Hiking Steep Ravine/Matt Davis Loop at Mount Tamalpais State Park
The Steep Ravine Trail at Mount Tamalpais State Park is a beautiful trail to hike, and I’ve written about it previously. I combined this trail with the Matt Davis Trail to make a loop on the west side of Mount Tamalpais.
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Hiking the Grand Loop at Mount Diablo State Park
The views from Grand Loop Hike at Mount Diablo State Park are sweeping from all directions, and we wanted to see what we could see from the grand loop hike. While worth it, this is not an easy hike.
We hiked the trails that circled the top of Mount Diablo in February to see the hills when they were green and to avoid summer heat exhaustion and dehydration issues. The scenery was beautiful, and we could see into downtown San Francisco in the distance as we looked out from above the Juniper Campground on an offshoot trail.
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Hiking Mountain Trail to Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail at Jack London State Historic Park
While the jewel hike at Jack London State Historic Park is the Mountain Trail to its highest point, another good hike is the Sonoma Mountain Ridge Hike.
The hike starts off on the Lake Trail to London Lake from the Upper Parking Lot. As you begin, you hike past a picnic area, winery ruins and the distillery and turn and hike past a vineyard. Follow Mountain Trail which is a service road next to the wooded area. We stayed on Mountain Road as we passed an intersection where another trail leads to the London Lake.
Hiking Trojan Point to McKennan Gulch Trail via the Coast Trail at Mount Tamalpais State Park
If the weather is right, the views from the Coast Trail on Mount Tamalpais of the Pacific Ocean can be striking. During the right time of the year, the hills are beautifully green with a beautiful blue ocean background to the west, or sweeping green hills as you look north and south.
Hiking High Peaks Trail at Pinnacles National Park
The High Peaks Trail at Pinnacles National Park is fun but is also physically exerting in places. There is also the possibility you will see California Condors perched or in flight.
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Hiking Moses Spring Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park
The hike to Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park starts off on the High Peaks Trail as you hike under oak trees and ascend to the Moses Spring Trail junction.
As the trail ascends, you start to hike amongst rock formations that take you to the caves on the Moses Spring Trail. If you are not comfortable with caves, there is a bypass trail that will also take you to Bear Gulch Reservoir on up past the Moses Spring Trail junction that leads to the Rim Trail, but the caves are worth exploring. Continue reading “Hiking Moses Spring Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park”
Hiking Meadow Trail to Mt. Wittenberg Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore
Meadow Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore up to Sky Trail is a tough climb, but sometimes the rewards are great if you like wildlife. Both times I hiked the trail I was treated to seeing Black Tail Deer once in a meadow and once running in the forest.
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Hike to First Burroughs Mountain at Mount Rainier National Park
Parts of the hike to First Burroughs Mountain from the Sunrise Visitor Center are fairy-tale spectacular where you see vibrant wildflowers, green meadows surrounded by thick forested trees, and stunning views of Mount Rainier.
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Hiking Cougar Rock Camp to Carter Falls at Mount Rainier National Park
The hike to Carter Falls is a climb for sure, but it offers a nice view of the falls, and then on up a little further, there’s Madcap Falls is just ahead.
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Hiking Carbon River Trail to Ranger Falls in Mount Rainier National Park
Hiking the Carbon River Trail in the northwest corner of Mount Rainier is pretty easy-going. You will hike next to old-growth Douglas-fir trees while hiking through a densely green rainforest.
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Hiking Humbug Mountain Trail on the Oregon Coast
We were pleasantly surprised by this trail on the Oregon Coast. When looking for trails to hike with some distance to them on the Oregon Coast, there weren’t too many choices showing, but this turned out to be a jewel of a hike.
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Hiking Boy Scout Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Boy Scout Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a beautiful hike amongst the ferns and redwood trees. The trail leads to a massive redwood tree, called “Boy Scout Tree” and then a waterfall.
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