Nature in California

Go deep on these fascinating fish, and get a bonus lesson on the importance of marine conservation.

A dramatic coastline that’s home to a rare pine tree.

When California condors were hovering on the brink of extinction, this recovery program was charged with helping the birds thrive again.

A little-known, but surprisingly large waterfall on the Little Truckee River in the northern Sierra Nevada.

A scenic hike in the High Sierra that ends at an old gold mine.

A hidden gem, named after a San Franciscan icon, offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

An early 20th-century fire lookout, still in intermittent use, preserves legacy fire-locating equipment.

Colorful sedimentary rock layers provide opportunities both for hiking and photography.

Deep vertical fissures like miniature slot canyons cut across the cemented volcanic rock of Black Point above Mono Lake.

California's longest-running tourist attraction is a stump.

The viewpoint for this attractive, off-the-beaten-path waterfall is reached by a paved, wheelchair-accessible trail.

California's largest steel arch bridge.

The flow from this waterfall sometimes comes out of springs below its rim.

This hiking/biking/horse trail along an old railroad grade features trestles, tunnels, and a roadless stretch through the scenic Susan River canyon.

A wondrous place to watch a special flower bloom.

A fire lookout atop a glacial pinnacle is reached by climbing three vertiginous flights of stairs.