Josiah RoeExplorer

Looking for a cool, under-the-radar spot that’s perfect for picnics, chilling out, and chasing the sunset? Look no further than Tank Hill. This little gem of a mini-park is 650 feet high and tucked away in Cole Valley. It’s so small that many maps of San Francisco don’t even include it. To get there, drive to Belgrave Avenue and park on the street. Walk to the eastern end of Belgrave and you...

If you're leaving from SF, head over the bridge and exit onto Alexander Ave. Make the immediate left under the overpass and you'll be on the road to Hawk Hill. There's a parking area just below the gate leading up to Hawk Hill. From the parking lot you can walk west about ten yards along the outside of the guard rail to take a well-worn use trail out to a spur overlooking Point Diablo. The view...

Although the Headlands can be crowded, particularly at the parking-lot chaos of the Vista Point and pull-offs along Conzelman Road, the three routes leading to the summit of Slacker Hill remain relatively quiet, even during busy weekends. Each can be tied into larger loops throughout the Headlands (like the Ninja Loop), and the Slacker Hill detour makes for a great addition to any long run or h...

This campground is the closest you can get to staying overnight on Pt. Reyes coastline if you're backpacking in. Once you get there, enjoy the view! The easiest way to get to the camp is from the slightly uphill hike along the Laguna Trail and the Firelane Trail. The trailhead for the Laguna Trail is just past the hostel. Keep in mind that the Coast Trail does have issues during the rainy mon...

This has to one of the coolest spots to surf in the world. The break itself is a left point that requires a healthy swell to wrap into the bay, and only gets good on occasion. But when it's good, it can be an experience you'll never forget.It's important to note, that when it's good, this is not a wave for beginners. There is a local crew that has this spot on lock and they do a great job of re...

The climb to the summit of Arthur's Rock in Lory State Park provides relative isolation and solitude just 30 minutes from downtown Fort Collins along with great hiking, trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding.Arthur's Rock Trail is the most direct route to the summit, and can be reached by entering the park (Lory Park Road off North County Road 25G) and driving south...

The main trail begins at the Cache La Poudre river on the Poudre Canyon Highway about 30 minutes from Fort Collins. After about .75 miles the trail splits. To go left on Greyrock Meadows trail adds 2 miles to your trip and provides excellent views of Greyrock Mountain and Meadows from the south, eventually connecting back with Greyrock Mountain trail. Going right on Greyrock Mountain Trail take...

Called the "Berg Trail" by Silver City locals in honor of Gary Berg who pioneered the extensive trail system around Gomez Peak, the Picnic Loop beginning at the Little Walnut Creek picnic area is a great way to be introduced to the incredible mountain biking trails to be found in the area. Beginning at the picnic area, you can follow the trail in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise manner, ...

Sea kayaking from the Oceanside Harbor public kayak launch is one of the best ways to experience the Oceanside coast and the Pacific Ocean. There is ample parking along North Harbor Drive with the public kayak launch well-marked on the street. You can paddle around the harbor or you can go out past the jetties to take in the entire coastline. There are some excellent fishing spots and local gui...

The Frog Pond on the east side of the Black Rock Desert playa just off of County Road 49 aka Jungo Road about 15 miles from Gerlach, is a more-warm-than-hot-spring with temperatures roughly in the high 90s. The trees and plants that overhang the spring create a unique microclimate that serves as a haven for frogs (and fish), wherein it got its name. There is access from the playa by cross over ...

Laguna Beach is both the birthplace *and* and the capital of skimboarding, and for good reason: it boasts an impressive array of beaches where (if you know where to look) you can find one where the conditions are right for one of the most difficult but rewarding of water sports. Table Rock is one such beach, with the narrow channel between Table Rock and the rocky reef to the south often creati...

At just 121 miles long from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, the Truckee River continues to produce the largest trout in the Lower 48. Fly fisherman commonly divide the river into two reaches – East & West. And just outside of Reno in the small town of Verdi, the Bridge Street bridge is an excellent access point for fishing on the river. Rainbow, cuttroat, brown, and whitefish are the most commo...

The unique nature of the proximity of the reef to the shore of Roatan makes for some of the finest tropical fly fishing to be found in the Caribbean, particularly along the northwest shore at Sandy Bay aka the "Money Flats". These narrow turtle grass flats, averaging 1' - 8' in depth, allow for permit, bonefish, and barracuda to come up off of the reef to hunt. Like all fly fishing it is a good...

Lamb Boulder, located within the "Sunset Boulders" collection, contains four fun and challenging V2 - V6 bouldering routes. They are: Calambity: V6Rock Scar: V3+Skullcracker: V2 RThe Specialist: V4 Lamb Boulder is located directly across from the Sunset Boulder itself and its trad routes. To get there take the Pacific Coast Highway / Highway 1 to the Goat Rock Road turnoff. There are three obvi...

The trail begins at the signposted car park along Milford Road just before the Homer Tunnel, about 98km from Te Anau. Follow the marked track through the valley and left, steeply uphill. About halfway up you will cross the Gertrude Stream below a large, steep waterfall.Upon reaching Black Lake, continue up to your right. There are steel cabins to assist with the climb, as the rock can be slippe...

Oceanside's iconic Strand is a 1 mile long ocean-front road that is perfect for cycling, walking, and running. At various points it is one way or pedestrian only, and is a must-do for any visitors to Oceanside.From the north The Strand begins at Breakwater Way and heads south underneath The Oceanside Pier where it becomes pedestrian only. At Lot 30 (excellent parking) it becomes mixed-use again...

Hidden Falls Regional Park is tucked way in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, about an hour from Sacramento and a 20 minute drive off Interstate 80 and nearby the town of Auburn. Most visitors simply make a be-line for Hidden Falls and miss one of the more breathtaking trail loops that the park has to offer, with views over the Seven Pools of Coon Creek and the waterfalls fo Deadman Creek. ...

Tucked away in a remote corner of northwest Nevada on the Oregon border, Bog Hot Springs is perhaps the ideal of the Nevada Hot Springs experience: public land, no amenities, minimal-to-no-development, an abundance of wildlife, and solitude almost year round (hunting season excepted). The Hot Spring itself is actually a creek that has been damn in a series of pools, with the hot springs themsel...

Surfer's Point aka Ventura Point is a well-known kite boarding/surfing (and surfing) spot due to its (when conditions are right) great wave quality, favorable wind direction (sideshore with occasional side-off), friendly locals, rider capacity, and a nearby point break with. When conditions are excellent, most often in the late afternoon, there are a lot of excellent waves. The best wind direct...

Lake Nacimiento near Paso Robles, CA is a gorgeous reservoir used for kayaking, paddle boarding, and all manner of water sports. To get there, from Highway 101 take the 24th street exit in Paso Robles west till it turns into Lake Nacimiento Drive. Lake Nacimiento Drive will eventually turn into Godfrey Road and then back into Nacimiento Drive.  Just before the road crosses the damn, go left on ...

Peep Sight Peak in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness off Highway 4 provides solitude and wonderful views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada including the Mokelumnee and Emigrant Wildernesses. Even on summer weekends you'll likely have the peak and surrounding area all to yourself. Peep Sight Peak can be done as a straightforward day hike, often times in conjunction with the nearby Lookout, Henry, and...

The Whiskey Run mountain bike trail system features 9 interconnected trails of varying degrees and difficulty that can be added together to create at least an 11 mile loop. There are 6, 9, and 11 mile loops for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. There are two main parking areas for the trail network about a half mile apart, and to get there take Highway 101 north out of Bandon for 14 m...

The Reservoir Ridge and Foothills trail system around Horsetooth Reservoir and Fort Collins is excellent for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. During the winter it is particularly great for fat tire mountain biking, and the Foothills Trail is one of the best. The trail itself is roughly a 8.5 mile point to point from the parking area at N. Overland Drive and Headwater Drive up and alo...

Black Bear Pass (el. 12,840’), officially known as Forest Service Road 648, is an infamous 4WD road that runs between U.S. Highway 550 (between Silverton & Ouray) and Telluride, CO. From the pass downhill through the Ingram Basin to Telluride, the road is one-way and features switchbacks and the notorious “Steps” with several hundred meters of drop-off on either side. If driving, you *must*...