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January makes a great time to visit Joshua Tree National Park. Visitors comfortably hike through serene desert scenery and picturesque Joshua trees without oppressive summer heat. Easy and moderate outings include Cholla Cactus Garden, Hidden Valley Loop, Ryan Mountain and Lost Horse Loop. The ambitious can ascend 5,816-foot Quail Mountain, the highest point in the park, on a 12-mile hike.
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In February, wildflowers start blooming in Death Valley National Park. Artists Drive, Badwater Basin and Natural Bridge Canyon make good outings for new arrivals. For a greater challenge, consider 9,064-foot Wildrose Peak, but first make sure Charcoal Kiln Road is passable. The park is well off the beaten track so stay a few days once you get there.
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March marks the beginning of spring and a perfect time to visit the beach. With 840 miles of coastline, California has no shortage of hiking choices. Favorites include Lands End Trail in San Francisco, Point Lobos Loop in Carmel-By-The-Sea, and the Dipsea Trail in Marin County. For an overnight hike, try the 29-mile Skyline-to-Sea Trail north of Santa Cruz.
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In April, visitors get the best of Lake Tahoe. There’s still plenty of snow to enjoy winter sports, like cross country skiing or snowshoeing on public land like Sugar Pine Point State Park. Elsewhere, some trails will have melted enough snow to allow hiking. Prospects include Cascade Falls, Eagle Lake and Rubicon trails. You can also try boating and fishing on the lake. Early-season visitors will avoid summer crowds and prices.
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May sees the peak snowmelt and waterfall viewing season. The Mount Shasta area features gems like Burney Falls and McCloud Falls. Castle Crags State Park deserves a stop; try the Castle Dome Trail. Mount Shasta itself commands attention for hundreds of miles, and you don’t need to commit to its formidable peak to enjoy a day hike on its flanks; Gray Butte is a short and rewarding hike. The summit may draw you back, though!
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By June, snows have melted to open up the Sierra Nevada mountains. Don’t miss your chance to explore Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, which are little-known gems compared to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. In Sequoia, must-do hikes include Big Trees Trail, Congress Trail and Crescent Meadow. In Kings Canyon, discover Grant Grove, Panoramic Point, Grizzly Falls and Zumwalt Meadow. If you like what you see, consider an overnight hike in the high country; you won’t find a better backpacking destination.
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July draws peak visitation to Yosemite National Park for good reason. Yosemite Valley offers incomparable beauty, but it has the crowds and traffic to prove it. Instead, visit Tuolumne Meadows. This high country haven isn’t exactly a secret but it contains far fewer people than the valley. May Lake, Lembert Dome, and the beach of Tenaya Lake won’t disappoint you.
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August provides the year’s best backpacking conditions, and there’s no better place to do that than the High Sierra. By late summer, snows have receded and mosquitoes have mostly died off. Trekkers covet the 211-mile John Muir Trail, which takes about three weeks. But you don’t have to hike so far. Try a few days starting from Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass or Carson Pass, which have abundant beauty and attainable wilderness permits.
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In September, Central Valley temperatures have cooled enough to make bicycling appealing. Riding bicycles is a fun way to experience the small communities between the state’s coast and mountains. Cyclists will appreciate the flat terrain and minimal traffic off the main highways. If you’ve ever wanted to push yourself on a longer ride, this is a good place to try.
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By October, autumn has arrived and fall colors peak gloriously. In the eastern Sierra, Mono and Inyo counties feature prime viewing opportunities. Catch the “Gold Rush” at Lee Vining Canyon, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, and the Rock Creek area. Convict Lake offers not just fall colors but the impressive Mount Morrison as a backdrop, a wild west shootout as a historic backstory and a gateway to John Muir Wilderness. An easy two-mile loop circles the lake.
In November, discover the spires and sights of Pinnacles National Park. Though far from the desert, this hiker haven heats up in summer, making a fall trip more advisable. Condor Gulch Trail, Jawbone Trail and Balconies Cave Trail (bring a flashlight) will introduce visitors to impressive geology; you may glimpse a California condor, too. Don’t miss the High Peaks Trail, which leads through the park’s loftiest summits.
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December brings the return of winter and snow to the mountains, so it’s a good move to shift outdoor activities to a low-elevation venue like the Bay Area. The San Francisco region has an abundance of options, like swimming, scuba diving, surfing and fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Backpackers can trek overnight in Henry W. Coe State Park. Hikers, bikers and climbers will find challenges at Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais and Montara Mountain. My personal favorite is running the nine-mile loop around Lake Chabot in my hometown of Castro Valley.
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People are happier when they are outdoors, so I encourage you to get out there in 2025.