Hiking to Loch Leven Lakes
Hiking Olmstead Loop in the Auburn State Recreation Area
We hiked a portion of the Olmstead Loop Trail in the Auburn State Recreation Area on a warm spring morning when the hills were still green and wildflowers were still in bloom.
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Hiking the Arnold Rim Trail to the “Top of the World”
The Arnold Rim Trail is a hike through a part of the Stanislaus National Forest that leads to a fantastic point dubbed the “The Top of the World” where the view is incredible. From the Sierras, you can see over to the Coastal Range and Mount Diablo nearly 90 miles away on a clear day.
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Hiking Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone To Ribbon Lake
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is an incredible sight to see and hike along in Yellowstone National Park. From different vantage points, you can marvel at Lower Yellowstone Falls. The forest along the hike was tranquil and mediative, and once we left the crowds, we probably saw a little more than a dozen people.
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Mist Trail To Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park
The hike from Yosemite Valley up to Vernal Falls and then over to Nevada Falls is incredible, and one of many of many spectacular attractions of Yosemite National Park. But even hiking through the beauty of the forests, it does take work to make it to the top of either waterfall.
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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 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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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 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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Hiking Creamery Meadow, Bluffs, Panorama and Ridge Trail at Andrew Molera State Park
Andrew Molera State Park at Big Sur offers beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the nearby mountains. While the hike to see some of the views is challenging in places, it is worth it.
Hiking Silver Lake to Spanish Peak in the Bucks Lake Wilderness
In 2021, the Dixie Fire burned much of the area, so the landscape may be different now than when we were there about a month or so before the fire occurred.
Hiking to Spanish Peak from Silver Lake in the Plumas National Forest is not easy, but the views are a spectacular payoff. The terrain is diverse. You start off in the forested area at Silver Lake, then you hike exposed over granite as you climb, and then you hike through forested areas again.
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Hiking Cronan Ranch: River Trail to West Ridge Trail Loop
Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park is a playground of trails in the foothills. We hiked in the valleys and over high points that showed off the snowcapped Sierra Nevada Mountain range in the distance.
On this hike, we covered portions of several trails on our 11.5 mile hike. We hiked the River Trail to the Gerle Loop Trail; Down and Up Trail to the Cronan Ranch Road; South Fork American River Trail to the West Ridge Trail. We hiked back to the Cronan Ranch Road and the Down & Up Trail to Sky Ridge Trail. We reconnected with the Connector Trail and back to the Gerle Loop Trail. Wow, that’s a lot of trails!
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