A reliable cookstove is an essential piece of gear for campers, and if you're heading into the backcountry, a system compact in size and light in weight is ideal. Jetboil's most recent offering in that category meets those needs.

A recent series of storms has left a white cloak across Lassen Volcanic National Park, where the scenic drive has turned into a wintry playground for visitors.

A long project that restored a bit of history has been completed at San Juan National Historic Site, where crews have completed restoration of the water cisterns that lie beneath the plazas of Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal.

The winter solstice is still some weeks off, but an early celebration is scheduled for Sunday at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, where a diverse collection of Native American artists will be displaying pottery, paintings, stone carvings, and other artworks.