Category: Forests

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Trash on Public Lands

Though difficult to see in this photograph, hundreds of shotgun shells and trash litter the Blue Gouge Mine area in the Eldorado National Forest.
Though difficult to see in this photograph, hundreds of shotgun shells and trash litter the Blue Gouge Mine area in the Eldorado National Forest.

A little rant today: over the Fourth of July Holiday, I went hiking on the Fleming Trail System in the Eldorado National Forest. I’ll post a summary about it later. While on that hike, I ventured into another area down the Blue Gouge Mine Road, which is the Yin to the Flemming Trail System’s Yang, and I was appalled by the trash on public lands I encountered.

Some of the road is on private land and then moves onto public land, and I was appalled by what I saw on both public and private land. What happens on private land is up to the landowner as long as it’s legal, so I don’t have much to comment about there, but what I saw on public land infuriated me. Continue reading “Trash on Public Lands”

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Hiking to Feather Falls

Feather Falls in Butte County plummets more than 400 feet down into the Feather River.
Feather Falls in Butte County plummets more than 400 feet down into the Feather River.

How can you be a hiker in Northern California and not hike to Feather Falls? The falls are an awesome to sight to behold, and the hike isn’t so bad either – depending on when you go and the condition of the trail. At about .4 miles from the trailhead, you’ll have decision to make when you come to fork.

If you want to make a loop out of this hike, it might be best to go to the left, as the trail will head downhill. Coming back up this way could be strenuous. If you do decide to come back up this way, there are a series of benches along the trail for resting. This way is shorter taking about 3.3 miles to get to the overlook. Continue reading “Hiking to Feather Falls”

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Hiking Prospect Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Mt. Lassen through a smokey haze from Prospect Peak.
Mt. Lassen through a smokey haze from Prospect Peak.

What makes the hike up to Prospect Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park worth the effort are the views from the 8340-foot summit. First, I have to admit, the views would have been spectacular when I was there, but there were several wildfires burning at the time. The Carr Fire near Redding and the Whaleback Fire near Susanville along with others in the state made for very hazy views when the wind blew in the smoke. Continue reading “Hiking Prospect Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park”

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Hiking to Bassi Falls

Bassi Falls is at its fullest strength in May from the snowmelt runoff. 
Bassi Falls is at its fullest strength in May from the snowmelt runoff.

Updated May 23, 2021

Bassi Falls is a spectacular show of natural force as it tumbles and crashes 109 feet off granite rocks before the water hits the bottom and flows away. To see the falls at their most powerful, it’s best to go before the end of May while the snowmelt is still good. After May, the flow slows and eventually becomes a trickle. Continue reading “Hiking to Bassi Falls”

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Hiking Snow Mountain West Peak

The Sutter Buttes, the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevadas can be seen in the distance from Snow Mountain.
The Sutter Buttes, the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevadas can be seen in the distance from Snow Mountain.

Note: This portion of the forest was severely burned in 2018 shortly after I hiked it, and most the trees are now burned out. See my Snow Mountain East Peak summary for an update.

Peaceful desolation. That’s what the hike up Snow Mountain in the Snow Mountain Wilderness is. The trails are defined, the wildflowers are in bloom in the summer and people are scarce. The trails in this Northern California area are a hidden gem, as they are under-hiked and seemingly unknown to most.

Though not recommended to hike in the summer as the heat can be brutal, I happened to catch the mountain on an unseasonably cool July day with overcast and a smattering of rain. The wildflowers were in bloom from red to purple, yellow, blue and orange. The hike starts out exposed and meanders for a little more than a mile before you start to get under the cover of the tall pine trees as you climb.

Continue reading “Hiking Snow Mountain West Peak”

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Hiking Thunder Mountain

The views to the south of Thunder Mountain can be spectacular if the climatic conditions are right and there is at least some snow on the mountaintops in the distance.
The views to the south of Thunder Mountain can be spectacular if the climatic conditions are right and there is at least some snow on the mountaintops in the distance.

This sometimes heavy breather of a hike to Thunder Mountain has outstanding views of mountaintops and ranges and overlooks vast swaths of trees and granite, meadows and forested hiking. At slightly over three miles in, and after some of the heaviest climbing on the trail, you come to the vista that can make you stop hiking and just gaze at the landscape. As you look to the south, you can see mountain peaks in the distance – probably in the Stanislaus National Forest – some with snow on them. If there are clouds in the over them, it’s an even more powerful view. Continue reading “Hiking Thunder Mountain”

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Carson Pass to Fourth of July Peak

A summer wildflower explosion of color lines the trail from Carson Pass to Winnemucca Lake with Round Top Mountain the background.
A summer wildflower explosion of color lines the trail from Carson Pass to Winnemucca Lake with Round Top Mountain the background.

Ihave written about hiking to Round Top Lake and Winnemucca Lake in a previous post, but I want to revisit the hike from a different way. If you like summer wildflowers, this is absolutely the hike for you.

Instead of starting out at Woods Lake, on this hike you start from Carson Pass, just a few more miles up on Highway 88.

The wildflower display on the trail to Winnemucca Lake, I’m told, is “world renowned.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I can attest to the beauty along the trail to the lake like I’ve never encountered on in the wild before. There is lupine, Indian Paintbrush, and a host of flowers I don’t know the names of, but are blue, purple, yellow and white. It’s an explosion of color, and in all the times I’ve hiked this trail, I’ve seen not only hikers, but photographers out on the trail too. About 1.5 miles in, you get into the wildflower burst. There is some uphill, but it’s not bad to this point, so it’s more than worth going just for this. If you were to just go to Winnemucca Lake and turn back, the wildflowers alone would make it a five-star day and the lake a bonus. Continue reading “Carson Pass to Fourth of July Peak”

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Carson Emigrant National Recreation Trail

The Carson Emigrant National Recreation Trail offers scenic views of Caples Lake and the surrounding mountains.
The Carson Emigrant National Recreation Trail offers scenic views of Caples Lake and the surrounding mountains.

The Carson Emigrant National Recreation Trail is not too often hiked but is a walk with history. As you hike it, it’s difficult to imagine how thousands of people in covered wagons made it along this terrain, and this trail isn’t anywhere near other difficult terrain they encountered on their way up Covered Wagon Peak. You won’t go that far if you turn around where I did, but you can. Continue reading “Carson Emigrant National Recreation Trail”

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Hiking to Round Top Lake to Winnemucca Lake

Round Top Lake sits below the Sisters, which tower over the lake at 9,000 feet in elevation.
Round Top Lake sits below the Sisters, which tower over the lake at 9,000 feet in elevation.

Normally, I wouldn’t rate a hiking trail like Round Top Lake to Winnemucca Lake with a 🟠. It’s not a difficult hike, but the altitude might slow you down as you approach the 9000-foot mark. Even if it makes you huff and puff, it’s well worth it.

This hike has fantastic views as you approach Round Top Lake and look behind you to the north down on Caples Lake and the mountains beyond. Leaving the small parking lot, you’ll cross over Woods Creek on a bridge and then shortly after you’ll leave the pavement to your right and start hiking the trail. Continue reading “Hiking to Round Top Lake to Winnemucca Lake”

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Hike Lovers Leap Trail

The view from the top of Lovers Leap is sweeping.
The view from the top of Lovers Leap is sweeping.

Though short, hiking up Lovers Leap trail is one tough climb. You start to feel the pull almost immediately once stepping onto the trail, and it doesn’t stop until you make it almost to the top as you hike under thick pine most of the way. Following the trail takes you to the top of the end point, which is the highlight of the trail. Continue reading “Hike Lovers Leap Trail”

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Hiking Big Meadow Trail to Round Lake

Big Meadow is vast and the trail cuts through it on the way to Round Lake.
Big Meadow is vast and the trail cuts through it on the way to Round Lake.

If you like hiking through meadows like I do, then this hike through Big Meadow is absolutely for you.

The hike starts off at the Big Meadow trailhead parking lot just off Highway 89 on Luther Pass, which is part of the larger Tahoe Rim Trail. You hike a pleasant .1 a mile before you come upon Highway 89 and have to cross it. Listen for traffic, as you should be able to hear it before you can see it coming around the corners. Continue reading “Hiking Big Meadow Trail to Round Lake”

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Hiking Around Loon Lake

Loon Lake from the trail.
Loon Lake from the trail.

There’s nothing difficult about hiking this scenic trail along Loon Lake on the Rubicon Trail, which offers picturesque images of the lake if you venture off the forested trail a little bit for the views. Along the way you will hike past granite rocks and hills as the trail is a gateway to Desolation Wilderness. This hike is purely about the scenery and not much of a challenge, as the trail is nicely maintained. Continue reading “Hiking Around Loon Lake”

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