Category: Loop

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Hiking Olmstead Loop in the Auburn State Recreation Area

Tall grasses protrude from a pond in the foreground with oak tree covered foothills behind the pond.
One of the ponds at the Auburn State Recreation Area emerges as you hike along the Olmstead Loop Trail from the canopy. This is one of three ponds in the 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 Maze at Joshua Tree National Park

The desert landscape on the Maze hike is full of desert vegetation, trees, and land formations.
The desert landscape on the Maze hike is full of desert vegetation, trees, and land formations.

I’ve heard for years about The Maze at Joshua Tree National Park, and I finally got the opportunity to hike it. Maybe it was because of the hype I heard that I was expecting more than what it offered, but even with that said, I was in no way disappointed.

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Hiking the Grand Loop at Mount Diablo State Park

The view from Mount Diablo can be stunning when the surrounding hills are green.
The view from Mount Diablo can be stunning when the surrounding hills are green.

The views from Grand Loop Hike at Mount Diablo  State Park are sweeping from all directions, and we wanted to see what we could see from the grand loop hike. While worth it, this is not an easy hike.

We hiked the trails that circled the top of Mount Diablo in February to see the hills when they were green and to avoid summer heat exhaustion and dehydration issues. The scenery was beautiful, and we could see into downtown San Francisco in the distance as we looked out from above the Juniper Campground on an offshoot trail.

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Hiking Sunset Trail, Mount Livermore and North Ridge Trail on Angel Island

The views from the top of Angel Island offer a 360 degree view of the San Francisco Bay.
The views from the top of Angel Island offer a 360 degree view of the San Francisco Bay.

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 Vasquez Rocks Natural Park Area

The iconic Vasquez Rocks, made famous by Star Trek and other films and television are a fantastic place to hike.
The iconic Vasquez Rocks, made famous by Star Trek and other films and television are a fantastic place to hike.

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”

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Hiking Cronan Ranch: River Trail to West Ridge Trail Loop

On a clear day, from Sky Ridge Trail at Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park, you see the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range as you look east.
On a clear day, from Sky Ridge Trail at Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park, you see the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range as you look east.

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 Bald Mountain at Sugarloaf State Park

The view from Bald Mountain is sweeping. This panoramic photograph does not capture the curvature of the earth as you turn 360 degrees to look around you.
The view from Bald Mountain is sweeping. This panoramic photograph does not capture the curvature of the earth as you turn 360 degrees to look around you.

You have to work for it, but the view from the top of Bald Mountain is spectacular on a clear day. What makes it so spectacular is that as you take in a 360 degree view from the top, you can see the earth curve as you turn your head from landmark to landmark in all directions – something no picture can capture.

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Hiking Juniper Lake to Horseshoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake is peacefully serene in the morning. Stop and take it in.
Horseshoe Lake is peacefully serene in the morning. Stop and take it in.

Horseshoe Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park offers an awesome view, and is what makes this hike worth it. I got to experience the lake early in the morning before I saw any other hikers. It was beautiful, and even though I consider the entire hike the destination, just looking at Horseshoe Lake is a destination. Continue reading “Hiking Juniper Lake to Horseshoe Lake”

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Hiking the Steep Ravine Trail – Dipsea Trail Loop

The Steep Ravine Trail on Mount Tamalpias follows Webb Creek through a lush Redwood forest.
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”

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