The Steep Ravine Trail on Mount Tamalpias follows Webb Creek through a lush Redwood forest.
If you like hiking under Redwood trees next to running water and waterfalls, then the Steep Raving Trail is the hike for you if you do it at the right time of the year. By that, it’s good to go during or after a good rain when the waterfalls will be flowing.
The trail is called Steep Ravine for a reason. You will descend 1,084 feet on a 9 percent grade slightly over 2 miles. For the most part, it’s gentle, but the beginning is steep. If the water is running, it’s worth it. Continue reading “Hiking the Steep Ravine Trail – Dipsea Trail Loop”
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”
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”
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”
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 “Round Top Lake to Winnemucca Lake”
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”
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”
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”
