Southern California Adventures Cool Things to do This Weekend

Discover exciting Southern California adventures and outdoor activities. Soar above the treetops on a zip line, explore sea caves by kayak, or discover natural wonders. What is your favorite Southern California adventure activity?

1000 Steps Beach Salt Water Pools

These concrete pools, dating back to the 1930s, are located at Paradise Bay in South Laguna. Reaching the pools is an adventure in itself. Access is via a 1000-step beach and requires swimming around the point or climbing through a cave at low tide. During low tide, the saltwater pools are heated by the sun and are considerably warmer than the nearby Pacific Ocean. 9th Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway Laguna Beach.

Deep Creek Hot Springs

There is nothing quite like soaking in a natural hot spring. This hike into Deep Creek is pretty strenuous, but the rewards are great.  Five pools vary, with the largest pool accommodating about ten people.  While none of the pools are steaming hot, a trip to see them should be on your adventure bucket list. Deep Creek Hot Springs is one of Southern California’s most popular and gets busy on weekends, along with the Pacific Crest Trail, Apple Valley, California.

Tahquitz Canyon Palm Springs

Hike through a desert wilderness with incredible rock formations, pools, flowers, and a 60-foot seasonal waterfall. The hike back from the falls offers panoramic views of Palm Springs and the valley below. Finish your adventure with lunch or dinner at one of Palm Canyon Drive’s restaurants in downtown Palm Springs. 500 W Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, California. https://www.tahquitzcanyon.com/

Skull Canyon Zipline

Skull Canyon Zip Lines is on  160 acres of some of Southern California’s most scenic land. The mountainous terrain has magnificent views as you fly through the warm, clean air. Three zip-line packages are offered. Each is designed to appeal to a different audience, from newbies to experienced adventurers. 13540 Temescal Canyon Rd, Corona, California. https://skullcanyon.com/

Trestles Beach Surfing

Trestle Beach is between San Clemente State Beach and San Onofre State Beach in North San Diego County. Trestle Beach is popular with surfers due to its many surf breaks. A one-mile hike is required. The beach has no parking lots, which is OK with the local surfers. Parking: S El Camino Real and Cristianitos Rd, San Clemente, CA 92672.

Sand Dune Park Manhattan Beach

Climb a 100-foot dune for the ultimate workout. Then do it again. You might even see a celebrity while working out here. Due to the enormous crowds at the dune, a reservation system is in place. No more than fifty persons can be on the mountain at any time. A trip on the dune is $1.00 for an hour of intense exercise: Sand Dune Park 33rd & Bell Avenue, Manhattan Beach, California.

Saline Valley Hot Springs

Saline Valley is located in the northern area of Death Valley National Park. To get to the springs, you must travel 50 miles on a rough, sometimes impassable dirt road. Plan on camping for at least one night in the hot springs area. Saline Valley hot springs are unique. Highway 190 to Saline Valley Road. From here, fifty miles offroad to the springs.

La Jolla 7 Sea Caves Kayak Tour

This is an adventure the whole family can take. If you own a kayak, you can make this trip. If not, we suggest taking a guided tour. Depending on the tides, you can enter at least one of the caves with your tour group. Plan on getting wet; it’s all part of the fun. 2199 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, California.

Hike to the Big Horn Mine

The long-abandoned Big Horn gold mine is located high in the San Gabriel Mountains and makes a fantastic place for a photo op.  The roughly two-mile hike is relatively strenuous. Finish this trip with a ride on the Mountain High Zipline or a relaxing lunch in Wrightwood Village.

Island Packers Cruise to the Channel Islands

Island Packers out of Ventura offers half-day, full-day, and overnight camping adventures to the Channel Islands National Park. Year-round cruises are available to the Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands. From mid-April through the fall months, trips to Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Islands. https://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm

Joshua Tree National Park

Nearly 800,000 acres of parkland offer plenty of activities for visitors—hiking, climbing, camping, and sightseeing. Highlights include Arch Rock, Keys Creek Ranch, Lost Horse Mine, and Keys View lookout. North Entrance (visitors Center) Twentynine Palms Highway 62 and Utah Trail. https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

Potato Chip Rock Poway

Hiking to Potato Chip Rock for pictures of you and your friends standing on a thin slice of rock is a must-do for any adventure seeker. Potato Chip Rock is not hidden. Every blog, travel site, and social media network has an article or post about the rock. Due to Potato Chip Rock’s popularity, there can be a line where you can take a photo on the weekends. That being said, a hike to the rock is a must-do. Impress your friends and make this hike. Lake Poway Park 14644 Lake Poway Road Poway, California.

Titus Canyon Off-Road Trip

There is an easy way to visit Death Valley National Park and Titus Canyon Road. This 26-mile one-way off-road adventure lets you see fantastic desert scenery, a ghost town, and a narrow canyon barely wide enough for a vehicle. This trip is not for the faint of heart, but worth the effort. Titus Canyon Road starts 6 miles from Beatty, Nevada, along Highway 374.

Old Mojave Road Adventure Trip

A trip along the Mojave Road can take one to three days. You can do all or part of the road, which will be an experience. The total driving distance is about 140 miles. The current route is slightly different from the original trail but close enough to feel what it was like to cross the desert before modern roads… A 4-wheel drive is a must for this trip. Note: The Mojave Desert Land Trust removed the bus from Mojave Road and transferred it to the Mojave Desert Heritage Association, where it is displayed at Goffs.

Deep-Sea Ocean Fishing  Adventures

Deep-sea fishing is a popular year-round activity in Southern California. Ocean fishing trips leave most Southern California harbors, including San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Oceanside, and San Diego.

California Lookout Tower Camping

California lookout towers are no ordinary campsite. Most are located in remote areas and offer little more than a roof over your head and spectacular views. Once used by the forest service to spot fires in the backcountry, many lookouts have been transformed into primitive wilderness motels, providing a unique camping experience.

Mount Whitney Summit Hike

The round-trip hike is 22 miles and ascends just over 6,000 feet. It is a non-technical ascent and is often accomplished by even non-experienced hikers. Camping for at least one night at Whitney Portal is suggested to acclimate your body before setting out. A one-day trip up the mountain usually starts before dawn. The hike to the summit can take anywhere from 5 to 15 hours. A day requires excellent fitness and endurance because of the distance and high altitude.

Sunset Ranch Trail Rides

Sunset Ranch is an adventure your entire family can enjoy. It gives you a taste of the old West in Hollywood. The ranch offers guided trail rides into the Hollywood Hills in the corner of Griffith Park. Riders have a choice of one- or two-hour trail rides. There is also a trendy dinner ride. Sunset Ranch is located at 3400 Beachwood Drive in Hollywood, California.

Ghost Town Exploring

California Ghost Towns range from theme park recreations to remote mining camps. Several Ghost Towns have gone from boom to bust to tourist attractions. Mining played an essential part in California’s history and the remnants of mining activity in our desert regions. Ghost Town exploring makes for an exciting adventure if you are interested in history.

Indian Canyons Hiking

If you don’t have the time to visit nearby Joshua Tree National Park, Indian Canyons creeks and waterfalls offer a chance to sit and enjoy lunch after a stress-relieving hike. There are three canyons. Each has its degree of trail difficulty and range in the distance –.5 – 15 miles. 38500 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California.

Oceano Dunes Pismo Beach

Oceano Dunes is the only place in California where it is legal to drive on the beach. Located south of Pismo Beach, the dunes are popular year-round attractions. Bring your own or rent an off-road vehicle to zip around the dunes. Several tour operators also offer rides in dunes using custom dune buggies. You can also rent a horse and ride along the beach.  Horses never get stuck in the sand; passenger cars and trucks are not so lucky.

Rosarito Beach Mexico

Thirty miles south of San Diego in Baja, California is the beach town of Rosarito Beach. Discover a city that is both rich in culture and full of activities. Enjoy world-class surfing, rent a jet ski, indulge in authentic Baja cuisine, or spend an evening out on the town at one of the area’s bustling nightclubs. Baja California, Mexico. https://www.rosarito.org/en/

Stanislaus River Rafting  Northern California

Northern California sports some of North America’s best whitewater rafting trips, with tours to satisfy any thrill-seeker’s most extreme need. But what about river rafting for the average person?

Kern River Rafting Southern California

Rafting is one of the most popular activities along the Kern River, with numerous outfitters offering guided trips down the tours. The most popular Kern River rafting trips are on upper Kern. Lower Kern River rafting trips are shown when the water level in Lake Isabella is high.

Dana Point Sea Caves

During low tide, hiking along the rocky beach and viewing two sea caves is possible. Enter the beach west of the Ocean Institute by climbing down the stairway. Head north for about a half-mile until you reach the caves. The larger cave is Pirate’s Cave, although it’s doubtful if a pirate even used this cave. Not too much to see, but it’s a fun little adventure to check out the caves.

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Southern California Road Trips

California Natural Hot Springs

Russian River Raft Trips

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