Northern California Hiking Trails - Shasta | Lassen | Trinity Alps | Redwood Coast | Sierra Nevada

My New Book on Dispersed Camping and Boondocking Now Available!

June 30, 2020 By John Soares 2 Comments

Do you love camping in solitude out in the beauty of nature? Then check out my latest book Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America’s Public Lands.

For now, it’s only for sale on Amazon, as both a 155-page paperback and as a Kindle ebook.

Click the button, or click here to order on Amazon.

There are plenty of details on the Amazon book page, and you can find out even more here at Northern California Hiking Trails.

I’ve been doing dispersed camping for over 30 years, nearly always combined with hiking, and I absolutely love it!

Hiking the PCT to Cement Bluff above Bluff Lake

October 21, 2020 By John Soares 2 Comments

China Mountain from the Pacific Crest Trail. View north from the PCT shortly after leaving the Parks Creek Saddle trailhead.

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to Cement Bluff above Bluff Lake is an attractive outing in its own right, with gorgeous views of Mount Eddy, Mount Shasta, and the Trinity Alps. This post provides trailhead directions, a map, and a detailed trail … [Continue reading]

Etna Summit: PCT Access and Gateway to the Russian Wilderness

September 16, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Russian Wilderness from Etna Summit. Etna Summit is a popular trailhead for Pacific Crest Trail through-hikers and section hikers, plus day hikers.

Etna Summit sits astride the Pacific Crest Trail and has stunning views of the Russian Wilderness and the Klamath Mountains surrounding the North Fork Salmon River, all part of Klamath National Forest. Easily reached by paved Sawyers Bar Road from … [Continue reading]

Redwood National and State Parks: Key Facts and Statistics

September 3, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Redwood National and State Parks Facts: old-growth redwood trees along the Hiouchi Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Truly a world treasure, Redwood National and State Parks includes Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. This post presents amazing facts and statistics … [Continue reading]

Brokeoff Mountain Trail: Better than Lassen Peak!

August 28, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Brokeoff Mountain meadow just below timberline. Note the extensive talus slope.

Need to pick between climbing Brokeoff Mountain or climbing Lassen Peak? Both are great hikes, but here are five reasons why I'd rather hike the Brokeoff Mountain Trail than the Lassen Peak Trail.I Prefer Climbing Brokeoff Mountain Rather than … [Continue reading]

Exploring Ridge Lakes and Sulphur Works in Lassen Volcanic National Park

July 30, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Ridge Lakes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, at the end of the hiking trail. Cross-country hiking to the ridge beyond is fairly easy.

Hiking the steep trail to the Ridge Lakes and beyond will win you some of the most spectacular scenery in Lassen Volcanic National Park, and also a surprising amount of solitude. The lakes are only 1.1 miles from the trailhead at the Sulphur Works … [Continue reading]

Want Solitude When Hiking? Follow These Six Tips…

June 9, 2020 By John Soares 3 Comments

You can find solitude while day hiking or backpacking in the California mountains. You must hike cross-country far from trails to find this secluded lake.

Want solitude in the wilderness, whether day hiking or backpacking? Sure, many trails are often crowded, but you can find lots of space to roam away from the crowds by following these six tips. … [Continue reading]

Exploring Intriguing Balcony and Boulevard Caves in Lava Beds National Monument

May 21, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Boulevard Cave, Lava Beds National Monument: entrance. It's a short distance on the trail beyond Balcony Cave.

Balcony Cave and Boulevard Cave are easy to hike to and are top highlights of Lava Beds National Monument. A short and level trail leaves from Lava Beds National Monument Road and quickly leads to both caves.Along the route you'll have open … [Continue reading]

Hike Beautiful Burstarse Falls via the Pacific Crest Trail

May 15, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Burstarse Falls on Burstarse Creek, Castle Crags Wilderness

Hiking to beautiful Burstarse Falls in Castle Crags Wilderness via the Pacific Crest Trail is an annual ritual for many North State hikers. Most come in spring, when warmer days melt the winter snow off the high granite peaks of Castle Crags, sending … [Continue reading]

Hikers Not Social Distancing During the Coronavirus Pandemic: My Unsettling Experience

March 22, 2020 By John Soares 5 Comments

Bad social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic: two hikers walk too close to another hiker on the Lower Table Rock Trail in Southern Oregon.

I hiked the Lower Table Rock Trail in Southern Oregon on Friday, March 20. Sadly, most hikers were NOT doing the social distancing necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus.Note: by Friday, March 20, 2020, all Americans should have known … [Continue reading]

Hike/Walk Locally During the Coronavirus Pandemic, and Do It Wisely

March 18, 2020 By John Soares 2 Comments

A short drive from Highway 101, Lost Man Creek Trail wanders through gorgeous scenery in Redwood National Park.

Californians, Americans, everyone: hiking and walking locally during the coronavirus pandemic is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health, as long as you do it locally and wisely. This post discusses why you should still … [Continue reading]

Walking Redding’s Turtle Bay Trails: Arboretum Loop from Sundial Bridge

March 1, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Sacramento River Banks and Sundial Bridge: Redding's Turtle Bay, near the Arboretum Loop Trail, perfect for walkers.

Redding's spectacular Turtle Bay offers walkers a wide variety of options: strolling the Sundial Bridge, exploring the McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and hiking the Arboretum Loop Trail and the Sacramento River Trail. … [Continue reading]

Climbing Mount Shasta Via Old Ski Bowl, Green Butte, and Avalanche Gulch: My Story

February 23, 2020 By John Soares 4 Comments

The sweaty story of the first time I climbed Mount Shasta, not the usual way from Bunny Flat, but via the Old Ski Bowl and Green Butte.I Wrote This Shasta Summit Article for Outdoor Adventure This is an article I wrote in 1998 for the magazine … [Continue reading]

Exploring Highway 101 North Redwood Coast Trails, Beaches, and More

January 26, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Highway 101 on the North Coast of California: beaches, redwoods, hiking trails, campgrounds... so much to explore!

The stretch of Highway 101 between Arcata and Crescent City travels through the most beautiful coastline and redwoods of California, especially in Redwood National & State Parks. This post provides a Highway 101 road mileage guide to the wide … [Continue reading]

2020 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments

January 9, 2020 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Free Entrance to Northern California National Parks: Vernal Falls, Yosemite. Martin Luther King birthday, first day of National Park Week, birthday of National Park Service, National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day.

There are five free-entrance days (no fee!) in 2020 for national parks and national monuments in Northern California. Hike your favorite trails, picnic, explore, and enjoy nature with your friends and family.2020 Free Entrance Days to Northern … [Continue reading]

Interested in Lassen Volcanic National Park Geology? New Book Has All the Details…

December 26, 2019 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Geology of the Lassen Country book cover. Written by geologists R. Forrest Hopson and Michael A. Clynne, and published by Backcountry Press.

If you're like me, when you're hiking the trails or driving the roads of Lassen Volcanic National Park, you often wonder about the geology of what you see: types of volcanoes, types of lava -- and just exactly how did glaciers affect the … [Continue reading]

Give the Gift of Hiking Guidebooks This Year!

November 27, 2019 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Northern California hiking guidebooks by John Soares. Day Hiking Mount Shasta, Lassen, & Trinity Alps Regions; Hike the Parks: Redwood National & State Parks; 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California.

Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoorsy people on your list, or the people you want to encourage to be outdoorsy?Then I humbly suggest buying your friends and family members one or more of my Northern California hiking … [Continue reading]

Best Whale Watching from Northern California Trails: Where, When, and How

November 19, 2019 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Humpback whale breaching. Humpback whales are common off the California Coast, including Del Norte County and Humboldt County.

Love whale watching in Northern California? Then hike coastal trails to spot gray, humpback, and blue, and fin whales from some of the prettiest coastline on the planet. … [Continue reading]

Exploring Cosumnes River Preserve’s Hiking Trails: Birding Paradise Beside I-5

November 13, 2019 By John Soares Leave a Comment

Sandhill cranes at Cosumnes River Preserve. Many waterfowl and other birds spend part of the winter here..

Hiking Cosumnes River Preserve's River Walk Trail, Wetlands Walk Trail, and Boardwalk Trail let you enjoy the natural beauty of this spectacular area, including myriad birds, a wide array of animal species, plus diverse riparian plant … [Continue reading]

California Hiking Map Review: Northern California

October 16, 2019 By John Soares 1 Comment

I recently bought the Northern California edition of the California Hiking Map, and I'm mightily impressed -- tons of trails! In this review I'll describe the main features of the map, share what I like most about it, and provide one suggestion for … [Continue reading]

Backpacking Snag Lake, Widow Lake, and Jakey Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park

August 8, 2019 By John Soares Leave a Comment

View from Inspiration Point by Juniper Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park: Snag Lake, Fantastic Lava Beds, Cinder Cone, and Prospect Peak.

Backpacking the trails to Snag Lake, Widow Lake, and Jakey Lake in the Lassen Volcanic Wilderness of Lassen Volcanic National Park is richly rewarding. You'll visit lakes large and small, along with a variety of volcanic landscapes, and you'll share … [Continue reading]