand-new Emerald…

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Visit North America’s Tallest Waterfall in Northern California

Everyone knows that Northern California is home to hundreds of beautiful waterfalls, some of them world-renown. But did you know…

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The Phantom Falls Experience: 164-Feet of Pure Waterfall Bliss

By Ryan Loughrey From the directions I had read online, I anticipated pulling off the side of the road in…

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NorCal’s Redwood Coast Named the Top Place to Visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet

Northern California locals know the Redwood National Forest as one of the great beauties on this planet. The tallest trees…

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Visit National Parks for Free on September 22 for National Public Lands Day

On September 22 you can celebrate National Public Lands Day by visiting any of the National Parks in Northern California…

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Lake Tahoe Opening its First-Ever Underwater Trail

The area surrounding Lake Tahoe is world-renown for its beautiful scenery and amazing trail systems in the mountain above the…

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A Beacon Of Northern California History: The Battery Point Lighthouse

A D.C. socialite, the Gold Rush, shipping lines, San Francisco, Crescent City and Battery Point Lighthouse intertwine in history to…

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A Harrowing Journey into the Haunted Caribou Wilderness

“AAAAAAUUUUAAAACK… AAAAAAUUUUAAAACK…” My eyes opened the size of softballs and the sleeping bag I’d been dozing in nearly lifted off…

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See What It Takes To Hike Humboldt’s Lost Coast Trail

A mention of the Lost Coast should never be omitted from any comprehensive discussion of California’s best outdoor attractions. The misplaced…

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Explore the Circle of Discovery: The 7 National Parks Surrounding Far Northern California

Did you know that Northern California and Southern Oregon are home to seven National Park sites? This circle of parks…

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Areas of Whiskeytown NRA to Remain Open Indefinitely

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area was closed for 5 weeks following the devastating Carr Fire that burned 39,000 acres within the 43,000-acre…

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The Ultimate Northern California Brewery-Camping Road Trip

By Zach O’Brien This journey began a few months ago, when I was lounging in my back yard, sipping on…

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This Northern California Destination Made World’s 100 Greatest Places in 2018 from Time Magazine

Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove is famous for being one of the largest collection of mature trees in the world. The grove’s sequoias…

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A Kayaking Adventure to Mossbrae Falls

Mossbrae Falls is probably NorCal’s most unique waterfall. Instead of your typical water falling off a cliff (although very beautiful…

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New Photos of the Sacramento River Trail Show Carr Fire Devastation

When the Carr Fire blazed through west Redding on July 26th, the biggest concern on everyone’s mind was making sure…

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Q&A with Michelle Titus – the Owner of Northern California’s Premiere Fishing Lodge

In a short time, Michelle Titus went from a Bay Area city-dweller to a North Valley, horse wrangling “anglet”. When she…

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Kiss a Giraffe at this Awesome Northern California Park

By Amy Sue Do you have an animal lover in your family?  I’ve got one, and she gets extraordinarily excited…

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Shasta Lake is Surrounded by Two Large Wildfires, Lake Businesses Remain Open

The Carr Fire has officially moved all the way from Whiskeytown Lake to waterfront of Shasta Lake, blazing through another…

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The Short Hike To Hedge Creek Falls

Similar to hideout entrances seen in Batman movies and the Legend of Zorro, Hedge Creek Falls cascades in front of the…

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Road Trippin’ – Southern Oregon’s Toketee Falls and Umpqua Hot Springs

Sure, we are Active NorCal, covering all the cool outdoor stuff in Northern California. But for us to ignore the…

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3 Bidwell Park Swimming Holes to Beat the Heat

What Chico lacks in terms of manageable summer temperatures, it makes up for with all the swimming hole options at…

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Almost Climbing Mount Shasta: A Story of Misery and Life Lessons at 14,000 Feet

At four thirty in the morning no one saw the light from my tiny headlamp inching uphill in pitch darkness…

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9 Family-Friendly Camping Spots in Northern California

The insistent bzzzzzzzz of a mosquito roused me from sleep, but my eyes refused to open in hopes it would…

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A Tour of 10 Stunning Waterfalls in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park has countless waterfalls. A tour of the massive park can yield many small waterfalls, but we wanted…

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See What it’s Like to Summit Mount Shasta via Avalanche Gulch

Climbing Mount Shasta is the ultimate badge of honor in NorCal. It’s a grueling hike up steep terrain with changing…

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Fly Fishing on the Haunted Upper Sacramento River

Thankfully, no invisible or bony hand ever reached out to touch my shoulder on dark evenings while fishing the October…

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A Summer Getaway to Lake Aloha in the Desolation Wilderness

By Ryan Loughrey The entrance to the Desolation Wilderness is anything but – neither desolate nor wild. The southern Lake…

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Road Trippin’ – The Painted Hills of the Oregon Heartlands

By Ryan Loughrey The first leg of our trip took us 323 miles, having left late last Thursday night, spending…

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Weekend in Lassen – Exploring Cold Boiling Lake and Kings Creek Falls

By Ryan Loughrey Lassen Park offer a bounty of opportunities of exploration. Although I feel I’ve explored a good amount,…

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This Northern California Ghost Town is Cursed, According to its Visitors

The workers at the Bodie State Historic Park are used to receiving letters in the mail talking about the “Bodie…

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5 Tips for Hiking Lassen’s Brokeoff Mountain

By Ryan Loughrey Brokeoff Mountain in Lassen National Park is notorious for being one of the most difficult hikes in…

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Exploring the Car Graveyard of Mt. Shasta

By Ryan Loughrey Walking through the car graveyard felt like walking through an ancient time. Even though the cars couldn’t…

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A Tale of Summer Backpacking: A Little Sketchy, A Lot Worth It

By Benjamin Goodpasture, Founder and CEO of Shasta Rock Club I’ll never forget the day I first saw Emerald and…

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The 20 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Northern California

In 1995, the recording group TLC released their massive hit Waterfalls, in which the chorus reads “don’t go chasing waterfalls,…

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The Desolate Hike to Lassen’s Mill Creek Falls

By Ryan Loughrey Now that the road through Lassen National Park is open, Kiva and I decided to hike a…

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The Flumes and Cable Pools of Paradise

The town of Paradise, California, which is just outside of Chico, is not necessarily known as NorCal’s “paradise,” but it does…

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An Overnight Trip to Tangle Blue Lake in the Trinity Alps Wilderness

By Ryan Loughrey We had it in our mind that the hike to Tangle Blue Lake was going to be…

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Hiking Castle Crags – Castle Dome Trail

Castle Crags seems to hide in plain sight. Though clearly visible from I-5, the magnificent geological oddity receives less mention than other North…

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