Celebrate National Great Outdoors Month this June

CALIFORNIA POSITIVE

By California Broker Magazine

The month of June is officially designated as National Great Outdoors Month in the United States. For those lucky enough to live in or visit Southern California, it’s not just a month—it’s a lifestyle. With beaches, deserts, mountains, and forests all within driving distance, SoCal offers endless opportunities to reconnect with nature.

Originally named “Great Outdoors Week” by President Bill Clinton in 1998, National Great Outdoors Month has expanded into a month-long celebration of America’s public lands, eventually receiving official U.S. Senate designation and annual state proclamations across the country. This month is a perfect time to celebrate the physical, mental, and economic benefits of spending time in our nation’s parks, forests, and wildlife refuges while encouraging hiking, camping, biking, and more.

This year, make June your month of discovery. From the cinematic landscapes of Joshua Tree and Malibu to the shimmering coastlines of Laguna and La Jolla, every hike, picnic, paddle, and stargazing session reminds us why the outdoors matters—and how spending time in it restores our balance.

Whether you’re planning weekend hikes, beach bonfires, coastal bike rides, or simple moments of mindfulness under an open sky, here’s how to make the most of National Great Outdoors Month across Southern California.

How to Celebrate

There is no “right” way to celebrate, and the “great outdoors” is as close as your nearest park. What matters is participation and presence. Here are a few ways to get inspired this June:

Go hiking or trail running – SoCal’s diverse terrain offers hikes for all levels: desert canyons, ocean-view ridges, and shaded mountain forests. Lace up your shoes, grab a water bottle, and choose a new trail each weekend of June.
Plan a beach day – From sunrise yoga at Crystal Cove to sunset surfing in Malibu, coastal relaxation counts as outdoor therapy.
Try camping or glamping – Whether it’s sleeping under the stars in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park or pitching a tent near Joshua Tree, camping lets you tap into slow living.
Volunteer for a park cleanup – Many state and local parks host cleanup events during June. It’s a rewarding way to protect the environments you love.
Take a family nature challenge – Visit one new outdoor spot each week—a beach, a canyon, a mountain, or a botanical garden.
Go tech-free for an entire day – Take a break from screen time. Reconnect with the breeze on your face, the crunch of gravel underfoot, and the sounds of real birdsong instead of phone alerts.

Hiking Trails to Explore

Southern California boasts some of the nation’s best hiking trails, from canyon views to coastal cliffs, each offering something unique and beautiful. Below are a few of SoCal’s most beloved hiking trails—perfect for celebrating Great Outdoors Month.

Orange County

Crystal Cove State Park – Spread along the Newport–Laguna coastline, Crystal Cove offers more than 18 miles of trails that wind through coastal bluffs and tide pools. You can start at the beach and ascend to panoramic ocean vistas—a rare balance of seaside serenity and rugged hill climbing.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park – Known for its rolling hills, sandstone canyons, and wildflower-dotted trails, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park feels worlds away from civilization, even though downtown Laguna Beach is minutes away. Keep an eye out for mule deer and red-tailed hawks as you traverse the park’s 40 miles of protected paths.
Santiago Oaks Regional Park – If variety is your hiking motivation, Santiago Oaks delivers. Located in Orange, this sprawling park connects riparian woodland trails with steeper switchbacks offering summit views of Orange County’s suburbs below. Each step takes you from shaded creek beds to lofty ridges lined with chaparral and oak.

Los Angeles

Solstice Canyon Trail in Malibu – This gentle coastal trail blends history and nature, passing through shaded creek beds and ruins of an old ranch before reaching a small but beautiful waterfall. It’s a peaceful three-mile loop that offers plenty of Instagram-worthy stops and a cooling ocean breeze.
Bridge to Nowhere in the San Gabriel Mountains – Not for the faint of heart, this 10-mile round-trip hike in the San Gabriels leads to an abandoned 1930s bridge deep in a canyon. Multiple river crossings keep things interesting, and adventure seekers even bungee jump from the bridge’s mid-span. It’s a truly unique slice of LA hiking lore.
Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills – An urban classic, Runyon Canyon merges scenic views with people-watching—plus the occasional celebrity sighting. The 3-mile loop climbs to Cloud’s Rest, offering panoramic views of LA, from downtown to the Pacific.

San Diego

Torrey Pines State Reserve Loop in La Jolla – Perched atop 300-foot cliffs above the Pacific, this coastal reserve is home to the rare Torrey pine and miles of seaside trails that reveal sweeping water views. It’s an easy loop that merges exercise with awe.
Big Laguna Trail in Mount Laguna – About an hour east of San Diego, this scenic loop passes through meadows, woodlands, and viewpoints overlooking the desert below. It’s also part of the legendary Pacific Crest Trail, meaning you’ll literally tread part of a national hiking icon.
Potato Chip Rock in Poway – Famous for its wafer-thin rock ledge that makes for daring photos, this trail is a rite of passage for San Diego hikers. The steep 7.5-mile round trip rewards trekkers with panoramic views all the way to the ocean.

Nature and Mindfulness

While the focus of National Great Outdoors Month is on getting outside, the larger message is to promote wellness and environmental awareness. Studies show that spending time outdoors improves physical health, lowers stress, and boosts mental clarity. For children, nature-based play fosters creativity and empathy. For adults, getting outside and detoxing from screen time can feel like a reset button.

Psychologists often speak of “attention restoration theory”: the idea that nature resets our cognitive energy by engaging us without demanding constant focus. Hiking is particularly effective because it offers rhythmic movement, simple goals, and reflective solitude. You start tired and finish renewed—not just physically but emotionally clearer.

The more you practice this kind of outdoor mindfulness, the deeper it works. Some hikers carry journals, noting how each trail feels different in morning light versus afternoon shade. Others treat it as moving meditation, syncing breath to step. However you do it, June is your chance to slow down and notice again.

The Bigger Picture

National Great Outdoors Month isn’t only about exploring nature—it’s about protecting it. Every path you walk has been preserved through decades of conservation work. Participating in trail maintenance events, picking up litter, or supporting local parks helps ensure these experiences last for generations.

Practice “Leave No Trace” ethics. Pack out what you bring in, stay on marked paths, and respect wildlife habitats. Even small steps—like avoiding shortcut trails that cause erosion—add up to big impacts.
Support park programs. Many regional parks in Southern California rely on memberships or donations. Contributing to organizations like the Orange County Parks Foundation or the Santa Monica Mountains Fund directly supports trail upkeep.
Share responsibly. When posting trail photos, share details that encourage sustainable travel—how to park legally, follow rules, and respect seasonal closures.

The outdoors doesn’t belong to one person, one city, or one season—it belongs to all of us, year-round. This June, make your mark lightly: footprints on a sandy trail, laughter echoing off canyon walls, or the quiet moment you stand still and simply notice how the sun feels on your skin. That’s the essence of National Great Outdoors Month—not just being outside but being part of it.