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...

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...

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 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...

Smithsonian Butte Backcountry Byway is gorgeous 9.5 mile road that runs between Rockville near the entrance to Zion National Park and Apple Valley UT, and affords excellent places to camp & boondock *as long* as it is 0.5 miles from the road itself (and there are numerous turn offs). To get there take Utah Highway 9 and a left (if you're coming from the east) or a right (if you're coming f...

King's Peak is the tallest peak in the King Range, the home of the famous and spectacular "Lost Coast". At an elevation of 4,000' and less than 3 miles from the ocean, King's Peak provides stunning views in all directions: of canyons, beaches, foggy valleys, and the many greenhouses that dot the Humboldt County backcountry. King's Peak is perhaps the only coastal peak that can be compared to B...

Corno Piccolo (8710') or "Little Horn" as part of the Gran Sasso Massif, is the rocky, limestone heart of the Italian Peninsula, providing epic views from Adriatic to Tyrrhenian Seas. There are numerous world-class climbing routes to the summit, the most straightforward being a hike from the ski resort Prati di Tivo, which can be reached off the A24 via SS80.From Prati di Tivo, you can either t...

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...

One could a lifetime exploring, and attempting to describe, the beauty of the Channel Islands National Park and Santa Rosa Island in particular: its wildly diverse terrain, endemic flora and fauna, and also the only of the Islands to allow backcountry beach camping. While the opportunities for discovery are endless, heartier souls looking for a view of the rugged southeast coast *and* seal lion...

The numerous kelp forests, sea caves, and coves of the Channel Island National Park, coupled with its unbelievable sealife makes for some of the best diving in the world.  East Fish Camp off Anacapa Island is an excellent introduction to diving on the Channel Islands, with an average depth of 35' and a great array of wildlife and underwater nooks and crannies to explore. Like any coldwater, Cal...

Bald Hill is the first serious peak/summit that can be reached via the Oat Hill Mine Trail as it breaks from the more popular loop and heads into the heart of Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. To get there you can either begin at the less frequently used trailhead at Picket and Rosedale Roads heading 1.6 miles uphill till it intersects with the identically named Oat Hill Mine trail going right...

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...

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...

In the 17th century Port Royal on the far eastern end of Roatan was home to over 2000 pirates, 500 homes, and untold barrels of rum (and treasure). All that remains now is some rubble and ruins on Fort Morgan Cay, and a idyllic series of cays and coves surrounded by beautiful protected reefs and wrecks perfect for diving, snorkeling, and exploring. Getting there is the trickiest part as there i...

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...

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...

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...

Foxen Canyon Road from Santa Maria to Los Olivos runs through some of the most beautiful wine country in Santa Barbara county so much so that it was centerpiece of the film Sideways. The road itself begins at the intersection of Betteravia and Philbric roads just east of Santa Maria and proceeds for roughly 30 miles southeast through Santa Maria Valley before turning south into Foxen Canyon its...

Mussel rock, a three-story, 50 million year old rock that has been carried some 500 miles northwest from Southern California, is where the San Andreas fault meets the Pacific Ocean. It's also an excellent spot to drink some wine and catch a sunset. From San Francisco, take Highway 1 south towards Pacifica and exit at the Monterrey Road / Palmetto Avenue exit. Go right on Monterrey and take an...

The "El Aguila", meaning "The Eagle" in Spanish, is one of the three primary shipwreck dives off the coast of Roatan and the most accessible, being only a couple hundred yards off the coast at a depth of 110' feet in the heart of the Meso-American reef system. Purchased and sunk by Anthony's Key Resort though accessible and usably by anyone, the El Aguila is 230' long and was broken into three ...

Located on the Meso-American reef in the Roatan Marine Park, Bears Den begins with a 120 foot long “chimney chute” swim-through 15 meters below the surface, leading to an opening that gives way to a honeycombed coral wall. At the top of the wall is the entrance to Bear's Den, a gorgeous, enormous cavern 10 meters below.At the entrance, Spotted Drum, small Lettuce Leaf Sea Slugs and other types ...

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...

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...