Parks & Rec

Parks & Recreation

Pinnacles NP

Two hikers look up Condor Gulch Trail at Pinnacles National Park. Photo credit: Miguel Vieira/Creative Commons.

Dramatic volcanic spires and soaring California condors

Forest of Nisene Marks

Easy trails in Nisene Marks wend among some old-growth redwoods. Photo credit: Leor Pantilat.

Thirty miles of redwood-shaded trails.

Rio Del Mar State Beach

Aptos Creek meets the Pacific Ocean at Rio Del Mar, sometimes creating a summertime lagoon. Photo by Garrett McAuliffe.

A vacation rental hotspot on the bay.

Steamer Lane

Steamer Lane is almost always breaking — and packed with protective locals. Photo by Chip Scheuer.

The ultimate Santa Cruz wave.

Año Nuevo State Park

Elephant seal mothers and pups at Ano Nuevo. Photo credit: MonicaSP54 on Creative Commons.

World-class wildlife viewing.

Henry Cowell

A huge redwood at Henry Cowell with burls—dense knots of wood created when the tree undergoes stress. Creative Commons photo.

The easiest way to see some of the world's biggest trees.

Cowells

A mob of longboarders on a sunny day at Cowells surf break. Photo credit: Hilltromper

Easygoing waves on the Westside.

Elkhorn Slough

A mass of terns (white seabirds) taking flight over a wetlands. Photo by VIcki and Chuck Rogers/Creative Commons.

A global birding destination on Monterey Bay.

Sunset State Beach

Sunset State Beach. Photo credit: Creative Commons.

A remote beach with camping on the bluffs.

Greyhound Rock

Looking down on long Greyhound Rock from the Highway 1 bluffs. Photo by Finitor on flickr.

Secluded coves and tidepooling on the North Coast.

Pages

Parks

Community

Gear