12 Top Adrenaline-Pumping Activities In California

California is a hot spot for extreme sports and adrenaline-pumping activities. From bungee jumping to skydiving and white-water rafting, there is plenty to do in California for those who like to live on the edge.

Over the years, my husband and I have checked off a lot of extreme activities from our California bucket list. I usually book a few fun activities a year for special occasions like our anniversary or my husband’s Birthday.

If you’re looking for something exciting and adventurous to do with your friends or your partner, here are 12 of the top adrenaline activities in California!

1. Bungee Jumping Off The Bridge To Nowhere

Bungee Jumping off The Bridge To Nowhere in Southern California.

Bungee jumping off the Bridge to Nowhere is one of the most thrill-seeking activities in Southern California. I did this activity with my friends, and we all had such a blast!

The Bridge to Nowhere is located deep within the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles. This bridge was built to be part of a road but is now used primarily for bungee jumping by a tour company called Bungee America.

Bungee America has done over 250,000 bungee jumps off this bridge since 1989. Even if you’re someone (like me) who has a fear of heights, be assured that this is a very safe activity.

To reach the bridge, you will need to go on a 5-mile-long hike each way. The hike itself is so beautiful and will keep you distracted from the fact that you’re about to jump off a concrete bridge.

When it was my turn, I went for the “Backwards Happy Starfish”, jumping backward off the bridge while facing my friends and the instructor. The jump wasn’t as scary as I thought, but I did work up a nerve waiting for my turn. After the jump, we started the 5-mile trek back to the trailhead.

Book a bungee jumping day trip to Bridge to Nowhere here!

2. River Rafting

River rafting along the Kaweah River near Three Rivers.

Spring is a great time to go river rafting in Central California. In spring, rivers receive extra water from snowmelt in the mountains, creating exciting rafting opportunities.

Some of the best places to go rafting in California are the Kern River, Kaweah River, and the Merced River near Yosemite. I recommend going with an experienced local tour company that is familiar with the river and its currents.

I’ve done a rafting trip along the Kaweah River near Three Rivers with friends, and it was such a thrilling activity. The rapids were so fast that a few people even toppled out of the rafts, but that’s just part of the fun!

Kaweah River runs through Three Rivers town, making it a convenient place to camp overnight before and after rafting. The town has a few eateries and a brewery where you can grab a refreshing beer after rafting.

3. Skydiving

If skydiving has been on your bucket list, California has no shortage of places where you can check this one off your list! My husband has done skydiving several times in California, including Santa Barbara and, most recently, in Camarillo.

The skydiving experience in Camarillo was very fun, and convenient landing in a field just 5 minutes from our house. I even brought our toddler to the landing field so he could see his dad flying through the sky.

If jumping out of an airplane thousands of feet up in the air sounds too scary, there are several indoor skydiving centers in California. At this San Francisco indoor skydiving center, you can experience the excitement of skydiving without flinging yourself out of an airplane.

4. Surfing

Things-to-do-in-Pismo-Beach-surfing-troy-williams — Surfing is a must-do activity in California!

Whether you’re a California local or planning a visit from out of state, surfing is a quintessential California activity that you have to try at least once!

We live in Ventura County, which is one of the best surfing destinations in California. If you’ve never gone surfing before, I highly recommend taking a private Ventura surfing lesson like this one to get the basics down.

This surfing lesson takes place at Mondo’s Beach near Ventura. Mondo’s Beach has gentle waves, making it a great environment for beginner surfers or those who want to improve their existing skills.

The instructor will provide you with a surfboard and wetsuit, which is great for those who are visiting California out of town or don’t have their own gear.

5. ATV Or UTV Riding At Oceano Dunes

UTV Riding at Oceano Dunes near Pismo Beach.

Pismo Beach is one of those fun beach towns that we keep returning to over and over again. Just south of Pismo Beach is Oceano Dunes, the only public beach in California that allows cars and other vehicles to drive across the sand.

On one of our Pismo Beach trips, we rented a UTV that we rode across giant sand dunes within the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

The whole area is so beautiful, and you can go as fast as you can or slow down and enjoy the scenery. If you go down some of the taller, steeper dunes, your heart will definitely skip a beat!

Book a dune buggy, UTV, or ATV experience at Pismo Beach here!

6. Moaning Caverns Adventure Park

Climbing down a steep metal staircase at Moaning Caverns Adventure Park.

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park is a unique destination in Vallecito, about an hour east of Stockton. Here you can climb down into the largest single cave chamber in California, which is such an exciting adventure!

During our visit, we chose to do the Spiral Tour. This tour climbs down a narrow 100-foot-long metal staircase made of an old battleship. I’m usually not claustrophobic, but the narrow stairs did make me feel a bit dizzy as we descended deeper into the cave.

If you are a true thrill seeker, you can also opt for the more adventurous Expedition Crawling & Spelunking Tour. On this tour, you will explore undeveloped parts of the cave by crawling through natural passages.

Visitor Tip: Advanced reservations are required for the Expedition Crawling & Spelunking Tour. You can check out more information on the Moaning Caverns cave tours here.

7. Helicopter Flight Lesson

My husband on his helicopter flight lesson in Long Beach, California.

I’m always looking for unique experiences to book for my husband’s Birthdays. And last year I got him a helicopter flight lesson in our hometown, Long Beach.

I booked a helicopter pilot lesson with Anthelion Helicopters, that are based out of the Long Beach airport. The training was very hands-on, starting with an on-ground flight simulator and ending with some air time in a private helicopter. My husband even got to take control of the helicopter for a bit under the supervision of a professional instructor.

My husband decided not to pursue a helicopter pilot license, but this is a great way to try it out if that’s something that you have been curious about!

8. Kayaking La Jolla Sea Caves

People kayaking at La Jolla Sea Caves in Southern California — Kayaking groups at the La Jolla sea caves.

There are several places in California where you can kayak through sea caves. By far the most popular ones are the La Jolla sea caves in San Diego.

La Jolla is home to 7 stunning sea caves. To reach most of them, you will need to go on a guided kayaking tour.

During the tour, you will visit Emerald Cave, the only north-facing cave in California. While kayaking, you might also see various sea life, including sea lions, seals, sea birds, and even dolphins or whales!

Book La Jolla Sea Cave kayak tour here!

9. Go To a Race Track

My husband’s favorite hobby is car racing.

My husband loves car racing. It’s one of the most exciting hobbies that he tries to do several times a year.

His two favorite places to go car racing in California are the Willow Springs International Raceway and Buttonwillow Raceway Park. He loves car racing so much that now he has his own track car that he tows to one of these locations for special racing events.

To do high-performance driving at either of these tracks, you will need to sign up for a group event. Buttonwillow Raceway Park calendar shows who is having events on what dates. The cost of these racing events varies, starting at $150 per event.

10. Zip Lining On Catalina Island

Zip lining on Catalina Island in Southern California (photo by **Santa Catalina Island Company**) .

Catalina Island is a gorgeous island off the shore in Southern California that offers many exciting outdoor activities.

This is a great weekend destination for special occasions or if you’re looking to do something a bit different. We’ve been to Catalina Island many times, and there’s always something new and exciting to discover!

For the ultimate thrill, book this Catalina Island zip line eco tour. During this zip line tour, you’ll soar 600 feet above sea level with stunning views of the ocean in the background. There are 5 zip lines here that can reach speeds up to 35 miles per hour.

Check Catalina Island zip line tour rates & availability here!

11. Mountain Biking

Person riding a bike down a trail at the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park — Mountain biking at Mammoth Lakes, California.

My husband loves everything with speed and adrenaline, so of course he enjoys mountain biking as well.

Some of his favorite places to go mountain biking in California in the summer include Big Bear Lake, Mammoth Lakes, and SkyPark near Lake Arrowhead. Most of the winter ski resorts in California turn into mountain biking parks in the summer season.

Mammoth Mountain has over 80 miles of mountain biking trails that can be accessed in the summer by taking the Panorama Gondola. If you’re looking for free options, Harmon Canyon in Ventura is one of our local favorites for mountain biking.

12. Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles

Entrance to Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles.

If you enjoy luxury cars, sign up for the Porsche Driving Experience in Los Angeles! I got this as a birthday present for my husband one year, and it was so much fun.

I booked the Drive Experience, where you get to test-drive a Porsche on their on-site track. There are several different test stations on the course where you can drive the car as fast as you can on a track, on a water skid pad, and drift it in a circle.

I hope this list has inspired you to add a few California extreme activities to your bucket list!

Looking for more fun things to do in California? Be sure to check out these popular posts next:

This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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