California Releases List of Permitted Outdoor Activities During Shelter-in-Place Mandate

While many residents have grown weary of California’s shelter-in-place mandate, Governor Gavin Newsom is encouraging people to go outdoors and has provided some detailed guidelines on how to do so.

“We want you to see sunsets,” he said. “We want you to enjoy activities outdoors. What they don’t want is people congregating outside in large groups.”

On the state’s COVID19.ca.gov website, there is a complete list of outdoor activities they encourage during this stage of the shelter-in-place mandate, as long as social distancing is practiced. Here is the full list from the website:

• Athletics
• Badminton (singles)
• Throwing a baseball or softball
• BMX biking
• Canoeing (singles)
• Crabbing
• Cycling
• Exploring rock pools
• Gardening (not in groups)
• Golf (singles, walking – no cart)
• Hiking (on trails and paths allowing distancing)
• Horseback riding (singles)
• Jogging and running
• Kiteboarding and kitesurfing
• Meditation
• Outdoor photography
• Picnics (with your stay-home household members only)
• Quad Biking
• Rock Climbing
• Roller Skating and Roller Blading
• Rowing (singles)
• Scootering (not in groups)
• Skateboarding (not in groups)
• Soft martial arts – Tai Chi, Chi Kung (not in groups)
• Table tennis (singles)
• Throw and catch an American mini football, Frisbee or Frisbee golf (not in groups)
• Trail running
• Trampolining
• Tree climbing
• Volleyball (singles)
• Walk the dog
• Wash the car
• Watch the sunrise or sunset
• Yoga

Most of the activities highlighted in the list are single-person sports, seemingly acting as more of an idea list than guidelines.

If you’ve been outside lately, you’ve probably noticed many of these activities are already being practiced by residents. Many parks throughout the state remain bustling during the Coronavirus pandemic as people desperately search for safe ways to leave their homes. Maybe this list can provide some ideas for those seeking more outdoor activities during the outbreak.