In a region stretching from Monterey Bay to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and along the southern coast through Los Angeles and San Diego to the border, Southern California has enough great trails and outdoor activities to fill several entire states. Explorers from around the world come to see the Pacific Ocean at Big Sur, the Mojave Desert at Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley National Park, and the Coast Mountain Range which stretches from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara. Hikers and backpackers tackle the Pacific Crest Trail or explore shorter trails in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks in the Southern Sierras.

Bird watchers travel to the vast Central Valley or to Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve to observe migrating and nesting flocks. Climbers and hikers alike are drawn to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states, and to the boulders of Joshua Tree National Park. But even a short trip from the beach at Malibu, Disneyland in Anaheim, or Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard can provide opportunities for mountain biking in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, or sea kayaking at Santa Catalina in Channel Islands National Park.

Although blessed with year-round sunshine, Southern California nonetheless gets plenty of winter snow, great for skiing and snowshoeing in the Sierra Nevada backcountry or riding the groomed trails at Mount Baldy, Mammoth Mountain, and Bear Mountain at Big Bear Lake. Day trips to the Santa Barbara Wine Country, the beaches of La Jolla, and Torrey Pines State Reserve also make great, easy excursions, and no one will forget the commanding view from the summit of Mount San Jacinto just outside Palm Springs. Truly, Southern California offers something for everyone.