Hidden California, California, California City, CA (2026)

08/30/2026

Death Valley has some incredible salt flats that should definitely be on your list to visit if you are trekking out here. The Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, with a depth of 282 ft. below sea level!

The site itself consists of a small spring-fed pool of “bad water” next to the road in a sink; the accumulated salts of the surrounding basin make it undrinkable, thus giving it the name. The pool does have animal and plant life, including pickleweed, aquatic insects, and the Badwater snail.

Adjacent to the pool, where water is not always present at the surface, repeated freeze–thaw and evaporation cycles gradually push the thin salt crust into hexagonal honeycomb shapes.

At Badwater Basin, significant rainstorms flood the valley bottom periodically, covering the salt pan with a thin sheet of standing water. Newly formed lakes do not last long though, because the 1.9 in of average rainfall is overwhelmed by a 150 in annual evaporation rate.

Comment ‘LINK’ for more photos, info and directions!

07/07/2026

Catalina Island had never been too high on my list of places to visit as Avalon seemed too touristy to me. Although it is true that it is a tourist’s paradise, it still has so many beautiful features making it worth the visit.

Catalina Island is almost entirely protected by the Catalina Island Conservancy. I personally find this amazing and so wonderful that 88% of the island gets to remain in its natural state and undeveloped. Hopefully it will stay this way forever.

For this reason, Avalon is going to be the top tourist destination. For those that are lovers of Spanish architecture and bright colors, you will probably enjoy walking around the shopping district and neighborhoods as much as I did.

Comment ‘LINK’ to read full article, see more photos and get directions!

06/27/2026

Artist Palette and Drive is a 9-mile drive in Inyo County that winds you around gorgeous formations and views at every turn. There are occasional turnouts which allow you to walk around and the explore.

The main stop is Artist’s Palette which I highly recommend you get out for. This area provides evidence for one of the Death Valley area’s most violently explosive volcanic periods. The Miocene-aged formation is made up of cemented gravel, playa deposits, and volcanic debris, perhaps 5,000 feet thick.

Chemical weathering and hydrothermal alteration cause the oxidation and other chemical reactions that produce the variety of colors displayed.

Comment ‘LINK’ for more photos and get directions!

06/27/2026

Artist Palette and Drive: https://hiddenca.com/artists-drive-and-palette/

Artist’s Drive is a 9-mile drive in Inyo County that winds you around gorgeous formations and views at every turn. There are occasional turnouts which allow you to walk around and the explore.

The main stop is Artist’s Palette which I highly recommend you get out for. This area provides evidence for one of the Death Valley area’s most violently explosive volcanic periods. The Miocene-aged formation is made up of cemented gravel, playa deposits, and volcanic debris, perhaps 5,000 feet thick.

Chemical weathering and hydrothermal alteration cause the oxidation and other chemical reactions that produce the variety of colors displayed.

Read full article, see more photos and get directions here: https://hiddenca.com/artists-drive-and-palette/

06/24/2026

Arlington Garden: https://hiddenca.com/arlington-garden/

The Arlington Garden is a public 3-acre garden in Pasadena. The garden is located on the former staging ground site for the 710 freeway which was halted due to the community opposing it. In 2005, the Arlington Garden was birthed instead.

The garden includes thousands of California-native plants such as poppies, sunflowers, cactus and succulents, orchards of orange and olive trees, and many more species. It also includes a variety of benches and tables, birdbaths and statuary.

There are many unique features to stumble upon here including a labyrinth, pine forest, vernal pool, citrus grove, pomegranate amphitheater and so much more! Yoko Ono even has an art installation here ‘Wish Tree,’ which was donated to the Arlington Garden as a permanently installation.

More photos, info and directions here: https://hiddenca.com/arlington-garden/

06/16/2026

The LAB Anti-Mall: https://hiddenca.com/the-lab-anti-mall/

For those who crave unique experiences, art installations and are tired of your average, everyday shopping mall, the LAB Anti-Mall might be the place for you! Located in Costa Mesa, this mall began its journey to combat retail monotony more than 25 years ago.

I was floored to learn that it had been around for so long! I figured this was a hot new pop-up of sorts that one could only hope would be in it for the long run. Boy was I wrong! I am so impressed with how ahead of its time it was but I guess when artists are involved, a place can easily become timeless.

The LAB stands for “Little American Business,” which is the backbone of this entire establishment. There are unique restaurants, a speakeasy, clothing stores, a record shop and even hair salons here. Each company has its own flair and so much to offer with the overall aesthetics of this mall.

The location couldn’t be more perfect, planted inside of a traditional suburban neighborhood in Orange County. This is the type of area that could use a little shaking up. This seems like the kind of place you’d find in the heart of the city. But alas, here we are in the land of normalcy inside a place that is anything but.

More photos, info and directions here: https://hiddenca.com/the-lab-anti-mall/

06/15/2026

Andrew Molera State Park: https://hiddenca.com/andrew-molera-state-park/

Named after local rancher Andrew Molera, this mostly undeveloped stretch of the Big Sur coast offers nearly 5,000 acres of rugged landscapes, beaches, meadows, and scenic trails. Long before the park was established, the area known as Sargenta ruc was home to the Rumsen and Esselen peoples, who lived here for thousands of years and built thriving fishing and trading communities. In recent years, the Esselen Tribe regained more than 1,100 acres along the Little Sur River, helping restore an important part of their cultural heritage.

Today, visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing opportunities, and some of the most consistent surfing conditions in Big Sur. The park features more than 15 miles of trails winding through coastal bluffs, open meadows, and river crossings. Vehicle day use parking currently costs $10 per car.

Vibrant wildflowers transformed the landscape with brilliant colors when we visited in spring. A refreshing creek crossing led to the beach, where strong winds quickly sent hikers back inland. Along the way, the Creamery Trail offered beautiful scenery, plenty of trail options, and even an unexpected sighting of a tiny baby rattlesnake.

More photos, info and directions: https://hiddenca.com/andrew-molera-state-park/

06/11/2026

Ancient Bristlecone Forest: https://hiddenca.com/ancient-bristlecone-forest/

Article & Photos by Josh JN Claros

High up in the White Mountains of California you will find the oldest trees in the world – the Ancient Bristlecone Pine. They have survived harsh conditions over millennia, gnarled over time, still standing like tough warriors. Some of these trees are over 4,000 years old and it shows.

The trees have a certain energy about them. They pull you in and grab your attention. Having lived for so long they have developed a lot of character, if you are a photographer you will have a lot of fun photographing them.

More photos, info and directions here: https://hiddenca.com/ancient-bristlecone-forest/

Hidden California

08/30/2026

07/07/2026

06/27/2026

06/27/2026

06/24/2026

06/16/2026

06/15/2026

06/11/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request