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September 25, 2024
A Privates Beach Hike at High Tide
I drive toward the ocean on 41st Avenue and pass Betty Burgers. Why did I drive past Betty Burgers? What was I thinking? Imagine...
September 18, 2024
The Monarchs Are Coming! The Monarchs Are Coming!
Not all who wander are lost.—J.R.R. Tolkien
I meet Santa Cruzans who were born here and stayed, but most of us chose to migrate to...
September 11, 2024
A Santa Cruz Thing: Santa Cruz Wharf to Natural Bridges Hike
The magical feature of this Santa Cruz beach walk is seeing and feeling and hearing that point where the sea meets the land.
August 28, 2024
A Backside Slide Down Devil’s Slide
Today we want to scale the heights of Montara Mountain, above the Devil’s Slide Tunnels, looking over the Pacific Ocean.
August 14, 2024
Redwood Grove Loop in Henry Cowell State Park
In his online column Take A Hike with Richard Stockton, the author explores the redwoods with various hiking buddies—including Katherine Beiers, a former three-term mayor of Santa Cruz.
July 31, 2024
Take a Hike: New Brighton Beach State Campground Is Rising
California’s coastline is renowned for its stunning beaches, each with its own formation story. One such gem is New Brighton State Beach.
July 24, 2024
The Aptos High School Trail and Why You Should Get Lost
Freedom Boulevard is my road home. I have driven by Aptos High School 500 times and never gave the school a thought.
July 11, 2024
Hiking Lodato Loop Trail in Scotts Valley
This 1.3-mile loop trail has been hiked by so many people for 50 years the stones in the path have been polished by the soles of our feet.
July 3, 2024
Wilder Ranch State Park Hike
This week, Take a Hike columnist Richard Stockton walk through windswept grasslands on bluffs towering over crashing waves.
June 26, 2024
Aptos Creek Fire Road Trail Hike
There are many hikers, bikers and cars in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, but veer off onto a path up a hill and you’ll find solitude.
June 12, 2024
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
In his weekly column, writer Richard Stockton explores the crown jewel of the California State Park System, which draws 600,000 people a year.
June 6, 2024
Hurt on a Hike: Pine Valley Trail Hike, Carmel Valley
In this week’s Take a Hike column, Richard Stockton describes wh two OG hikers did when an ankle cracked in the backcountry.