The climb up Iron Mountain near San Diego is a good climb. We didn’t take the direct route though; instead we took a longer hike up the Ellie Lane Trail. It was work, but it was worth it.
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Hiking Kickass Hill at the Auburn State Recreation Area
Kickass Hill in the Auburn State Recreation Area lives up to its name as soon as you start climbing. The hike is a complete workout and can give you a sense of accomplishment on a 31 percent grade over a heart pounding half mile.
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Hiking Vasquez Rocks Natural Park Area
See and stand where Captains Kirk and Picard once stood. If you’re a Star Trek fan, you’ll recognize the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park where several episodes and movies from the franchise have been filmed over the decades. But it’s also a really neat hiking place. Continue reading “Hiking Vasquez Rocks Natural Park Area”
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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Hiking the Burma Blast at Mount Diablo State Park
This hike up Burma Road, the Burma Blast, at Mount Diablo State Park is a son of a b*tch. So a friend really wanted to this hike because it was labeled the “the toughest hike in the Bay Area.” I don’t know if it’s the toughest, but it was a challenge. And the views over the Bay Area, to the north, east and south were worth it.
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Hiking Mountain Trail to Cowan Meadow Trail
Jack London State Historic Park is becoming one of my favorite places to hike. It has redwoods, oak forests, foothills, ridges and very scenic views. The hike up Mountain Trail to High Point is worth the effort and is spectacular.
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 London Lake.
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Hiking Snow Mountain East Peak
As when I wrote about my hike to the West Peak of Snow Mountain, the same two words apply: “peaceful desolation,” but the scenery has drastically changed since 2018 when I was there last.
A little less than a month after I hiked to the West Peak, the Ranch Fire broke out, and the area was closed for nearly two years for restoration. Then it was opened it up, but then the August Fire broke out in 2020, and the forest closed back down for a few months.
Hiking Fern Canyon Scenic Trail at Van Damme State Park
Up on the Northern California Coast just south of Fort Bragg in the Van Damme State Park is Fern Canyon. The deeper you go into the canyon, the better it gets. You will hike among the redwoods and lush ferns.
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Baton Flat to Wilson Valley (Redbud Trail)
This is a continuation of the Redbud Trail summary I wrote about in 2018. The total length of Redbud Trail (one way) is about 7.5 miles to Wilson Valley where it meets the Judge Davis Trail at Cache Creek. To read about the first 2.5 miles of the hike, see my Redbud Trail to Baton Flat summary. We pick up here at Baton Flat.
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River Canyon Trail at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
River Canyon Trail at Calaveras Big Trees State Park is the poorest maintained trail I’ve ever hiked. Parts of the trail should be closed as a safety hazard due to the poor upkeep of it. If the trail were maintained, this could be a really nice hike through the forest down to the North Fork of the Stanislaus River. Instead, I should have worn my heavier off-trail boots for parts of this trail.
I hate to start the hiking season off with a downer summary, but I want to get the word out before anybody might consider going to this state park.
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Hiking Caples Creek Trail to Government Meadow
The Caples Creek Trail follows the cascades of Caples Creek through the forest, and during June and July there are usually wildflowers along the way. The trail starts off on an incline that continues for a little more than 3.5 miles, but overall it isn’t a bad slope as you hike through the forest.
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Hiking Sky Trail to Sculptured Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore
Sky Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore is an awesome hike, and at the right time of the year when the wildflowers are in bloom, it’s a feast for the eyes. For the most part, the hike is not too difficult and is actually relaxing as you hike under the pine forests next to ferns and greenery.
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Hiking Schneider Camp Trail to Showers Lake Trail Junction
At the right time of the year, this is another “blow your mind” hike where wildflowers abound on the Schneider Camp Trail before you start the serious ascent to the junction that goes on to Showers Lake.
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