Hiking Creamery Meadow, Bluffs, Panorama and Ridge Trail at Andrew Molera State Park
Hiking the Historic Orchard at Jack London State Historic Park
The hike to the Historic Orchard at Jack London State Historic Park is mild. The one-time 100 acre orchard once produced apples, apricots, pears, plums, and prunes. The orchard is a casual hike, but getting there is a hike up and down hills and through forests.
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Hiking Sunset Trail, Mount Livermore and North Ridge Trail on Angel Island
The views from the top of Mount Livermore on Angel Island State Park of the San Francisco Bay are incredible on a clear day. You can see the San Francisco Skyline, the East Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the hills of Marin County and much more.
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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 to the Painted Dunes at Lassen Volcanic National Park
The views from Cinder Cone over the Painted Dunes at Lassen Volcanic National Park offer an incredibly “artistic” view of the landscape. But if you want to see this incredible view, you will have to work for it.
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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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Hiking Lassen Peak Trail
The trail up to Lassen Peak is loaded with switchbacks and is nothing but a climb, but the trail itself is very nicely maintained and views get better and better the higher you go. Once you reach the top, you should feel a real sense of accomplishment.
Virginia Lakes Trail
Virginia Lakes in the Eastern Sierra’s is a feast for the eyes but a workout on the lungs. The peak on this trail reaches approximately 11,120 feet give or take, with a starting elevation of 9,846 feet.
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 to Ralston Peak
The views from Ralston Peak are some of the most spectacular I’ve seen. You’re looking out at Lake Tahoe, Lake of the Woods, Lake Aloha, Ralston Lake, Upper Echo Lake, Mt. Tallac, Pyramid Peak, Mt. Rose and so much more from 9239 feet.
Donner Peak, Mount Judah Hike
Hiking to Donner Peak is easy to moderate, and Donner Peak is the high-point of this hike – no question about it. Donner Peak overlooks Donner Lake, and once you make it there, you can take in the views and then head back the way you came. While there’s more, I won’t lie; I’d head back the way I came if I were to do this hike again.
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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