A short drive to east of Fremont brings you to the almost 7,000 acre Sunol Regional Wilderness, which offers amazing bird-watching opportunities, access to the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, amazing views of the Bay Area, and a fantastic backcountry experience less than an hour away from the sprawling East Bay metropolitan area.

Tucked between the its namesake creek and the hills of south Redlands, the 200-acre San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary offers open space and trails for humans and reliable water for local and migratory wildlife.

By far the largest park in the City of Murrieta, the rustic 165-acre Cole Canyon Natural Park offers wide open space, access to Murrieta Creek, and trails with fantastic views of the Temecula Valley.

Arizona has wetlands? Yes! The almost 700 acre Tres Rios wetlands sits at the southwest edge of Phoenix, and offers the opportunity to observe hundreds of species of birds, year round!

White Tank Mountain Regional Park, at the west end of the Salt River Valley & Phoenix metropolitan area, offers an amazing variety of activities. From learning about First Nations history with a walk through ‘Petroglyph Plaza’ to exploring the backcountry in this mostly wild park, there is a world of opportunities to be had in this +25,000 acre setting.

Despite urban surroundings, spectacular bird-watching and access to ample natural vegetation is accessible from 5 miles of easy, well-graded trails at the almost 2,000 acre Hayward Regional Shoreline in the East Bay.

Michelle ‘SuperClassy’ Markel plans to walk 56+ miles in three days to benefit Redlands Conservancy and Support Public Lands.

COMMENT by DECEMBER 30!

If you’re going to #OptOutside on Friday, why not go all in and commit to #BuyNothingDay