Best Cities for Outdoor Enthusiasts in California
California ranks #31 of 50 for outdoor enthusiasts, with a outdoor enthusiasts score of 36.7. Folsom is its best city for outdoor enthusiasts at 66.7.
- California, all states
- #31 of 50
- Population
- 83,916
California for Outdoor Enthusiasts: The Full Picture
California ranks #31 out of 50 for outdoor enthusiasts, which may surprise given some genuine natural assets. The outdoor access score of 41/100 indicates limited public outdoor infrastructure compared to western and northeastern states. With 45.8% of the state as public land, there's no shortage of space to explore.
Environmental quality matters when you spend significant time outdoors. California's environment score of 25/100 is a concern for outdoor athletes and those with respiratory sensitivity — air quality (AQI: 48) and environmental protections lag behind top-ranked states. Higher natural disaster risk (score: 56.3) means weather awareness is essential, particularly for backcountry activities.
The practical side: above-average living costs (index: 110.7) can squeeze recreation budgets. Safety (55/100) is worth researching at the local level, and the overall health infrastructure (78/100) supports an active lifestyle with good access to sports medicine and emergency care.
All 188 Cities Ranked for Outdoor Enthusiasts
| # City | Grade | Outdoor Enthusiasts score | Overall | Environment | Safety | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Folsom | A+ | 66.7 | 68.0 | 60 | 88 | 83,916 |
| 2Elk Grove | A | 63.9 | 63.3 | 60 | 88 | 179,155 |
| 3Rocklin | A | 62.0 | 64.8 | 41 | 93 | 73,327 |
| 4Roseville | A | 61.0 | 63.6 | 41 | 85 | 155,955 |
| 5San Mateo | A+ | 60.9 | 67.1 | 47 | 85 | 103,105 |
| 6Petaluma | B+ | 60.9 | 61.4 | 52 | 84 | 59,247 |
| 7Cupertino | A+ | 60.3 | 68.3 | 26 | 92 | 58,566 |
| 8Novato | B+ | 59.7 | 59.6 | 53 | 84 | 52,546 |
| 9Davis | B | 59.5 | 57.6 | 40 | 80 | 66,978 |
| 10Rancho Cordova | B | 59.1 | 57.8 | 60 | 63 | 81,849 |
| 11Sunnyvale | A+ | 59.0 | 69.3 | 26 | 81 | 154,236 |
| 12Daly City | B+ | 58.9 | 62.0 | 47 | 81 | 101,964 |
| 13Woodland | B | 58.7 | 57.1 | 40 | 88 | 61,854 |
| 14Palo Alto | A+ | 58.6 | 70.9 | 26 | 76 | 67,237 |
| 15Dublin | A | 58.4 | 66.5 | 24 | 87 | 70,803 |
| 16Irvine | A | 58.1 | 63.4 | 23 | 93 | 311,690 |
| 17Santa Rosa | B | 58.1 | 58.0 | 52 | 78 | 177,090 |
| 18South San Francisco | B+ | 58.0 | 62.8 | 47 | 78 | 64,305 |
| 19San Rafael | B | 57.9 | 58.0 | 53 | 69 | 60,433 |
| 20Mountain View | A | 57.7 | 65.1 | 26 | 76 | 83,732 |
| 21Santa Clara | A+ | 57.6 | 68.1 | 26 | 77 | 130,256 |
| 22Citrus Heights | C+ | 57.5 | 54.3 | 60 | 69 | 86,995 |
| 23Pleasanton | A | 57.4 | 65.2 | 24 | 89 | 76,960 |
| 24Redwood City | A | 57.4 | 64.0 | 47 | 73 | 82,447 |
| 25San Ramon | A | 57.3 | 64.5 | 26 | 94 | 85,993 |
| 26Fremont | A | 57.1 | 64.2 | 24 | 87 | 228,295 |
| 27San Francisco | A | 56.7 | 64.1 | 41 | 55 | 830,235 |
| 28Laguna Niguel | A | 56.6 | 64.1 | 23 | 95 | 64,139 |
| 29West Sacramento | B | 56.5 | 57.0 | 40 | 74 | 54,927 |
| 30Carmichael | C | 56.3 | 52.0 | 60 | — | 76,948 |
| 31Aliso Viejo | A | 56.2 | 63.6 | 23 | 95 | 51,113 |
| 32Yorba Linda | B+ | 56.2 | 62.9 | 23 | 99 | 67,170 |
| 33Lake Forest | B+ | 55.9 | 61.9 | 23 | 91 | 86,281 |
| 34Yuba City | D | 55.9 | 48.5 | 60 | 71 | 69,471 |
| 35Thousand Oaks | B+ | 55.8 | 62.3 | 23 | 92 | 125,205 |
| 36Encinitas | A | 55.7 | 65.1 | 12 | 96 | 61,480 |
| 37Mission Viejo | B+ | 55.3 | 62.2 | 23 | 93 | 92,151 |
| 38Vacaville | B | 55.2 | 56.9 | 43 | 79 | 102,596 |
| 39Simi Valley | B+ | 55.1 | 59.9 | 23 | 93 | 125,634 |
| 40Newport Beach | A | 54.8 | 64.8 | 23 | 80 | 83,845 |
| 41Arden-Arcade | C | 54.8 | 50.0 | 60 | — | 94,994 |
| 42Milpitas | B | 54.6 | 58.6 | 26 | 71 | 78,578 |
| 43Tracy | B | 54.5 | 57.1 | 40 | 85 | 96,966 |
| 44Livermore | A | 54.4 | 63.2 | 24 | 83 | 85,522 |
| 45San Clemente | B+ | 54.4 | 62.1 | 23 | 90 | 63,273 |
| 46Orange | B+ | 54.4 | 59.4 | 23 | 88 | 138,266 |
| 47Clovis | B | 54.0 | 57.0 | 27 | 80 | 124,725 |
| 48Sacramento | C+ | 54.0 | 52.6 | 60 | 45 | 528,706 |
| 49Placentia | B+ | 53.9 | 60.3 | 23 | 83 | 52,826 |
| 50Huntington Beach | B+ | 53.9 | 60.0 | 23 | 85 | 195,240 |
| 51Fountain Valley | B+ | 53.8 | 59.0 | 23 | 84 | 56,258 |
| 52Turlock | C+ | 53.7 | 53.1 | 41 | 75 | 72,502 |
| 53Walnut Creek | B+ | 53.1 | 59.1 | 26 | 76 | 70,088 |
| 54Camarillo | B | 53.1 | 56.2 | 23 | 90 | 70,186 |
| 55Manteca | C+ | 52.4 | 53.5 | 40 | 76 | 89,043 |
| 56Tustin | B | 52.2 | 57.3 | 23 | 79 | 78,981 |
| 57Carlsbad | B+ | 52.1 | 61.2 | 12 | 85 | 114,373 |
| 58Hanford | C | 52.1 | 50.8 | 28 | 78 | 59,754 |
| 59Santa Cruz | C+ | 51.8 | 55.6 | 38 | 55 | 61,607 |
| 60Garden Grove | C+ | 51.6 | 55.6 | 23 | 81 | 170,964 |
| 61La Habra | C+ | 51.6 | 55.6 | 23 | 80 | 61,970 |
| 62El Dorado Hills | A | 51.5 | 64.2 | 38 | — | 51,026 |
| 63Lincoln | B | 51.5 | 56.8 | 41 | — | 52,956 |
| 64Alameda | B+ | 51.2 | 59.9 | 24 | 59 | 77,238 |
| 65San Buenaventura (Ventura) | B | 50.9 | 56.8 | 23 | 72 | 109,857 |
| 66Buena Park | B | 50.7 | 55.9 | 23 | 75 | 82,871 |
| 67Vista | C+ | 50.7 | 55.7 | 12 | 90 | 99,114 |
| 68Brentwood | B | 50.4 | 57.3 | 26 | 83 | 65,208 |
| 69Lodi | C | 50.4 | 50.3 | 40 | 60 | 67,607 |
| 70Santa Ana | B | 50.2 | 55.8 | 23 | 76 | 312,534 |
| 71Union City | B | 50.1 | 57.5 | 24 | 65 | 67,464 |
| 72San Jose | B+ | 49.9 | 59.7 | 26 | 57 | 990,138 |
| 73Fairfield | C | 49.9 | 51.1 | 43 | 61 | 120,785 |
| 74Chico | D | 49.8 | 48.5 | 36 | 51 | 102,188 |
| 75Redondo Beach | B+ | 49.7 | 60.7 | 4 | 75 | 69,291 |
| 76Fullerton | C+ | 49.6 | 53.8 | 23 | 72 | 140,968 |
| 77Arcadia | B | 49.4 | 57.8 | 4 | 77 | 55,170 |
| 78San Diego | B | 49.3 | 57.0 | 12 | 72 | 1,389,526 |
| 79Chino Hills | B | 49.3 | 57.0 | 2 | 97 | 77,927 |
| 80Eastvale | B+ | 49.1 | 60.5 | 2 | 94 | 70,633 |
| 81Yucaipa | C | 48.9 | 50.5 | 2 | 89 | 54,421 |
| 82Gilroy | B | 48.7 | 56.0 | 26 | 67 | 59,004 |
| 83Diamond Bar | C+ | 48.6 | 54.1 | 4 | 87 | 53,355 |
| 84Beaumont | B | 48.5 | 56.9 | 2 | 87 | 56,266 |
| 85Westminster | C | 48.5 | 52.4 | 23 | 71 | 89,860 |
| 86Costa Mesa | B | 48.4 | 58.2 | 23 | 57 | 110,330 |
| 87Glendora | B | 48.4 | 55.9 | 4 | 84 | 50,926 |
| 88Chula Vista | C+ | 48.4 | 54.7 | 12 | 76 | 276,375 |
| 89La Mesa | C | 48.4 | 51.3 | 12 | 72 | 60,797 |
| 90Redding | C | 48.4 | 50.2 | 31 | 48 | 93,409 |
| 91Alhambra | C+ | 48.3 | 54.7 | 4 | 80 | 81,022 |
| 92Modesto | D | 48.0 | 47.1 | 41 | 56 | 219,215 |
| 93Watsonville | D | 48.0 | 44.9 | 38 | 73 | 51,712 |
| 94Berkeley | B | 47.8 | 57.1 | 24 | 37 | 120,257 |
| 95Temecula | B | 47.8 | 56.6 | 2 | 88 | 111,167 |
| 96Covina | C+ | 47.8 | 55.5 | 4 | 78 | 49,888 |
| 97Torrance | B | 47.7 | 56.3 | 4 | 68 | 142,130 |
| 98Redlands | B | 47.6 | 56.4 | 2 | 75 | 73,375 |
| 99Santa Clarita | B | 47.6 | 55.8 | 4 | 89 | 230,221 |
| 100Monterey Park | C+ | 47.6 | 52.8 | 4 | 77 | 59,132 |
| 101Visalia | C | 47.5 | 50.5 | 17 | 68 | 143,939 |
| 102Escondido | C+ | 47.3 | 53.2 | 12 | 75 | 149,668 |
| 103Concord | C+ | 47.3 | 52.7 | 26 | 60 | 124,035 |
| 104Castro Valley | B+ | 47.1 | 62.1 | 24 | — | 65,001 |
| 105Murrieta | B | 47.1 | 55.9 | 2 | 89 | 112,064 |
| 106Palm Desert | C | 47.1 | 51.3 | 2 | 83 | 51,990 |
| 107Rancho Cucamonga | B | 47.0 | 55.8 | 2 | 81 | 175,411 |
| 108Fontana | C+ | 47.0 | 55.5 | 2 | 83 | 214,169 |
| 109Santa Barbara | C+ | 47.0 | 55.4 | 21 | 55 | 87,779 |
| 110Oceanside | C+ | 47.0 | 53.2 | 12 | 71 | 172,242 |
| 111West Covina | C+ | 46.8 | 54.1 | 4 | 81 | 107,037 |
| 112Oxnard | C | 46.6 | 51.5 | 23 | 60 | 200,928 |
| 113Napa | C+ | 46.5 | 53.5 | 5 | 84 | 78,239 |
| 114Hayward | C+ | 46.5 | 53.4 | 24 | 58 | 158,801 |
| 115Glendale | C | 46.5 | 51.7 | 4 | 78 | 190,748 |
| 116Madera | D | 46.5 | 43.6 | 26 | 72 | 67,831 |
| 117San Leandro | C+ | 46.2 | 52.8 | 24 | 54 | 87,826 |
| 118Salinas | D | 46.2 | 44.7 | 37 | 63 | 161,761 |
| 119Pittsburg | C | 45.9 | 50.1 | 26 | 68 | 76,257 |
| 120Anaheim | C | 45.8 | 52.0 | 23 | 59 | 344,521 |
| 121Menifee | C | 45.8 | 51.8 | 2 | 90 | 110,305 |
| 122Upland | C+ | 45.6 | 54.5 | 2 | 75 | 79,257 |
| 123Pasadena | C+ | 45.6 | 53.5 | 4 | 63 | 136,969 |
| 124Norwalk | C+ | 45.4 | 53.2 | 4 | 75 | 99,789 |
| 125Indio | C | 45.1 | 49.0 | 2 | 85 | 91,950 |
| 126Ontario | C | 45.0 | 52.4 | 2 | 80 | 180,547 |
| 127Burbank | C | 44.9 | 50.7 | 4 | 67 | 104,546 |
| 128Lake Elsinore | C | 44.8 | 51.9 | 2 | 87 | 72,461 |
| 129Lakewood | C+ | 44.6 | 54.9 | 4 | 69 | 79,850 |
| 130Corona | C+ | 44.6 | 53.3 | 2 | 80 | 159,670 |
| 131Cathedral City | C | 44.6 | 50.9 | 2 | 77 | 52,267 |
| 132Baldwin Park | C | 44.4 | 50.6 | 4 | 74 | 70,138 |
| 133Santa Maria | D | 44.4 | 47.8 | 21 | 54 | 110,462 |
| 134Tulare | D | 44.4 | 46.3 | 17 | 66 | 70,945 |
| 135El Cajon | D | 44.4 | 44.0 | 12 | 69 | 104,449 |
| 136Downey | C | 44.3 | 51.7 | 4 | 72 | 110,939 |
| 137Merced | F | 44.3 | 42.1 | 33 | 44 | 91,953 |
| 138Porterville | F | 44.3 | 41.8 | 17 | 76 | 63,157 |
| 139Chino | C+ | 44.2 | 53.3 | 2 | 72 | 92,652 |
| 140Jurupa Valley | C | 44.1 | 52.4 | 2 | 84 | 107,011 |
| 141Vallejo | D | 44.1 | 45.3 | 43 | 35 | 124,268 |
| 142Rosemead | C | 43.7 | 49.8 | 4 | 67 | 50,013 |
| 143Bakersfield | D | 43.7 | 47.4 | 11 | 59 | 411,986 |
| 144National City | D | 43.2 | 47.4 | 12 | 54 | 58,893 |
| 145Whittier | C | 43.1 | 51.2 | 4 | 68 | 86,165 |
| 146Fresno | D | 43.1 | 45.5 | 27 | 43 | 545,970 |
| 147Colton | D | 42.9 | 48.2 | 2 | 71 | 53,772 |
| 148Delano | D | 42.9 | 43.4 | 11 | 81 | 51,679 |
| 149El Monte | D | 42.8 | 48.7 | 4 | 67 | 106,109 |
| 150Highland | D | 42.5 | 48.4 | 2 | 68 | 56,675 |
| 151Carson | C | 42.4 | 52.3 | 4 | 61 | 92,871 |
| 152Santa Monica | C+ | 42.1 | 54.3 | 4 | 38 | 91,169 |
| 153Richmond | D | 41.9 | 47.2 | 26 | 40 | 115,505 |
| 154Stockton | D | 41.9 | 42.6 | 40 | 27 | 322,326 |
| 155Montebello | C | 41.7 | 49.5 | 4 | 65 | 61,045 |
| 156Perris | D | 41.6 | 48.8 | 2 | 76 | 80,511 |
| 157Moreno Valley | C | 41.3 | 49.1 | 2 | 76 | 211,666 |
| 158Pico Rivera | D | 41.1 | 47.9 | 4 | 61 | 60,272 |
| 159San Jacinto | D | 41.0 | 46.4 | 2 | 76 | 55,180 |
| 160Santee | D | 40.9 | 48.8 | 12 | — | 59,332 |
| 161San Marcos | C | 40.7 | 51.9 | 12 | — | 94,882 |
| 162Riverside | C | 40.0 | 49.0 | 2 | 57 | 319,069 |
| 163Bellflower | D | 40.0 | 47.8 | 4 | 56 | 76,819 |
| 164Rialto | D | 39.7 | 48.5 | 2 | 55 | 104,143 |
| 165Los Angeles | D | 39.4 | 47.4 | 4 | 48 | 3,857,263 |
| 166Hacienda Heights | C+ | 39.2 | 54.1 | 4 | — | 54,291 |
| 167Gardena | D | 39.2 | 48.0 | 4 | 46 | 59,422 |
| 168Hesperia | D | 39.2 | 43.3 | 2 | 69 | 100,775 |
| 169Apple Valley | F | 39.2 | 41.4 | 2 | 66 | 75,473 |
| 170South Gate | D | 39.1 | 46.4 | 4 | 53 | 91,483 |
| 171Pomona | D | 39.0 | 46.0 | 4 | 50 | 147,943 |
| 172Long Beach | D | 39.0 | 45.8 | 4 | 49 | 455,548 |
| 173Hemet | F | 39.0 | 42.3 | 2 | 68 | 91,326 |
| 174Palmdale | F | 38.5 | 41.3 | 4 | 64 | 164,634 |
| 175Hawthorne | D | 38.4 | 43.2 | 4 | 57 | 85,191 |
| 176Paramount | D | 38.2 | 47.1 | 4 | 49 | 52,050 |
| 177Antioch | D | 38.2 | 43.8 | 26 | 41 | 116,477 |
| 178Huntington Park | D | 38.2 | 43.2 | 4 | 54 | 53,108 |
| 179South Whittier | C | 37.2 | 50.4 | 4 | — | 55,650 |
| 180Oakland | D | 36.8 | 46.3 | 24 | 5 | 439,418 |
| 181Lancaster | F | 36.0 | 40.6 | 4 | 47 | 169,169 |
| 182Lynwood | D | 35.9 | 43.2 | 4 | 43 | 64,578 |
| 183Victorville | F | 35.5 | 38.6 | 2 | 51 | 137,627 |
| 184Inglewood | F | 34.5 | 41.3 | 4 | 40 | 104,569 |
| 185East Los Angeles | F | 34.4 | 40.9 | 4 | — | 111,647 |
| 186San Bernardino | F | 33.2 | 41.2 | 2 | 33 | 222,724 |
| 187Florence-Graham | F | 32.6 | 37.9 | 4 | — | 60,690 |
| 188Compton | F | 31.1 | 39.2 | 4 | 25 | 92,698 |
City outdoor enthusiasts scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Outdoor Enthusiasts Rankings
Also See: California for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California a good state for outdoor enthusiasts?
California ranks #31 out of 50 for outdoor enthusiasts with a persona-weighted score of 36.7/100. Its strongest relevant category is Health (78/100) and its weakest is Growth (6/100).
What is the best city for outdoor enthusiasts in California?
Folsom ranks #1 in California for outdoor enthusiasts with a score of 66.7/100, followed by Elk Grove and Rocklin.
What factors are most important for outdoor enthusiasts in California?
Rankings weighted toward outdoor access (parks, public land, recreation), environmental quality, safety, health infrastructure, and affordable housing — for those who prioritize access to nature and an active lifestyle.