Outdoors - Active NorCal

Jun- 2021 -

24 June

The Sunflower Fields of NorCal are in a Spectacular Bloom Right Now

Photo by Albert Dera It’s summer in Northern California, bringing triple-digit heat, sunny days and the longing for the perfect swimming…

22 June

When Will the Trail to Brandy Creek Falls Reopen in Whiskeytown NRA?

Photo: National Park Service Following the devastating Carr Fire in Redding, California that burned 229,651 acres and destroyed 1,604 structures,…

22 June

Behind the Photo: Capturing Historic Structures at a Drought-Ridden Shasta Lake

With another drought causing low water levels in Northern California, we wanted to revisit a unique story of historic structures…

22 June

It’s Time to Get Muddy! Tough Mudder Returns to Northern California this Summer

With major events returning to Northern California in 2021, one is guaranteed to challenge every muscle in your body. And…

21 June

Hiking to the Top of Castle Crags on the Castle Dome Trail

Brought to you by Visit Redding Castle Crags seems to hide in plain sight. Though clearly visible from I-5, the…

18 June

Transfer Approved on Klamath River Dams, Paving Way for Removal

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the transfer of the license for the Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project from PacifiCorp to the…

17 June

Longest Slackline in California’s History Gloriously Photobombs Yosemite Wedding

Photo by Erica Houk A historic moment was caught on camera in Yosemite National Park recently, and luckily for us…

16 June

Explaining Northern California’s Legendary Hexagenia Hatch

If every ardent fisherperson in Northern California went fishing at the same time, think of how clear the freeways might…

16 June

Drunk Driver Gets Car Stuck at the Bottom of Crowley Lake

Photo: California Highway Patrol A driver at Crowley Lake was cited with a DUI and plenty of upholstery damage after…

16 June

Here Are All the Fun Activities You Can Do this Summer at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

Photo: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows’ summer season kicks off Friday, June 18, when the resort reopens…

14 June

Point Reyes Installs Water Troughs to Help ‘Thirsty and Dying’ Tule Elk

Photo by Ronan Furuta Following a year where 152 tule elk died in Point Reyes National Seashore, wildlife officials are attempting…

8 June

Amid Devastating Fish Kill, Karuk Tribe Declares a Climate Emergency in the Klamath Basin

Photo: Klamath Salmon Media Collaborative Amid a massive salmon kill on the Klamath River, the Karuk Tribe has officially declared…

8 June

Risking Your Neck: The Statistics Behind ‘Dangerous’ Sports in Northern California

I remember deciding to go skydiving for the first time. Several of my friends asked if they could have my…

8 June

This Video Shows Why You Should Leave Cliff Jumping at McCloud Falls to the Professionals

We share a lot of videos from the top cliff jumpers around Northern California performing death-defying jumps from the cliffs…

8 June

It’s Illegal to Feed Deer in California. The Penalty? Up to 6 Months in Jail.

Photo by Chloe Leis Late spring and early summer is the peak time for California’s deer herds to give birth to…

7 June

Poison Oak: A Guide to Avoiding ‘California’s Most Common Shrub’

Photo by James Whitney Often referred to as “the most common shrub in California,” if you’ve been at all active in…

4 June

A Complete Guide to Summer Activities in Redding, California

Brought to you by Visit Redding Instagram/@kriswith_a_k_ Did you know that the second sunniest city in America sits right here…

2 June

YIKES! Rattlesnake Seen Swimming in Whiskeytown Lake

With the coming of summer in Northern California, snakes of many species are through hunkering down, making human encounters with…

2 June

Will Hatchet Creek Falls Ever Reopen to the Public?

Following a string of car break-ins, excessive litter and an apparent arson incident in the summer of 2020, the property…

1 June

Wedding Proposal Caught on Camera on the Summit of Mount Shasta

It’s always fun to see a proposal in one of the iconic outdoor destinations in Northern California. We’ve seen plenty…

1 June

A Complete Guide to More Than 40 Public Beaches on Lake Tahoe

Photo by Meritt Thomas With the start of the summer season, the Tahoe Fund and eight agencies that manage Lake Tahoe’s…

1 June

30,000 Milkweeds Planted Along NorCal Rivers to Save Critically-Low Monarch Butterfly Population

Photo by Patrick Mayor The population of Western monarch butterflies is in a serious decline in California, mostly attributed to the…

1 June

‘How Does Anyone Expect These Fish to Survive?’ Viral Video Shows Terrible Fish Stocking at Twin Lakes

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife spends millions of dollars every year on raising juvenile fish and stocking local…

1 June

See the Best Photos of the Super Blood Moon and Lunar Eclipse Over Northern California

Joel Tonyan/Flickr It was the celestial event of the year when a beautiful supermoon and lunar eclipse filled the sky…

May- 2021 -

26 May

Art of Survival Century Bike Event to Highlight the Beauty, History of Far NorCal & Southern Oregon

Sitting in the upper corner of Northern California and stretching into the southernmost region of Oregon is a tight-nit community,…

24 May

Reopening of Armstrong Redwoods Further Delayed Following Wildfire Damage

In August 2020, the LNU Lightning Complex Fire spread through the region near Guerneville, California, burning much of the wilderness…

24 May

Lower Bucks Lake is Refilled and Stocked with Trophy Fish Following Year-Long Dam Repair

Following a year-long project in which PG&E drained Lower Bucks Lake in order to perform repairs to its concrete dam,…

24 May

This CHUNKY 46-Pound Striper Shows Bass Fishing is Heating Up on the Sacramento River

The bass fishing on the Sacramento River is starting to heat up with multiple guide services reporting big striped bass…

19 May

Meet Tahoe’s Youngest Pro Snowboarder – 5-Year-Old Leland the Falcon

Instagram/@lelandthefalcon When Chuck Vogt, founder of Tahoe Longboards, took 2-year-old Leland to the slopes with a tiny snowboard for the…

19 May

California to Close Commercial Crab Fishery Early to Avoid Whale Entanglements

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham ordered the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery to close at noon on June…

18 May

The Redding Eagles Live Nest Webcam is MUST SEE TV!

It was a monumental event for eagles enthusiasts in March when the eagles in Redding’s Turtle Bay nest hatched three…

18 May

Wildfire Unearths Hidden Bunker in the Big Basin Redwoods

Photo: Julie Horner/SLVPost When the devastating CZU Fire blazed through the Big Basin Redwoods, it destroyed much of the state…

18 May

Scuba Divers Begin Largest Clean Up in Lake Tahoe’s History by Hauling Out 200-Pounds of Trash

Photo: Clean Up the Lake With growing tourism interest and outdoor recreation on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe, trash…

17 May

Ranger Led Kayak and Paddleboard Programs are Returning to Whiskeytown Lake

Photo: Whiskeytown NRA Following an absent year due to the Covid pandemic, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has announced it will…

16 May

Full-Grown ‘Vampire Fish’ Spotted in the American River

Photo of a lamprey fish on the Feather River. Photo taken by the California Department of Water Resources in 2017.…

16 May

Lassen Park Highway to Open a Month Earlier than Usual

Photo by Deanna Lewis With dwindling snowpack melting at a rapid rate throughout the Sierra Nevada, the summer months are quickly…

16 May

The Dumbest Things I’ve Done in NorCal: A Poison Oak Nightmare on Hatchet Creek

If you buy into the notion that we learn best from our mistakes, I must be one of the smartest…

16 May

Yosemite Prepares to Install Half Dome Cables to Reopen Summit Hike

Photo by Frank Kehren Yosemite National Park has announced they plan to install the cables on Half Dome to allow…

12 May

Searching for Fishing Solitude in Northern California

Reasons people have for needing to escape the rat race are endless, but the fact remains that we all do.…

10 May

Yet Another Oregon Wolf Settles in Northern California

A gray wolf is caught on camera in Northern California Wolf activity in Northern California is reaching unprecedented levels as…

7 May

21 Reasons Why Siskiyou County is the Best Destination for Outdoor Adventurers in 2021

Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou Photo by Stephen Leonardi For nearly the entirety of 2020, many people were stuck inside…

6 May

Burney Falls Sees Massive Influx of Visitors, Spiking Traffic and Litter Issues in the Area

Burney Falls is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Northern California. The 129-foot waterfall, once dubbed the Eighth…

5 May

Don’t Doom the Bloom: How to Responsibly See the Rare Wildflower Super Bloom at Folsom Lake

With Folsom Lake sitting at a paltry 36 percent of storage, a wildflower super bloom has taken over where there…

5 May

Popular Point Reyes Beach Closes For Four Months

Photo by Karam Alani One of the most popular summer destinations in the Point Reyes National Seashore has closed for the…

5 May

Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove Reopens Following Nearly 5-Month Closure Due to Storm Damage

Photo by KC Welch One of the premiere destinations to see the majestic trees of California has reopened to the public…

4 May

Meet the Women Who Kayaked 450-Miles from Mount Shasta to San Francisco Bay

Instagram/@sacsource2sea The Sacramento River is a vital waterway in Northern California. Bursting out of the rocks below Mount Shasta and…

3 May

Tahoe is Asking Visitors to Take a Pledge to Preserve its Outdoor Destinations

Photo by Jeremy Banks The rise in outdoor related tourism in Northern California has been staggering. With little opportunities for indoor…

3 May

The Highly-Anticipated Redwood Sky Walk is All Set to Open in Eureka

Photo: Sequoia Park Zoo The countdown has begun for the opening of the Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park…

Apr- 2021 -

29 April

A Wild Life: Stories of Bear and Rattlesnake Encounters in the Wilderness

When you spend enough time in wild places, you’re bound to run into a few of the creatures that call…

29 April

This Mammoth Backcountry Cornice is the Things Nightmares Are Made Of

When snow falls on the mountains of Northern California, skiers and snowboarders delight in the backcountry adventures offered to them.…

27 April

A Complete Guide to Enjoying Whiskeytown National Recreation Area this Summer

Brought to you by Visit Redding You’d be hard pressed to find a more pristine area in Northern California than…

27 April

A Wildflower Super Bloom Has Taken Over at the Dreadfully Low Folsom Lake

If there’s one place you can point to as current evidence of California’s impending drought, it’s Folsom Lake. Currently sitting…

26 April

Siskiyou Adventures: Hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail from Castle Crags to the Oregon Border

Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou Stepping from civilization onto the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in Northern California is a…

25 April

Yosemite Officials Searching for Lost Hiker Who Could Be Suicidal

Hiker Ralph Elliott went missing in Yosemite on April 22 The search is on for a hiker who went missing…

25 April

WATCH: Professional Cliff Jumper Performs Insane Flip Off Potem Falls

Northern California local Robert Wall has been lighting the internet on fire in recent years with his cliff jumping exploits…

19 April

14-Year-Old Fisherman Wins $10,000 Striped Bass Derby on the Sacramento River

When the Nor-Cal Guides and Sportmens Association decided to host a striped bass derby on the Sacramento River in Colusa,…

19 April

This Sacramento Trail Was Just Named One of the Best in America

When you think of trails in Northern California, you probably think of places like Tahoe, Mount Shasta, Yosemite and the…

19 April

The Trout Fishing Season Opener is April 24th. Here are 7 Places to Celebrate in the Shasta Cascade.

Saturday, April 24th is truly a magnificent holiday. It’s the time of year when you get together with your friends…

19 April

April’s Super Pink Moon Will Be the Biggest and Brightest of 2021

Photo by Ahsan Avi April’s full moon will rise on the night of Monday, April 26th as the biggest and brightest…

16 April

New Partnership Makes Booking Campsites at California State Parks a Whole Lot Easier

Photo by Awar Meman Let’s be honest – the reservation system at California State Parks isn’t the most user friendly experience.…

14 April

The Naked Truth: Stories of Skinny-Dippers and Fly Fishing in Northern California

I have nothing against naked people, and particularly respect their ability to garner interest at the beginning of a story.…

13 April

Squaw-Alpine to Begin Construction on New Gondola, Creating North America’s Third Largest Ski Resort

Alterra Mountain Company, owner of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in the Lake Tahoe region, announced it will begin construction…

7 April

Brand New 300-Mile Lost Sierra Trail Will Connect 15 Communities from Tahoe to Lassen

Mountain bikers enjoying the world class trail system in the Lost Sierra. Photo: Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship The Sierra Nevada mountain…

6 April

Man with ‘Mafia Style’ Accent Goes on a Hilarious Botany Tour of Lassen Volcanic National Park

If you’re interested in botany in Lassen Volcanic National Park, the above video has plenty of great information for you.…

6 April

Closing Dates for All Ski Resorts in Northern California

Mammoth Mountain terrain park. Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan. The ski season is coming to an end in Northern California. With…

6 April

National Park Service Reveals 152 Tule Elk Died in Point Reyes in 2020

Photo by Hari Nandakumar Following the controversial decision to kill Tule Elk in Point Reyes National Seashore in favor of cattle ranchers,…

5 April

Hiker Dies Following 100-Foot Fall at Oroville’s Table Mountain

Hollow Falls. Brooke Stanley/AllTrails A hiker fell 100-feet to their death near Hollow Falls at Oroville’s Table Mountain on Saturday.…

Mar- 2021 -

31 March

Experimental Release of 186,000 Chinook Salmon Performed Downstream from Spawning Grounds on the Sacramento River

Photo: Golden State Salmon Association Officials from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery, in coordination with the Golden State Salmon Association,…

30 March

An Adventurous Girls Weekend in Redding, California

Brought to you by Visit Redding Choose your adventure in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Kyra Leach. Sometimes you…

29 March

The Wildflower Bloom Has Arrived in Oroville’s Table Mountain

There are a few magnificent destinations to see wildflower blooms in Northern California. The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in…

26 March

Hiker Discovers Tree Growing Over the Trail in Redwood National Park

The Redwood National and State Parks are full of many wonders. The park system holds the three tallest trees in…

26 March

More Than 500,000 Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Released Into the Feather River

More than a half million spring-run Chinook salmon smolts were released into the Feather River near Yuba City last week.…

26 March

More Bears with Neurological Disorders Turning Up in Northern California

CDFW photo by Kirsten Macintyre The reports out of Pollock Pines, El Dorado County, last month sounded eerily familiar. A…

25 March

Get Pumped! The Bigfoot Mountain Bike Challenge is Returning to Redding in 2021

Photo by Jaret Brantley Redding is California’s secret mountain biking mecca, boasting a trail system over 200 miles in the area. And…

23 March

For the First Time in a Century, Condors Will Take Flight in Northern California

For the first time in 100 years, the endangered California condor will return to the Pacific Northwest. Once on the…

23 March

Gray Wolf Continues Historic Trek Further South into California

The wolf that made the astounding trek from Oregon to the Eastern Sierra has continued to travel south. The GPS-collared…

23 March

See the Biggest Steelhead Seen at the Coleman Fish Hatchery This Season

Since steelhead were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1998, Coleman Fish Hatchery has been dedicated to growing…

22 March

Campground in Plumas National Forest Closed for Bald Eagle Protection

A section of the Wyandotte Campground in the Plumas National Forest is temporarily closed to protect a bald eagle nesting…

22 March

Mt. Shasta Ski Park Hosting a Digital Terrain Park Contest for Prizes

Instagram – @mtshasta_terrainpark Mt. Shasta Ski Park typically ends its winter season with a freestyle competition on the mountain, but…

22 March

Redding’s Famed Eagles Welcome New Hatch to their Turtle Bay Nest

The famed Redding eagles have welcomed a new hatch into their Turtle Bay nest along the Sacramento River. Liberty and…

22 March

How ‘Euro-Nymphing’ Originated in Northern California

Joe Kimsey was a fishing legend on the Upper Sacramanto River If you refer to that fly rod as a…

20 March

Abalone Fishing Banned in Northern California Until 2026

While the spring season typically signals the start of the recreational red abalone season, CDFW reminds anglers that the northern…

20 March

5 Million Fall Chinook Salmon Released into the Sacramento River

Officials at the Coleman Fish Hatchery made their annual trip to the Sacramento River this week to release approximately 5…

18 March

Sasquatch: Get a Sneak Peak at Hulu’s New True Crime Documentary About Bigfoot in Northern California

Hollywood is once again diving deep into the world of Bigfoot, this time through a true crime documentary set in…

18 March

Tahoe Skier Escapes Avalanche by Launching Off 100-Foot Cliff

Cliff where the avalanche occurred A Tahoe skier found himself trapped between a 100-foot cliff and an avalanche. He opted…

12 March

Point Reyes Has a Big Poop Problem

Photo by Claude Piché Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the gems of the National Park System in Northern California.…

10 March

The 10 Natural Wonders of Northern California

Photo by Casey Horner The outdoor surroundings of Northern California make it one of the most beautiful places on the planet.…

10 March

Redwoods Rising is Putting Northern California’s Damaged Forests on a Better Path

Save the Redwoods League, California State Parks, and National Park Service staff touring a Redwoods Rising restoration site in Redwood…

10 March

Humboldt Park Ranger Explains Why You Should Never Pick Native Wildflowers

Park Ranger Griff is back with another educational lesson for you outdoor adventurers in Northern California. This time he tackles…

10 March

A Wolf Made the Astounding Trek from Oregon to Yosemite. Now Where Does it Go?

A gray wolf made major headlines after it made the long trek across the Oregon border and all the way…

9 March

A Complete Guide to the 225+ Miles of Trails in Redding, California

Photo by John Husome It’s been said that Redding, California sits as the gateway to the Northern California wilderness. That…

9 March

Fisherman Breaks 46-Year-Old California Crappie Record on Clear Lake

David Burruss with his record crappie from Clear Lake California has a new record for largest crappie caught with the…

8 March

Behind the Stunt: Skier Backflips Over 150-Foot Road Gap in Tahoe

It was the winter of 2019 when historic snowfall blanketed the Tahoe region, allowing backcountry skiers to attempt obstacles never…

5 March

Fisherman Lands 36-Pound ‘Whopper’ Striped Bass on the Sacramento River

The bass fishing on the Sacramento River is rolling heavy right now with the area’s best fishing guides showing off…

5 March

Yosemite National Park Ends Temporary Reservation System

Photo: Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau Vehicle reservations will no longer be required to enter Yosemite as of Monday, March 1st. The…

3 March

6 Legendary Road Trips for Outdoor Adventurers Near Redding, California

Road tripping is a time-honored tradition for outdoor adventurers. There’s nothing like feeling the excitement of your upcoming trip while…

3 March

Yosemite’s 2021 Firefall was ‘One of the Best Ever Seen.’ Here Are the Best Photos From the Natural Phenomenon.

The annual Firefall natural phenomenon peaked in late-February in Yosemite National Park, giving photographers and onlookers a show unlike any…

3 March

Breathtaking ‘Spaceship’ Clouds Surround Mount Shasta for the Show of a Lifetime

Mount Shasta has been known to have a beautiful cloud show every now and again, but this week the mountain…

1 March

Skiers Complete Death-Defying Descent of Yosemite’s Half Dome

Zach Milligan skiing down Half Dome. Photo by Jason Torlano. Two brave skiers recently completed an extraordinarily dangerous feat –…

1 March

Win Prizes with Healthy Shasta’s Parks and Playgrounds Walking Challenge

Photo by Japheth Mast Healthy Shasta is inspiring residents to get outdoors and enjoy the spring weather by exploring the wide…