Los Angeles 2028: 10 outdoor adventures to have in California

The Olympics may be over for another four years, but the countdown is already underway as the torch gets passed from the French capital over to Los Angeles. Like Paris, LA has hosted the Olympics twice before in 1932 and 1974, and is renowned for having some of the world’s most prestigious sporting facilities, touting LA 2028 to be one of the best games yet. With the city also gearing up to be a FIFA World Cup host in 2026, Hollywood is going to have to make some room for sporting enthusiasts in the years to come.

To get ahead of the hype, we’ve picked some of the top active ways to explore not just LA, but the entire Golden State. From climbing ancient redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains to kayaking on the glassy waters of Lake Tahoe, California is the perfect setting for an outdoor adventure.

Embrace your inner cowboy and explore some of California’s dreamiest landscape on horseback. Beginners to seasoned riders are welcome at Malibu Riders, a 30-year-old organisation who run guided trail rides in Malibu and the Agoura Hills. The Zuma Canyon route weaves through mountains dotted with sycamore trees and past twinkling ocean views, while the Paramount Ranch trail stretches through open prairies ablaze with colourful wildflowers, and creeks for your stable mate to cool off in. Alternatively, choose to trek through Malibu Creek State Park along changing terrains that lead to vistas across Malibou Lake. Guided rides range from 1-2 hours.

The Hollywood hills are home to hikes for different abilities – many with city and coastal views. For your chances of spotting a celebrity, look no further than Runyon Canyon. The likes of Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried have been spotted stretching their legs here among many other A-listers. There are two round-trip options taking between 1-2 hours (3-5km), and providing views of LA’s most iconic sites, the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory. It’s also possible to hike between the two landmarks: The 14km trip takes approximately four hours to complete and is better suited for intermediate hikers, due to some steep terrains and a lack of signage that can send walkers astray.

Skateboarding has seen a surge of popularity following its Tokyo 2020 debut. But did you know LA is the where the sport was first developed by a group of surfers in the 1950s? It’s fair to say the skate scene is still going strong in the Californian capital, with Venice Beach being a top spot for both skaters and spectators. But you’ll likely find more locals down in Santa Monica’s Dogtown at the legendary Cove Skatepark in Memorial Park. In fact, it’s where skating legends Tony Alva and Jay Adams honed their skills. Whether you want to show off your half pipe tricks or just observe the pros, it’s one of the coolest places to hang out in Santa Monica. Ensure to stop off at Dogtown Coffee for a caffeine fix and to check out its retro skating displays before you leave.

Rock climbing is another relatively new addition to the Olympics, bringing visibility to the sport. One of the best places to give it a go for yourself is California’s Yosemite National Park, home to iconic cliffs, crags and peaks – such as El Capitan. Helping you learn the ropes – quite literally – is Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service, an organisation who have been helping visitors have safe and memorable wilderness experiences in the park since 1969.  Yosemite is considered such a significant location for the climbing community that a museum dedicated to the sport has opened in recent years, with more than 10,000 climbing artefacts on display.

Northern California’s Sonoma County might be best known as a top wine producing region, but it just so happens to also be one of the greatest cycling destinations in the state. Combine the two on one of its various ‘sip and cycle’ tours. For moderate riders, the 48km Dry Creek Valley & Alexander Valley loop is a frequented choice, beginning and ending at Healdsburg’s historical plaza, and passing through sloping vineyard valleys and around Lake Sonoma. As well as enjoying tasters of award-winning wine, there are a variety of picnic and pizza stops en route to refuel you before peddling on. You can rent a bike from one of the many companies in Sonoma County.

Tucked into the corner of northeastern California is Lava Beds National Monument, an area home to more than 800 caves formed by molten lava over hundreds of thousands of years. Of these caves, 24 are open to visitors to venture inside. Many are easy to explore, such as Mushpot Cave with its paved and artificially lit path. Others are a little more challenging, such as Golden Dome Cave, which can only be entered by descending a ladder, and sections requiring you to duck, and even crawl! A handful more are only suitable for experienced cavers. All visitors require a permit, which is free and can be picked up from the park’s visitor centre.

Freshwater Lake Tahoe sits within the Sierra Nevada mountains, straddling the borders of California and Nevada. Surrounded by undulating peaks, boulder stone shores and white-sand beaches, the turquoise waters are an idyllic location for water sports; kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding being the most popular due to its tranquil state. Rent either from Kayak Tahoe and venture out independently to explore Tahoe’s treasures, including the island of Fanette – home to the ruins of a stone teahouse. Alternatively, Clearly Tahoe operates the only clear kayak tours on the lake, with its guided LED night tour offering a unique stargazing experience.

Did you know Sequoioideae trees are among the tallest trees in the world? This native species can be found in abundance in California, where they are more commonly known as redwoods. Travellers who plan in advance can have the rare opportunity of climbing to the top of one of these woodland giants in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Book a place on one of Tree Climbing Planet’s springtime experiences and you could climb to the crown of Grandfather, an old-growth redwood tree aged between 600-1,000 years old and soaring up to 80 metres tall. It remains the only place in the world where this experience is legally possible.

Southeastern California is home to the Algodones Dunes, one of the largest sand dune systems in North America. While its southern region is used for recreational activities, the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness is a protected section that prohibits the use of vehicles, only allowing exploration on either foot or horseback. At a length of 65km and width of 12km, it has two distinct parts: its western side sees large sand mounds, while the east has a landscape of smaller bumps that shift and change in the wind. During spring, this desolate landscape surprises with its wildflower blooms, ranging from yellow Alogodones Dune sunflowers to lilac desert verbena. Nature lovers can enjoy trekking the sands barefoot, seeking out the different flora and fauna. But beware, there are no signed trails – the dunes are free to explore at your leisure.

LA’s Huntington Beach might be the rumoured surfing location for the next Olympics, but further down the coast is one of the state’s most popular surfing spots. The neighbourhood of La Jolla in San Diego is not only one of the coolest beach hangouts lined with palm trees, but also a great place to catch a wave. Surf Diva is a surf school founded by two sisters back in 1996, running lessons for beginners and also hiring out boards and wetsuits to those who already know a thing or two. The great thing about San Diego is its year-round balmy temperatures, meaning you can grab your board and head out on the water at any time of year.