California is packed with incredible places to camp, but lake camping holds a special place for many outdoor lovers. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/these-are-the-5-best-lake-camping-spots-in-california-according-to-online-reviews/

A fight over the Eel River dams just got a lot more intense. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-congressman-just-opened-an-investigation-into-a-plan-to-send-eel-river-water-to-southern-california/

Camping in Northern California can be a challenging task as the high demand for state park campsites often results in a lack of availability. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/heres-the-secret-to-snagging-northern-californias-most-popular-campsites/

Federal money is heading toward Pacific salmon at a critical moment for the species, and California stands to benefit. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/nearly-100-million-in-federal-grants-is-headed-to-pacific-salmon-recovery/

If you see smoke around Lake Tahoe this week, do not panic. The Forest Service is burning on purpose. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/prescribed-burns-are-underway-in-the-lake-tahoe-basin-this-week/

There’s a long-standing question of where exactly Northern California is located. According to one study, it’s a matter of perception. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/where-is-northern-california-the-answer-depends-on-who-you-ask/

The results of the 2026 Best of California’s State Parks poll are in, and Northern California parks ran away with it. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/northern-california-state-parks-dominated-the-2026-best-of-california-poll/

Alex Honnold has a lot to say about being turned into the bad guy in HBO’s new Yosemite climbing documentary. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/alex-honnold-responds-to-being-the-bad-guy-in-hbos-new-documentary-about-yosemites-dean-potter/

Both passes benefited from a below-average snowpack this winter, which gave crews a head start on clearing operations. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/two-sierra-passes-are-now-open-before-memorial-day-for-the-first-time-in-years/

A yearlong investigation by Mother Jones has shed new light on the scale of glyphosate spraying across California’s forests. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-massive-investigation-just-exposed-how-much-roundup-is-being-sprayed-in-northern-californias-forests/

The forest rents out several decommissioned fire lookout towers and historic cabins, and they are some of the most unique overnight stays in California. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/you-can-rent-this-fire-lookout-tower-in-the-shasta-trinity-national-forest-for-75-a-night/

If you thought the John Muir Trail was the ultimate Sierra Nevada challenge, National Geographic just raised the bar. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/this-sierra-route-was-just-named-one-of-national-geographics-top-100-hikes-of-a-lifetime/

Episode 3 of HBO's The Dark Wizard reveals how Alex Honnold's rise pushed Dean Potter to the edge, ending in manic collapse. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/the-dark-wizard-episode-3-review-how-alex-honnold-pushed-dean-potter-to-the-edge-of-sanity/

The coyote that made international headlines after swimming ashore on Alcatraz Island in January did not come from San Francisco. It swam from much further away. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/the-coyote-that-made-it-to-alcatraz-took-a-much-longer-route-than-anyone-thought/

As many as 500 black bears call Yosemite National Park home, and they are waking up hungry. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/yosemite-bears-are-waking-up-heres-what-the-park-wants-you-to-know/

This Northern California destination just got a nod from Travel + Leisure as home to one of California’s best beaches. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/one-of-californias-prettiest-beaches-is-inside-a-national-park-most-people-overlook/

A major new study is putting a name to something scientists have suspected for years. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-new-study-shows-that-most-young-salmon-entering-the-delta-never-make-it-out/

California's gray wolf population has grown from zero to approximately 90 since 2011. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/california-now-has-12-known-wolf-packs-heres-where-they-are/

Somewhere in San Francisco, buried one foot underground, sits a 150-pound treasure chest packed with 10,000 one-dollar coins. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/someone-buried-10000-in-san-francisco-and-the-entire-city-is-trying-to-find-it/

See if you can spot the local landmarks on the Sacramento River. #MayTheFourthBeWithYou Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/star-wars-battle-on-the-sacramento-river-with-jetovators/

There are some fascinating connections between Star Wars in Northern California. #MayTheFourthBeWithYou Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/the-rich-history-of-star-wars-in-northern-california/

Three state parks across the region are growing thanks to a series of land donations announced on Earth Day. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/three-northern-california-parks-just-got-a-lot-bigger-heres-what-changed/

Standing between Mt. Shasta climbers and disaster is a small team of climbing rangers stationed on the mountain year-round. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/meet-the-climbing-rangers-who-guard-mount-shasta-year-round/

The lake is rolling out a series of transportation improvements aimed at reducing parking chaos. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/popular-lake-near-tahoe-is-getting-strict-new-rules-before-summer-to-deal-with-parking-and-erosion/

The northern spotted owl has been vanishing across the Pacific Northwest for decades. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/one-of-the-last-northern-spotted-owl-strongholds-in-california-is-under-pressure/

The fight over national park funding is getting louder, and the stakes for California parks are enormous. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/the-debate-over-national-park-funding-could-change-the-way-you-experience-california-parks/

Sand Harbor State Park at Lake Tahoe has opened its boat launch for the 2026 season, but boaters should know it is not business as usual. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/sand-harbors-boat-launch-at-tahoe-is-open-but-the-docks-are-gone

Do you agree? Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/this-northern-california-city-just-declared-itself-the-paddling-capital-of-california/

A major motion picture is about to start filming right here in Northern California, and there’s a good chance you might see someone you know on the big screen. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-major-motion-picture-is-about-to-film-in-northern-california-and-your-neighbor-might-be-in-it/

Both eaglets from the popular nest at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge have died. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/sacramento-wildlife-refuge-confirms-both-eaglets-from-popular-nest-have-died/

Dinner at the Ahwahnee just got a lot more formal, and a lot more expensive. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/yosemites-most-famous-restaurant-just-got-a-lot-more-expensive/

Redwood National Park is experiencing a rare lupine superbloom, and the park is actively encouraging visitors to come see it. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-rare-lupine-superbloom-just-erupted-in-the-bald-hills-of-redwood-national-park/

This could be a preview of what Yosemite looks like without a reservation system. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/yosemite-valley-ran-out-of-parking-before-11-a-m-on-saturday-and-summer-hasnt-even-started/#google_vignette

A new 130-space parking lot on Tahoe's East Shore aims to reduce dangerous roadside parking and improve access to one of the lake's most popular beaches. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/lake-tahoes-most-overcrowded-beach-is-about-to-get-a-massive-parking-lot/

Clear Lake holds more fish per acre than any other lake in the country. It also produces some of the worst toxic algal blooms in California every single summer. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/scientists-are-testing-a-new-way-to-fix-clear-lakes-toxic-algae-problem/

A few miles inland from Northern California’s wild Lost Coast, a tiny town rises out of the redwood mist like something from a storybook. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/this-enchanting-northern-california-town-surrounded-by-redwoods-feels-frozen-in-time/

The early signs are pointing toward a very strong El Nino developing by winter 2026-27, and that has real implications for Northern California's rain season. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-super-el-nino-may-be-coming-here-is-what-it-could-mean-for-norcal-this-winter/

Researchers are conducting a necropsy to determine what killed it. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-gray-whale-just-washed-ashore-at-fort-bragg-as-the-coast-stranding-pattern-continues/

The U.S. Forest Service just released its opening schedule for recreation sites around Lake Tahoe. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/lake-tahoe-is-gearing-up-for-summer-heres-when-your-favorite-campgrounds-and-beaches-open/

The US Forest Service determined that weather conditions were not suitable for the operations to proceed safely. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/prescribed-burns-in-plumas-county-were-canceled-this-weekend-due-to-bad-weather-conditions/

A new appeal challenges a court ruling on Yuba River dams, as salmon, steelhead, and green sturgeon populations hit historic lows. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/yuba-rivers-native-fish-are-at-historic-lows-a-new-appeal-wants-to-hold-the-federal-government-accountable/

Gray wolves in California are becoming harder to ignore. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/california-confirmed-21-gray-wolf-livestock-attacks-in-the-first-3-months-of-2026/

After years of watching reservoir levels swing between worry and relief, Lake Oroville is starting May in remarkably good shape. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/lake-oroville-is-at-97-percent-capacity-heading-into-may-well-above-average/

A sweeping reorganization is underway at the Forest Service, and the concerns are stacking up quickly. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/a-major-forest-service-reorganization-is-raising-red-flags-across-california/

If you’re planning a trip to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park this summer, you’re going to need to plan ahead a little more than usual. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/burney-falls-is-launching-a-reservation-system-this-summer-to-tame-the-crowds/

California’s flag has a grizzly on it, but actually putting one back into the woods is turning out to be a much harder sell than the bear’s mascot status suggests. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/the-push-to-bring-grizzly-bears-back-to-california-is-hitting-some-serious-backlash/

A photograph from Grass Valley’s past tells quite a story about how the town once welcomed its visitors. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/the-story-behind-the-giant-gold-miner-arch-that-once-welcomed-visitors-to-grass-valley/

If you hike, camp or ride near Truckee, expect some temporary closures in the Tahoe National Forest this summer. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/wildfire-prevention-work-near-truckee-could-temporarily-close-trails-and-roads-this-summer/

Yuba County is about to get its first state park, and it is going to be a big one. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/northern-californias-newest-state-park-will-be-a-2000-acre-property-along-the-feather-river/

This luxury glamping resort near Yosemite’s western entrance just landed on a short list that most hotels would dream about. Read more: https://www.activenorcal.com/new-yosemite-glamping-sitejust-got-featured-as-one-of-americas-best-road-trip-hotels/