California

The Little Lakes Valley located in the John Muir Wilderness provides easy access to spectacular views of High Sierra peaks as well as a long list of beautiful alpine lakes. The area is accessed via the Mono Pass Trail starting from Mosquito Flat/Little Lakes Trailhead.  From the trailhead at the...

With a profusion of titanic trees and an ever expanding landscape, the extraordinary Boy Scout Tree Trail is not so much a hike as it is a showcase of the world's most scenic old growth redwoods. Located within Redwood National and State Parks, this pristine trail feels wonderfully remote. Hardly...

If you decide to head over to Wrightwood for some skiing during the winter, make sure to get a hike in while you’re at it. There are several trail systems along the Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2), and one of them is scenic Big Horn Mine Trail. The end point of the hike is the historic and abandone...

While all of the hiking trails to the Wolf Mountain summit cross private land, Wolf Mountain Road provides public access to several excellent viewpoints overlooking the Central Valley and the nearby ruins of old radio towers.To get there take McCourtney Road west from CA Highway 49/20 and go 3.2 ...

This 5.1 mile hike begins near the visitor center of Anza Borrego Desert State Park and gains 974 feet of elevation while climbing up a canyon to a small waterfall. It is an interesting hike as you can see the plant life change as you get closer to the waterfall. There are parts where the trail g...

Not a trail per se, but approximately 3 miles (down and back) of beautiful beach to walk down. Lots of interesting caves, wild animals, and rock formations to discover. This is a popular location for sea kayakers. San Gregorio State Beach was originally founded to protect the estuary at the back ...

To get to the trail, use the address 27800 Mulholland Highway, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. This will take you to a dirt pull off right off the Mulholland Highway. At the southern part of the pull off, you'll see a dirt path leading up and away from the road. This is the Cistern Trail Trailhead. You'l...

The first step of this fun little hike is to park at the handy parking lot located at 2488 Cherokee Rd., Oroville, CA up on Table Mountain. Many people park here for the hike to the more well-known Phantom Falls, which is a much longer hike than the one to Hollow Falls. From the lot, look for an ...

Directions The trailhead for Long Lake starts by South Lake outside Bishop, CA. You'll want to take Line Street, which is the 168, West out of Bishop. Approximately 14 miles up, you'll want to merge left towards South Lake. This junction is well-signed if you keep an eye out for it. Head th...

There are two trail heads for the Blue Ridge Trail, one via the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center, and the other across from Inspiration Point. When parking gets crowded over at Grassy Hollow Visitor Center, than parking at Inspiration Point is the better option. To access the Blue Ridge Trail from In...

At first glance the Anza-Borrego desert appears lifeless, a wasteland of rocky plain peaks rising up from Carrizo Plains covered in Cholla cactus and Ocotillo. But one of the surprises is a mirage of California fan palm groves hidden in a series of canyons.The Mountain Palm Springs oasis loop is ...

The summer months of June, July, and August tend to provide the best views of the stars, and particularly in August during the meteor showers. Amateur astronomers often gather on Saturdays during the summer, and provide first hand knowledge and guidance. Glacier Point can accommodate hundreds of ...

Every spring, a few plants and flowers spring up from the driest place in North America, California's Death Valley National Park. Knowing where to go is important, but not as important as knowing when to go. Wildflower season only lasts a few weeks before daytime temps hit 80º and the flowers go ...

Once you reach the Lava Beds National Monument stop by the visitors center to pay your fees, grab a map, and empty your bladder. From there you will drive your car up the road from the visitors center to Skull Cave.The visitors center will give you map and answer any questions you have. From the ...

You can park at the Jumbo Rocks Campground to start this quick hike. There are two parking locations for this campground and it will be easiest if you use the first one you see, rather than going farther off the road and right next to the campsites. To start the hike, start going north and immedi...

This loop begins at the Tall Trees Trailhead.  To access this parking area, you must have a permit that you can obtain from the Kuchel ranger station.  The gate is locked.  When you get the permit, the ranger will also give you the combination to the gate.  Once you drive through, close the gate ...