It can seem tough to balance your adventurous spirit with city living, but these micro adventures all exist within the city limits to bring you easy access to climbing, hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
Rock Climbing in Cragmont
Berkeley, CA
It may feel strange to walk through a residential neighborhood to get to the Crag, but in the Bay Area, this is how you find local climbing. Cragmont Park and nearby Remilliard Park are quietly tucked into the suburban sections of Berkeley with dozens of climbing and bouldering routes to explore. Most of the climbing can be set up as top rope, meaning minimal gear is needed, and even less is required for bouldering. From San Francisco, a mix of BART and bus will bring you to either park in about an hour, while driving across the Bay is only a half hour. And of course, in true San Francisco style, you can always Uber there for less than $45.
Hiking to Eagle Rock
Los Angeles, CA
Views of Los Angeles on one side and the expanse of the Pacific on the other greet you when you reach the top of Eagle Rock in L.A.’s Topanga State Park. Just 25 minutes from Santa Monica, you can start your trip at Trippet Ranch and follow a six and a half-mile loop up to the summit and back. The trail winds in and out of the mountains, providing views of the surrounding Topanga Canyon, and a fairly mellow trail is accessible for both hikers and trail runners. All you need is a good pair of shoes, water and a sense of adventure for this quick jaunt in nature. Pro tip: there’s a backcountry campsite if you have extra time to explore.
Snowshoeing Rock Creek Park
Washington, DC
Just 30 minutes by bus from downtown D.C. lays one of the nation’s oldest and largest urban parks, Rock Creek. This swath of almost 2,000 acres has been protected since the 19th century and during the summer, it is consistently filled with hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. Yet, when the snow falls, the crowds dissipate, making it a perfect time to go explore in relative solitude. Grab your layers and take the S4 bus to I Street NW at the eastern edge of the park to pick up the Valley Trail. Do an out and back on the Valley Trail for a quicker trip, or connect to the Western Ridge Trail for a full 10-mile loop of the park.
Cross-Country Skiing in Mill Creek Canyon
Salt Lake City, UT
On the edge of Salt Lake City, Mill Creek Canyon brings city dwellers unbelievably easy access to the mountains. Starting in downtown Salt Lake, drive just 15 minutes to the base of the canyon where you can hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski, depending on conditions. In the winter, part of the road is blocked off for cross-country skiing and groomed weekly. About four and a half miles from the edge of the trail, the Utah Nordic Alliance maintains a yurt in Mill Creek, so even though home is just a quick journey down the road, you can still sleep out in the peace of the wild.
This article was originally published in RANGE Magazine Issue Four.
Images by Sarah Knapp and Laura Stade.
XX SARAH KNAPP