California Adventure Travel

Home to gorgeous ocean, majestic mountains and desolate deserts, California adventure travel couldn't be more diverse.

Whether you prefer soaring over the vineyards in a hot air balloon, or getting down and dirty on a mountain bike, there's a little adventurer in all of us.

At the risk of overwhelming you, we won't cover every adventure travel company in the state. But California is home to several adventure travel tours from companies including Ad-Mo Tours, Destination Wilderness, Timberline Adventures, Undiscovered Country Tours, O.A.R.S., Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, The World Outdoors, Hike, Bike, Kayak, Adventure Life Voyages, Intrepid Travel, Wine Country Trekking, Country Walkers and Austin Lehman Adventures.

Here is CaliforniaTravelExpert.com's picks for the best adventure tours and outdoor adventures California. We hope these fun ideas get your creative travel juices flowing! We'll add to the list as we get ideas for new travel adventure vacations and inspiration!

Top California Travel Adventures

1. Soaring in a hot air balloon over the vineyards of Napa Valley or Temecula wine country.
   
2. White water rafting down the white-knuckle rapids of the American River, Tuolumne River or Klamath River.
3. Hiking along the dusty Pacific Crest Trail, which leads from Mexico to Canada.
4. Mountain climbing to California's highest peak on Mount Whitney, or to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite.
   
5. Horseback riding through the Ansel Adams Wilderness at Reds Meadow Pack Station.
6. Zip lining down the longest zip line in the continental United States in San Diego, or in Big Bear and Lake Tahoe. Watch our video here.
   
7. Cycling through the romantic vineyards of Napa Valley with Napa Valley Bike Tours, or along the romantic coast of Big Sur.
   
8. Surfing or skim boarding with the big boys at the Wedge in Newport or Mavericks in Half Moon Bay. Watch our video of The Wedge here.
   
9. Riding by inner tube or raft down the quiet waters of the Merced River near Curry Village in Yosemite National Park.
10. Zooming on an off-road motorcycle through California's stark Mojave Desert with Ad-Mo Motorcycle Tours.
11. Mountain biking down the dusty trails of Mammoth or Bear Mountain. Watch our Mammoth Lakes video here.
    
12. Skiing or snowboarding at California's best mountain resorts in Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain or Big Bear.
13. Parasailing over the crystal blue waters of Big Bear Lake, Lake Tahoe or Lake Havasu.
14. Snowshoeing through the quiet snow-covered winter wilderness of Yosemite, Big Bear, Lake Tahoe or Mammoth.
    
15. Ocean kayaking through the sea caves in La Jolla San Diego or the Channel Islands off Ventura.
16. Deep sea sportfishing off the waters of San Diego and Mexico. Read our article here.
    
17. Backpacking through the High Sierras along the John Muir Trail and through Yosemite National Park.
    
18. Whale watching for blue and gray whales off the coast of California. Watch our video here.
    
19. Going on a photography tour through desolate Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake, Death Valley, Yosemite or Big Sur with California Photography Workshops or Gary Hart Photography.
20. River kayaking or canoeing through the majestic red rock canyons of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge on the Colorado River.
21. Taking private sailing lessons in Newport Beach, San Diego or Redondo Beach.
22. Going on a moonlit dog sled ride with Mammoth Dog Teams or Lake Tahoe's Wilderness Adventures. Read our article here.
23. Swimming with dolphins during an interactive encounter at Sea World San Diego. Watch our video here.
    

• Have we missed one of your favorite California adventure travel spots or ideas? Share your top picks or tours below!