get stoked on the golden state’s natural world
get stoked on the golden state’s natural world
Featured
Matsutake Magic
Come along for a walk in the forest as I recall my lucky first discovery of the fabled matsutake mushroom — the king of edible fungi.
Explore California
Ancient forests, rocky coastlines, painted deserts, imposing mountains, rushing rivers, starry skies, fiery sunsets, and sandy beaches — this is Kingdom California.
Alabama Hills
Nestled at the bottom of one of the deepest and steepest valleys in the world, the gnarly, weathered boulders that form the Alabama Hills lay stacked and scattered beneath the jagged Sierra Crest.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, hidden high in the White Mountains, is home to the oldest-known trees in the world, and by extension, the oldest-known living things in the universe.
Ansel Adams Wilderness
Ansel Adams Wilderness is home to one of the most scenic sections of the John Muir and Pacific Coast Trails and some of the most beautiful and cherished high country in California.
Convict Lake
Tucked into a glacial cirque, Convict Lake is ringed by dramatic, High Sierra peaks. While it's not exactly a wilderness experience, it is a fun place to hike, fish, and pitch a tent.
Desolation Wilderness
Hiding in the mountains around Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness is an alpine landscape scoured by ancient glaciers and punished over and over by heavy winds and snow.
Emigrant Wilderness
Just north of Yosemite National Park, Emigrant Wilderness is a high country defined by granite walls, domes, ridges, peaks and the meadows, creeks, and lakes that lay in their shadows.
Hendy Woods State Park
Hendy Woods' unique location alongside orchards and vineyards in Anderson Valley — an idyllic and undiscovered wine country — gives it a magic that is all its own.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Arguably the Mecca of the great coastal redwood forest, Humboldt Redwoods State Park is where you'll find the majority of the world's tallest trees.
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
Lying farther inland than most redwood parks, Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is tucked into the heart of Mendocino County’s coast range.
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse
Known for its rare fresnel lens, Point Cabrillo Lighthouse has guided ships along Mendocino's magical coast for more than a century. It makes up for its lack of height with character and history.
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Red Rock Canyon State Park is an extraterrestrial landscape of steep canyons and painted rock formations — a place that attracts rock hounds, artists and adventurers alike.
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
What's Sinkyone Wilderness State Park Like? Think Big Sur, but without the people or roads or anything, really. This is one of the most remote sections of coastline in America.
Featured
Be Kind to These, the Last of the Tallest Trees
California’s ancient redwoods are slowly succumbing to millions of tourists. Can these trees, already nearly logged into oblivion, survive their newfound fame?
Recommended Reading
The California Field Atlas
It's a struggle to come up with words that do this beautiful book justice. And few books are as fine for flipping through while sitting beside a fire or relaxing in a hammock—so bring this one camping. That being said, a true atlas it is not. Instead, it is the gospel of California's natural world and systems according to Obi Kaufmann, a brilliant naturalist, artist, and writer who is able to wrangle the spirituality and profundity of this amazing state onto the pages of his gorgeous work, which is packed with maps, illustrations, information, and musings. If you love California, this book is a treasure waiting for a spot on your shelf.
Explore the High Sierra
Get to know the famous Range of Light