Sarah Wright
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Outdoors, climate, housing, transportation, government
Outdoors Engagement Reporter @KQED -- formerly @FulbrightPrgrm 🇦🇷, @paloaltoweekly @sfstandard, @hmbreview, @thehoya, words in @guardian and @npr
Articles by Sarah Wright
What Is a Sneaker Wave? How to Avoid Bay Area Beaches’ Hidden, Deadly Hazards
News Home / Guides and Explainers Don’t turn your back to the ocean — and don’t ever go in after someone who has gotten swept out. Jun 24, 2026 Visitors navigate breaking waves along the coastline of Windansea Beach in La Jolla on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. The National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement for elevated surf and high risk for rip currents.
California now offers free passes to state historic parks (just don’t miss the deadline)
This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today . More than two dozen state historic parks are free through the end of the year in honor of Juneteenth — and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Gov.
Court Orders National Parks Signage, Including at Muir Woods, to Be Restored
News Home / California The interior department is considering an appeal as parks advocacy organizations celebrate the win. Jun 15, 2026 Updated 2:31 pm PT The Muir Woods 'History in Construction' Exhibit, which was put up in 2021 to honor previously undocumented contributions to the park's stewardship. Signs like this one were part of the Trump Administration's removal order.
‘A Moment Under the Sun’: Queer-Led Groups Are Getting Outside This Pride
News Home / Guides and Explainers June is full of gay-friendly hikes and other outdoor-oriented events. Meet one group building community outdoors. Jun 12, 2026 Members of Trailhead Gays gather for their monthly outdoors-oriented adventures. (Courtesy of Gio Orantes) Celebrations for Pride Month are happening all June long. And if you’re even a little bit outdoorsy, there’s no shortage of groups leading hikes, birding adventures and even surfing celebrations around the Bay Area.
All the Free Nature Events at California State Parks Near You This Week
News Home / Guides and Explainers Head to your favorite state park — or check out a new one — for California State Parks Week. Jun 8, 2026 Families participate in free horseback riding events at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area as part of California State Parks Week in 2025.
Proposed Trump Rule Targets ‘Woke’ Federal Grants for Public Lands, Health, Science
News Home / Politics Aimed at “responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” the White House wants political appointees to have final say on grant review. Jun 5, 2026 Visitors hike the Mist Trail toward Vernal Falls on Aug. 31, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, California. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images) A rule proposed by the Trump administration aimed at terminating federal grants that don’t align with White House values has sparked widespread alarm among public lands, science and health advocates.
Worried About Yosemite Crowds? The Tips That Could Save Your Summer Trip
News Home / Guides and Explainers The Memorial Day weekend, with no reservation system, spelled long lines and no parking for the rest of the season. Here’s how to maximize your chances of still having a good time in the park this summer. Jun 5, 2026 People board a shuttle in Yosemite National Park on Saturday, May 16, 2026 in Yosemite, California.
3 Under-the-Radar Bay Area Rose Gardens to Stroll for Free This Summer
News Home / Guides and Explainers Plus: pro tips from rose gardeners on what to look for while you’re there. Jun 4, 2026 Roses in bloom at the Berkeley Rose Garden in Berkeley on May 21, 2026, where approximately 1,500 rose bushes bloom across the terraced garden built in the 1930s. Read for local and blooming rose gardens around the Bay Area. (Beth LaBerge/KQED) In the Bay Area, our temperate climate means there’s no shortage of stunning rose gardens.
How to Protect Yourself From Ticks — and Lyme Disease — in the Bay Area
News Home / Guides and Explainers In California we’re at less risk from tick-borne Lyme disease — but we’re not immune. Here’s what to know about keeping yourself and your pets safe. May 28, 2026 Updated 10:51 am PT A Western blacklegged tick, which tends to live in tall grasses and wooded areas and can carry a risk of Lyme disease. Find out more about avoiding ticks, removing ticks from your body and how to keep your pets safe.
How to Protect Yourself From Ticks — and Lyme Disease — in the Bay Area
How to Protect Yourself From Ticks — and Lyme Disease — in the Bay Area If you’ve been out on a hike near the Bay Area recently, especially somewhere that’s shady or dense with vegetation, you or your pets might have …
SFO Will Begin Nonstop Flights for Japan Skiing This Winter. What Could It Mean for Tahoe?
News Home / Guides and Explainers New direct flights from SFO to Sapporo could make skiing in Japan even more popular. What to know — and how it could impact Tahoe. May 22, 2026 Updated 11:54 am PT Skiers at Niseko, an Alterra partner resort in Sapporo, Japan, enjoy a powder day.
Dispersed Camping 101: How to Find Free Campsites Near the Bay Area
News Home / Guides and Explainers May 18, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email Tempted by dispersed camping in the wilderness but don’t know how to find free, legal drive-up sites — or what to bring? Here’s what to know. (Jacob Rushing/Getty Images) It’s a problem familiar to many Californians: You love camping — especially how low-cost it can be — but reservations for the campsites you want are never available.
How Cheaply Can You Camp in the Bay Area — Without Sacrificing Comfort?
News Home / Guides and Explainers May 7, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email Josh Dillen and reporter Sarah Wright, begin setting up a tent at a campsite at Anthony Chabot Family Campground on April 5, 2026, in Castro Valley, California. Feel like a camping trip can quickly become expensive? We got expert tips on how to keep camping cheap — and tried them out.
How to Sell or Donate Your Clothes in the Bay Area
News Home / Guides and Explainers May 6, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email Experts have tips on how to choose which clothes to keep and what to lose — and how to then sell, donate or recycle your stuff locally. (The Good Brigade/Getty Images) Is your overflowing closet starting to get out of hand? Piles of clothes you haven’t worn in months — or even years — but can’t seem to part with?
How to Explore Muir Woods After Dark (If You Can Get a Ticket)
News Home / Guides and Explainers A free in-demand night tour offers a new take on exploring the old-growth redwood forest — and an unforgettable evening in nature. Jun 10, 2026 Ranger Jace Ritchey leads a night walking tour through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026. The guided hike takes visitors through the redwood forest after hours, focusing on nocturnal wildlife and the ecosystem at night.
Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden
News Home / Health Apr 17, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email What does it take to start growing your own food in the Bay Area? (Anna Vignet/KQED) This story is part of How We Get By, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series here. If you’ve been feeling the sticker shock of grocery prices these days, it’s not just you.
SF’s Presidio ‘Will Continue to Run Normally’ After Trump Fires Board, Officials Say
News Home / Politics Apr 13, 2026 Updated 4:25 pm PT Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email A Presidio Trust vehicle sits parked at Presidio of San Francisco on Feb. 20, 2025, in San Francisco, California. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to eliminate the Presidio Trust, the federal agency that runs and protects Presidio of San Francisco, a national historic landmark since 1962.
This Northern California Tribe Is Reclaiming Mendocino Forest for Future Generations
The California Report Magazine Home / Sports / The California Report Magazine Apr 3, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email Jeff Conti, North Coast project manager at Trust for Public Land, left, and Nathan Rich, tribal environmental manager of Potter Valley Tribe, right, use the app Seek to identify mushrooms during Potter Valley Tribe’s mushroom foraging event, at the Pomo Community Forest, a 48-acre coastal forest, in Fort Bragg on Nov. 22, 2025.
Plan the Perfect Day at Pinnacles: California’s Most Slept-On National Park
News Home / Guides and Explainers Apr 2, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email Bear Gulch Reservoir sits between rocky formations and rolling hills at Pinnacles National Park on March 16, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED) From Yosemite to Lassen, some of the country’s most iconic — and most visited — national parks are virtually on our doorstep here in the Bay Area. But our “home” national park, Pinnacles, is even closer than you may realize.
Many Tahoe Ski Resorts Just Closed Early. What Happened to the Season?
News Mar 24, 2026 Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email The ski area at Homewood on April 14, 2021, when it closed due to poor snow conditions. The resort closed on March 23 this year. (George Rose/Getty Images) It’s been a rough winter for Tahoe-area skiers. An early, record-breaking spring heat wave — and the rapidly melting snowpack as a result — have prematurely closed many Tahoe ski resorts, and caused others to announce early end dates for the 2025-26 season.
Feel Like Your Phone’s Weather App Often Gets It Wrong? Experts Say You Aren't Imagining It
Mar 18, 2026 Updated 2:51 pm PT Failed to save article Please try again The sun sets behind Pigeon Point Lighthouse during a heat wave in Pescadero, California, on March 17, 2026. If you’re surprised by current high temperatures — compared to what your phone’s weather app reports — these meteorologists say there’s a reason for that. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) And make no mistake: It is really hot out there.
The Cool, Shaded Bay Area Hikes That Are Perfect for a Heat Wave
Mar 13, 2026 Updated 3:00 pm PT Failed to save article Please try again Hikers walk through Muir Woods National Monument on Sept. 12, 2025. Don’t want to get roasted this weekend? Stick to the coast and the shade — and don’t forget plenty of water. (Beth LaBerge/KQED) A heat wave is set to slam the Bay Area starting this weekend — but look, not all outdoorsy folk rejoice at the high temperatures.
Inspired by the Winter Olympics? You Can Learn to Ski in San Francisco
Mar 13, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again How can indoor facilities train skiers and snowboarders to carve on a carpet? (Anna Vignet/KQED) Kellan Hirschler is standing in a large room in San Francisco — learning how to snowboard. Hirschler, a 30-year-old nurse who lives in the Castro District, is a student at Adventurous Sports, an indoor ski school in the city’s Hayes Valley area. Here, aspiring skiers and snowboarders like her can get some turns in — snow and ice not included.
Inspired by the Winter Olympics? You Can Learn to Ski in San Francisco
The Oscars’ Best Picture category exposes a harsh new reality for Hollywood This Sunday will be the biggest night of the year for Los Angeles: Tinseltown’s stars will turn out en masse for the Academy Awards at the Dolby …
Traffic to Tahoe Looking Rough? Here's Where to Stop in Sacramento
Mar 12, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Old Sacramento in Sacramento, California. USA. If traffic spells trouble on your way to Tahoe, here's where to wait it out — and have a lot of fun — around Sacramento. (Citizen of the Planet/Education Images via Getty Images) Whether it’s winter or summer, the drive to the mountains can be the worst part of a trip up to Tahoe.
Tahoe by Public Transit? How to Get There by Train or Bus — and How to Get Around When You’re There | KQED
Mar 5, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Amtrak's California Zephyr passes through the snow-covered countryside near Donner Lake on March 25, 2017 in Truckee, United States. Traveling to Tahoe on public transit can be worth it, especially for the views — but you’ll need to be a flexible traveler. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) So if you’re looking for a car-free alternative to visiting Tahoe, keep reading for what to know about getting to — and then getting around — Tahoe without a car.
Yosemite Won't Require Car Reservations in 2026. Park Advocates Are Worried
Feb 25, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Visitors hike the Mist Trail toward Vernal Falls on Aug. 31, 2025, in Yosemite National Park, California. Park advocates say Yosemite scrapping timed tickets could mean overcrowding and long wait times this summer — and even damage to the park. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images) Advocates and tourism workers say they’re alarmed at Yosemite National Park‘s plans to scrap timed vehicle entry reservations in 2026.
Yosemite Park Ranger Who Was Fired After Hanging Transgender Flag Files Lawsuit
Feb 24, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again SJ Joslin, Yosemite National Park ranger and biologist, was fired in August after hanging a transgender pride flag on El Capitan. Joslin is now suing the Department of the Interior, alleging First Amendment and Privacy Act violations. (Courtesy of Miya Tsudome) Joslin told KQED in August that flying the flag was not a demonstration but a celebration of their transgender identity.
All 9 Tahoe Avalanche Victims Identified and Bodies Recovered
Feb 23, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again People observe a moment of silence during a vigil for the nine people who died in an avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Truckee, California. The three backcountry ski guides who died in last week’s avalanche were Tahoe-area residents, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said. (Godofredo A.
After Deadly Tahoe Avalanche, Backcountry Skiing Is Under Scrutiny. Here’s What to Know
Feb 20, 2026 Updated 5:41 pm PT Failed to save article Please try again Veteran guide Howie Schwartz, left, leads Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan, right, into the popular backcountry near the Mill City site to explore the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Backcountry safety is under scrutiny after this week’s deadly Tahoe avalanche claimed multiple lives. Here’s what experts say about skiing in these remote areas.
Tahoe Avalanche: Here’s What We Know About the Victims
Feb 20, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Avalanche victims (clockwise from top left) Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse, Danielle Keatley and Caroline Sekar. (Family Handout) Six women among those killed in an avalanche in Tahoe’s backcountry this week were a group of “mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors,” their families said.
‘Treacherous’ Sierra Nevada Storm Delays Recovery of 9 Presumed Avalanche Victims
Feb 19, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Motorists stuck in the snow are aided by a member of the California Highway Patrol along interstate 80 during a storm on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, near Camp Spaulding in Placer County, California. California officials warned of high avalanche risks for anyone considering visiting Lake Tahoe in the coming days. (Godofredo A.
8 Skiers Confirmed Dead, 1 Still Missing After Tahoe Avalanche. Here’s What We Know
Sarah Wright and Kelly O’Mara Feb 18, 2026 Updated 11:53 am PT Failed to save article Please try again Members of a rescue team in Soda Springs, California, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Six survivors have been rescued after an avalanche in the backcountry near Donner Summit, while search and recovery operations continue amid dangerous conditions.
How to Do a Cozy Winter Cabin Getaway Near the Bay Area — on a Budget | KQED
Feb 16, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again The Peter Grubb hut, one of the more primitive cabin options available to travelers from the Bay Area. (Courtesy of Hipcamp/Sierra Club) At this time of year, when the holidays have passed, but cold weather still endures, you may be craving a cozy cabin getaway. However, one look at Airbnb and VRBO prices often reveals that your average “winter wonderland cabin” might not be in your budget.
Winter Rains Bring the Newts — and Here’s Where to See Them in the Bay Area | KQED
Feb 13, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again It’s migration season for California newts — and here’s where to see them. (Courtesy of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District) California newts love the rain. So if you want the best chance at spotting these slimy, compelling creatures on a Bay Area hiking trail, a rainy spell — just like the one we’re getting this weekend — is just what you want.
Going to Tahoe Over the 2026 Presidents Day Weekend? What to Know About Snow, Fog and Travel Windows
Feb 12, 2026 Updated 11:31 am PT Failed to save article Please try again A snowplow operates as snow falls north of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a powerful winter storm on March 1, 2024, in Truckee, Nevada County. This weekend’s forecast shows rough roads ahead for Tahoe travelers. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) After a dry start to the winter, Tahoe is finally getting some more much-needed snow — and just in time for the Presidents Day holiday weekend.
Meet the Bay Area Athletes Competing at the Winter Olympics
Feb 5, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Alysa Liu of Team United States practices during a training session on day minus two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 4, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
8 Things to Do on Super Bowl Sunday in the Bay Area (That Are Not ‘Watch the Super Bowl’)
Jan 31, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Hikers enjoy sunset at Trojan Point, on the western spur of Mt. Tamalpais, on Nov. 21, 2025. (Sarah Wright/KQED) You don’t have to be obsessed with football to know the Super Bowl is taking place on Sunday.
3 Great ‘Workout Hikes’ in the Bay Area to Try (When You Can’t Face the Gym)
Jan 31, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Even midway up Montara Mountain on a clear day seen here on Oct. 30, 2020, the ocean views can be stunning. Want to get some heavy exercise without a treadmill? Pick one of these arduous — but rewarding — local mountain trails. (Sarah Wright/KQED) Just remember: always check conditions ahead of time and always bring more water than you think you’ll need.
Cómo protegerse del "hongo de la muerte" en los bosques de California
Jan 28, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again La seta venenosa Amanita phalloides fotografiada en el Área de la Bahía en 2016. (Cortesía de Britt Bunyard) La seta mortal, cuyo nombre científico es Amanita phalloides, es particularmente peligrosa porque, debido a su apariencia y sabor normales, se puede confundir fácilmente con otras setas comestibles seguras, explicó Bruch Reed, director de operaciones de la Asociación micológica de América del Norte.
SoCal Roadtrippers: All the Iconic Big Sur Spots You Can See Again, Now That Highway 1 is Open
Jan 27, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Photogenic Bixby Bridge is now accessible from the south after Highway 1 re-opened in both directions on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Myung J.
With Highway 1 Reopening, the Iconic Big Sur Spots You Can Visit From the Bay Area Again
Jan 17, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again California Highway 1 hugs the coastline near Limekiln State Park on Sunday, May 2, 2021. After 3 years of closure, the coastal route all the way through the Big Sur region is open once more. Here’s what you’ve been missing.
California State Parks are Free This MLK Day
Jan 16, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Visitors fill Heart's Desire Beach at Tomales Bay State Park on Saturday August 13, 2011, in Point Reyes, California. Gavin Newsom welcomed visitors back outdoors on Monday after President Donald Trump cut the holiday from a list of fee-free days at national parks. (San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers) Find a full list of participating parks here — they’re the same ones that accept the California State Library Parks Pass all year long.
Trying to Make a Camping Reservation, but Your ReserveCalifornia Login Won’t Work? Here’s the Fix
Jan 9, 2026 Failed to save article Please try again Camping tents at a campground in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California. After a system update snafu, existing ReserveCalifornia users need to recreate their accounts to reserve state park campsites. (Juan Camilo Bernal/Getty Images) An upgrade to the website used to make camping reservations within California State Parks may have you locked out of your account — just as highly-sought-after campsites are being released for the summer.
Best Bay Area Stroller Hikes to Bring Family This New Years
Dec 31, 2025 Failed to save article Please try again A woman pushes a stroller through Alamo Square Park in San Francisco on April 4, 2024. (Beth LaBerge/KQED) Fox highlighted North Bay hikes that fit the bill, from the Cross Marin Trail in Samuel P. Taylor State Park to the old-growth redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument and the sweeping ocean views of Mill Valley’s Tennessee Valley.
Get Outside On New Years Day With These Guided Hikes
8 hours ago It’s easy, scrolling through social media or leafing through traditional media, to think that adventure always exists somewhere “out there:” surfing the Mentawais, bikepacking across South America, peak-bagging in the Dolomites. Those are all eminent pursuits, ones I would happily take on. But …
Get Outside On New Years Day With These Guided Hikes
Dec 29, 2025 Failed to save article Please try again New growth on trees in Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek on August 17, 2021, one year after the CZU Lightning Complex wildfire swept through the area. (Beth LaBerge/KQED) One year ago, I went on a New Year’s Day hike at Lands End. It was cloudy, and to be honest, I didn’t really want to leave my cozy house. But I met up with a group of friends, and as soon as I got my feet moving, I was happy to be there.
This Holiday Season, Where to Find Free Food, Clothing and Hot Meals in the Bay Area
Dec 17, 2025 Failed to save article Please try again A resident eats a holiday meal at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. Nearly 2,500 Christmas meals of ham, turkey and all of the fixings are served by the Glide Foundation each year. This season, Bay Area organizations are stepping up with free food, warm clothes and hot meals — and they’re always looking for volunteers ready to lend a hand.
Get in the Holiday Spirit by Visiting These Bay Area Christmas Tree Lanes
Dec 16, 2025 Failed to save article Please try again A holiday display sits in front of a home on Christmas Tree Lane on the 3200 block of Thompson Avenue in Alameda on Dec. 10, 2025. The tradition of holiday displays here dates back to the early 1930s. (Tâm Vũ/KQED) Twenty years later, Martin’s decorative toy factory — the “Wrap-O-Matic,” which shuttles toy parts to be assembled and then wrapped in a magic box and ready for Santa’s delivery — is an Alameda Christmas Tree Lane staple.
‘A Morale Bomb’: National Park Workers Face Wage Cuts and 'Dubiously Legal' Review System
Dec 12, 2025 Failed to save article Please try again Yosemite Conservancy staff answer questions at the Welcome Center at Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on Oct. 27, 2025. Wage cuts announced for Yosemite National Park employees come as reported new performance metrics raise ethical alarms for National Park Service leaders and employees.
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