Outdoors

Find Iconic Views Hiking Up Mount Shasta’s Black Butte

For frequenters of northbound Interstate 5 in Northern California, imposing Black Butte is nearly as iconic as its next-door-neighbor Mt.…

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The 10 Best Bike Rides Around Lake Tahoe

Photo: Bike Tahoe There are a lot of opportunities for a great bike ride in Northern California, but the best…

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Wildlife Officials Begin Experimental System to Bring Salmon Back to the McCloud River

State and federal biologists and engineers, in partnership with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, have begun testing an experimental system in…

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Nature Notes: A Fascinating Look at the Snow Plant of Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is full of nature’s marvels. From world-famous rock formations to scary wildlife standoffs, the park is one…

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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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WATCH: Mountain Biker Collides with Bear on Northern California Trail

Mountain biker David Sousa was having a great time riding down the Mills Peak trail in Plumas County when he…

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Lassen Volcanic National Park Announces Partial Reopening of Kings Creek Falls Overlook

The rebuilding of infrastructure in Lassen Volcanic National Park continues after 73,240 acres of the park was burned in the…

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71-Year-Old Man Completes the 2,650-Mile Pacific Crest Trail

Finishing the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada is a difficult feat for even the most in-shape young…

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Yurok Tribe Partners with California State Parks to Manage North Coast Redwoods

California State Parks and the Yurok Tribe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to establish a collaborative approach to…

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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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Fisherman Lands MONSTER 17-Pound Mackinaw on Lake Tahoe

When you think of the best places to fish in Northern California, Lake Tahoe typically isn’t near the top of…

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

Photo by Erin O’Brien The Trinity Alps Wilderness, located just northwest of Redding, is a gorgeous mountain range providing backpackers with…

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Here’s Why Fall Might Be the Best Season for Fishing in Northern California

Photo: Chip O’Brien When October finally arrives in NorCal, chances are you will find me fishing somewhere. It may only…

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Lake Monsters: Here’s Why Sturgeon Grow to Be So Big in Shasta Lake

Massive sturgeon caught on Shasta Lake in 2018. Photo: Sou Saephan For anyone who’s been lucky enough to take a…

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Will Sierra-at-Tahoe Open for the Winter Season? In Their Words, ‘Heck Yes’

After the Caldor Fire moved through Sierra-at-Tahoe in the summer of 2021, the ski resort’s management has been hard at…

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Opening Dates for NorCal Ski Resorts for the 2022-23 Season

Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan Winter is just around the corner in Northern California, with our first snow of the season…

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Watch the “Unflippable Raft” Plunge over a Gushing McCloud Falls

The Creature Craft was created by Darren Vanci, who was determined to create an “unflippable raft.” The structural integrity of…

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Lassen Park Highway Closed Due to Snowfall

The early-season storm that soaked Northern California on Sunday has brought some snow to high-elevation areas. As the rain moved…

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This Nighttime Timelapse Shows Why Lassen is One of the Best Places to Go Stargazing

When the summer and fall seasons arrive in Northern California, the night sky comes alive with the best viewing opportunities…

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Grizzly Bears Once Ruled California. Here’s Why They No Longer Roam the State.

Photo by Zden?k Machá?ek Why does the California State Flag feature an extinct animal, the California grizzly bear, a beast so…

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Visit North America’s Tallest Waterfall in Yosemite National Park

Photo by Jeremy Lwanga Everyone knows that Northern California is home to hundreds of beautiful waterfalls, some of them world-renown. But…

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These Photos Prove that Northern California is the Most Beautiful in the Fall

Autumn has officially arrived in Northern California, with the foliage that grew all spring and summer long turning to fantastic…

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Study: Sierra Nevada Snowpack Will Shrink by 79% by the End of the Century

The Sierra Nevada, the iconic mountain range that sits on the east side of Northern California, has been a reliable…

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No Reservations: Yosemite Ending Vehicle Pass Requirements Soon

Photo by Rakshith Hatwar Yosemite National Park is known to be one of the most visited parks in the United States,…

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In a New Light: The Full-Moon Hike to the Top of Lassen Peak

In Northern California, we’re surrounded by nature. Trees, mountains and wildlife flourish under the NorCal sun. But come nighttime, there’s…

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Dogs Aren’t Allowed on Most Point Reyes Beaches. Here’s Why.

The stunning beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore make for a great place to enjoy the Northern California coast. It…

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This NorCal River Gets Nearly a Million Visitors a Year. Volunteers Are Its Only Hope to Stay Clean.

When it comes to the National Parks in Northern California, federal resources help officials keep it clean and safe for…

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Outside Magazine Lists the Best Hikes in Northern California National Parks. Here’s Our Take.

Photo by Saketh Garuda A list of the best hikes in every National Park in America was compiled by Outside Magazine,…

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Salmon Fishing Season is Heating Up on the Sacramento River

As the summer temperatures continue to heat up in Northern California, so are the salmon runs on the Sacramento River.…

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See What It Takes To Hike Northern California’s Legendary Lost Coast Trail

Photo: Bureau of Land Management A mention of the Lost Coast should never be omitted from any comprehensive discussion of…

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Throwback: Professional Stuntman Performs Death-Defying Jump on Shasta Lake

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT TRY THIS STUNT Erik Mukhametshin is a professional stuntman and a finalist from the Ninja Warrior Russia.…

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Scientists Have Spent Billions to Improve Lake Tahoe’s Clarity. It’s Only Getting Worse.

Lake Tahoe’s clarity is its most notable attribute. In the early 1900s, scientists gushed about being able to see 100…

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Mount Shasta is Almost Entirely Devoid of Snow

Photo taken of Mt. Shasta on August 16 by the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center We’re in the dog days of…

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Siskiyou Ranchers Told to Stop Diverting Water from Drought-Plaqued River

Photo: Cal Trout The state of California has warned a group of ranchers to stop diverting water from the Shasta…

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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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California’s Free Fishing Day is Approaching. Here Are Our 15 Favorite NorCal Fisheries to Celebrate.

Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan Don’t miss the last chance to fish for free this year! Free Fishing Day in California…

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10 GIANT Waterfalls You Have to See 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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Road Trippin’: Why You Have to See the Purest Water in the World at Oregon’s Crater Lake

Photo by Sébastien Goldberg When you see the Golden Gate Bridge, no one has to tell you where you are. The…

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Hiker Crushes the Pacific Crest Trail in ‘Fastest Known Time’

A 27-year-old British man has become the fastest person to complete the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) as a self-supported athlete,…

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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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Mt. Shasta Ski Park Reveals Trail Map of Brand-New Gray Butte Lift

As Mt. Shasta Ski Park continues its construction of the brand-new Gray Butte Lift, which will drastically change the popular…

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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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VIDEO: MASSIVE Salmon Gets Airborne on the Sacramento River in Chico

View this post on Instagram Hey @beckmannets !!!! This is how we do it out in #cali !!! @northstatesalmon great…

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Watch: Kayaker Reaches 36 MPH on 100-Foot Yosemite Waterslide

The Tenaya Creek waterslide is a little known feature in Yosemite National Park. The 100-foot waterslide is located at upper…

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Hiking the 2,650-Mile Pacific Crest Trail in 5 Minutes

Seeing pieces of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) around NorCal throughout my childhood generated a serious curiosity about this grueling…

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The 2022 Perseid Meteor Shower Will Peak This Week. Here’s How to See it in Northern California.

Photo by Micha? Mancewicz On the night of August 11 and into the early morning of August 12, the Swift-Tuttle comet…

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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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Take the Siskiyou Pledge For a Chance to Win a Free Trip to California’s Far North

Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou There’s no question that Siskiyou County is one of the great areas of outdoor…

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WATCH: Rock Climber Rappels 2,650-Feet Off El Capitan in Yosemite

Climbers from all over the world travel to Yosemite National Park every year to climb the sheer rock faces of…

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Northern California Wolf Packs Welcome 11 New Pups in 2022

Photo of the Whaleback Pack in 2011. Photo by Patrick Griffin. Despite massive wildfires destroying large patches of wolf territory…

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Massive Fish Kill on the Klamath River Believed to Be Caused by the McKinney Fire

Officials from the Karuk Tribe were surprised when they found a massive fish kill between Indian Creek and Seiad Creek…

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Meet the Man Who Built an Off-the-Grid Watertopia Along the Trinity River

There are plenty of people who have built great properties in Northern California. While some people may point to the…

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Yosemite to Reopen Mariposa Grove Following Washburn Fire Closure

Following a nearly month-long closure in which the Washburn Fire grew to nearly 20,000 acres in Yosemite National Park, the…

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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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Take an Epic Rafting Trip Down the Whitewater of the Trinity River

Once, in the dawn of pre-history, a ravenous saber toothed tiger stalked a little family of cavemen, mom, dad and…

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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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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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RIVER MONSTER: 8-Foot Sturgeon Caught on the Sacramento River

We’ve been documenting the giant, ancient fish that swim in the waters of the Sacramento River for years now. Some…

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Oak Fire Sends Plume of Smoke into Yosemite, Lake Tahoe

The Oak Fire has grown to the largest wildfire in the United States, threatening thousands of structures and forcing more…

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Beloved Clearwater Fishing Lodge Closing its Doors

The legendary Clearwater Lodge, known for its beautiful accommodations and stellar fly fishing services, has permanently closed its doors. Since…

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VIDEO: Hiker Captures the Moment a Lightning Strike Starts a Wildfire in the Sierra

A hiker witnessed a rare scene when a bolt of lightning hit the Sierra, causing an immediate wildfire. He even…

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This NorCal Campground is the Best in the State, According to Outside Magazine

We all know there are some pretty amazing campgrounds in Northern California. Whether you’re camping in one of the National…

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What a Helicopter Rescue Tells Us About Hiking in the Burnt Areas of Lassen Volcanic National Park

Photo: National Park Service Lassen Volcanic National Park officials encourage visitors to walk off trail and explore. With Lassen’s centerpiece…

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Skier’s Summer Delight: A Backpacking Adventure to Find the Sierra’s Fountain of Youth

Skiers and snowboarders hit a bit of a stage of depression in the late weeks of June. Although some ski…

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This Sacramento Trail Was 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…

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6 Tips for Hiking Brokeoff Mountain in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Brokeoff Mountain in Lassen National Park is notorious for being one of the most difficult hikes in our area. The…

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A Beautiful Escape to Medicine Lake and Glass Mountain

We woke up to find that the water in our bottles had frozen. We knew it was cold that night,…

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A Stunning Bike Ride Through Yosemite National Park

My last bike ride in Yosemite after working there for 4 months – set to Sleep On The Floor by…

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California’s Oldest State Park to Reopen Just Two Years After Being Completely Destroyed by Wildfire

California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks today announced Big Basin Redwoods State Park will partially reopen…

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Here’s How to Use Yosemite’s New Reservation System. And How to Get Around it.

Yosemite National Park sits one of the most popular national parks in the country with more than 3 million visitors…

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UPDATE: Missing Desolation Wilderness Hiker Found Dead in Lake Aloha

Update – June 30: A sad ending to the story of the 32-year-old missing hiker in the Desolation Wilderness was…

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22 Spectacular Outdoor Destinations to Visit Near Redding, California in 2022

Brought to you by Choose Redding Stunning views in the Trinity Alps. Photo by Ben Guernsey. The year of the adventurer…

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A Lupine Super Bloom is Taking Over Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places in Northern California, if not the entire United States. Add to…

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MONSTER 23-Inch Rainbow Trout Caught on Fall River

The Hexagenia hatch is in full swing on Fall River and fishermen are elated to see the results coming into…

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Best Stargazing in NorCal? Find Spectacular Nighttime Views in the Lava Beds National Monument

Milky Way as seen from the Lava Beds National Monument. Photo by the National Park Service. Sitting in the tippy-top…

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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…

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Congressmen Reveal Bipartisan Bill to Save California’s Giant Sequoias from Wildfire

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger Over the past two years, 20 percent of all the giant sequoia trees on the planet were…

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What to Expect When Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park After the Dixie Fire

The entrance sign to Juniper Lake burned by the Dixie Fire. Photo: NPS In 2021, the Dixie Fire ravaged five…

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Throwback: Stunning Footage Captured of Lightning Exploding Tree in Lassen Park

A stunning video captured in the Lassen Park’s Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center shows just how powerful lightning can be. Park…

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WATCH: Man Saves Fawn Swimming in the Middle of Folsom Lake

View this post on Instagram A fawn was rescued Sunday afternoon after it was spotted swimming in the middle of…

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Spend a Day Relaxing in Tahoe on the Lazy Float Down the Truckee River

There are many summer activities in the Tahoe area for adventurers, but if you’re looking for a relaxing adventure, look…

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Great Under-the-Radar Fishing Spots in Northern California

Northern California is well known as a fishing Mecca, and the Sacramento River is sometimes referred to as the best…

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An Underground Visit to Lava Beds National Monument

This past weekend, Kiva and I visited Lava Beds National Monument for an overnight trip. I’ve been a few times…

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A Complete Guide to the Outdoor Destinations of California’s Eastern Sierra

Photo by Zongnan Bao U.S. Highway 395 runs from the Canadian border all the way down to Southern California, and approaching…

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Officials Considering Changing Controversial Name of Popular NorCal Park

Flickr/Vince A day-use area on the shores Lake Natoma just east of Sacramento has a name that’s hard to say…

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While Most Northern California Reservoirs are Starved for Water, One Sits Fuller Than Usual

Folsom Lake With the large reservoirs of Northern California experiencing the impact of extreme drought throughout the region, water officials…

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Lake Tahoe To Receive 100,000 Lahontan Cutthroat Trout This Summer

Tahoe’s native fish are making a return this summer. The Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex in Gardnerville, Nev., began stocking…

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Yosemite Officials Looking for People Who Spray Painted Graffiti on Rocks in the Park

Yosemite National Park officials are asking the public to help assist with a spray painting incident in the park. The…

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Hexagenia Heaven: A Unique Fly Fishing Experience on Northern California’s Fall River

From the prow of our anchored pram I gazed across the Fall River Valley in the setting sun, and the…

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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…

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Celebrate California State Park Week June 14 – 18

Photo by Kitera Dent The public is invited to celebrate the first annual California State Parks Week, June 14-18, presented by California State…

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This Interactive Map will Show You All the Open Campsites in Northern California

As the seasons transition from winter to to the summer months, it’s been really difficult getting information on exactly what’s…

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A Stunning Tribute to the Ancient Redwoods of Northern California

The ancient redwoods of Northern California have an aesthetic unlike anywhere in the world. The tallest and oldest trees on…

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See Northern California Through the Eyes of a Pacific Crest Trail Hiker

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is a dream for many outdoor enthusiasts. The legendary trail spans for 2,650 miles from…

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Fishermen Show Off Bright ‘Lightning Trout’ Caught in NorCal Reservoirs

We’ve all become pretty familiar with the different variations of trout caught in Northern California – rainbow, brown, brook, etc.…

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Lassen Park Highway Opens for the Summer Season

Photo: National Park Service The road through Lassen Volcanic National Park opened to vehicle traffic on Friday, June 3rd, indicating…

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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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VIDEO: Cliff Jumper Comes Close to Death on 100-Foot Lake Tahoe Ropeswing

We’ve heavily highlighted the 100-foot ropeswing over Lake Tahoe, which has been billed the “highest rope swing ever made.” The…

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WATCH: Climbing Mount Shasta in 85-mph Winds

Climbing to the peak of Mount Shasta is no easy task. Add 85-mph winds to the equation and it’s very,…

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Free Beach Summer Concert Series Coming to North Lake Tahoe

Photo by Clare Foster/Concerts at Commons Beach The summer has finally arrived on the Tahoe Basin, the perfect time of year…

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