Rough-skinned Newts are closely related to California Newts, and indeed were once considered the same species. They're brightly colored underneath, but you'd never guess it from above.

Despite its dull appearance from above, I spotted the first newt pictured here just by noticing its shape. The second one was under a log. Both of them strongly preferred plodding away to posing for photographs.

I initially thought these were Red-bellied Newts (Taricha rivularis). Thanks to Jackson Shedd for correcting the identification. The yellow patch in the eye is one piece of evidence confirming that these are actually rough-skinned newts.