I've heard great things about Vasco Caves Regional Preserve and we just got some big news: East Bay Regional Parks District has just acquired more land for it.Here's the news straight from the East Bay Regional Park District about the Vasco Caves … [Continue reading]
Yosemite National Park’s Tioga Road and Glacier Point Roads Closed For Winter
Well, winter's officially here in my books. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park are closed for the winter:The Tioga and Glacier Point Roads in Yosemite are closed for the season. These roads close each fall and remain … [Continue reading]
Free Entrance to National Parks on Veterans’ Day this Wednesday
National Parks and most federally managed lands are letting everyone in for free on Wednesday, November 11. Here's the press release from Lassen Volcanic National Park:To honor America's service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken … [Continue reading]
Wilderness Land Trust Protects 320 Acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest
The Wilderness Land Trust just reported two important land acquisitions in two of my favorite California wilderness areas: the Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Mount Shasta Wilderness, which both have a lot of hiking trails.The Wilderness Land … [Continue reading]
How to Survive a Bear Attack
Northern California outdoors photographer Ken DeCamp pointed me to this hilarious video about how to survive a bear attack. Enjoy! And read this about how Ken survived a black bear attack in the Trinity Alps. … [Continue reading]
Pacific Crest Trail Maintenance in Castle Crags State Park This Saturday
The Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Mount Shasta Trail Association (I'm on the board of directors) are co-sponsoring trail maintenance work on the Pacific Crest Trail section in Castle Crags State Park this Saturday, October 24th, … [Continue reading]
Campfire Restrictions Removed on Many National Forests in California, 2009
If you're still willing to camp during these cold and long autumn nights, then I have some welcome news for you: fire restrictions are being lifted on the national forests in many parts of the state, so you can enjoy a cozy and warming campfire after … [Continue reading]
Hiking Black Butte Trail Near Mount Shasta
The Black Butte Trail climbs steeply up volcanic Black Butte just west of Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County. It's a day hike that will give you a good workout, and it features stunning views of Mount Shasta, Mount Eddy, Castle Crags, and the Trinity … [Continue reading]
Three American Hikers Detained by Iran: Sign an Online Petition Requesting Their Release
Here is the situation on the three detained American hikers in a nutshell: Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd have been detained in Iran since July 31, 2009, when news reports say they accidentally crossed an unmarked border during a hiking … [Continue reading]
California Coastal Clean-Up Day: Help Keep Your Favorite California Hiking Beaches Trash-Free
California Coastal Clean-Up Day is this Saturday, September 19. If you're like me, you love hiking on beaches and coastal trails. When I lived in Crescent City, I walked Pebble Beach twice every day. (My golden retrievers insisted on it.)Here's … [Continue reading]
How Extended Travel Can Change Us
This is a comment I just posted on my friend Robert Francisco's travel blog. He's on a long journey of exploration in Asia. Here's a comment I made on one of his recent posts from South Korea:Before I left on my 1985 nine-month journey to Europe, … [Continue reading]
Guided Hike on the New Papoose Trail at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
I've written recently about hiking opportunities at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area/Whiskeytown Lake.Now you have several chances to take a guided hike on the new Papoose Trail at Whiskeytown. Here's the relevant information from the … [Continue reading]
Hiking in Chico and at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area over Labor Day Weekend
My partner Stephanie and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Anderson for my mom's 75th birthday party, and then on to Chico for two days or exploring Bidwell Park trails, the Chico State University campus, and the downtown area. Yesterday we … [Continue reading]
Hiking the Trail to Lake Margaret in the Sierra Nevada
This easy hiking trail takes you to the granite heights of the Sierra Nevada, Lake Margaret in Eldorado National Forest just off Highway 88. It makes a great day hike or an overnight backpacking trip for the whole family.Note: This is Hike 4 … [Continue reading]
Walking and Tai Chi on the Beach at Beautiful Bandon, Oregon
I just spent three and a half days walking the beaches of beautiful Bandon, Oregon. I was at a tai chi/internal martial arts workshop in the picturesque small town that stretches along some of the most beautiful coastline I've ever seen.I picked … [Continue reading]
Lassen Peak Trail Closed until at least 2010 Because of Recent Rockfall Death
The recent tragic death from a rockfall/avalanche on the Lassen Peak Trail has led Lassen Volcanic National Park officials to close the last 1.2 miles of the trail to the summit of Lassen Peak.From a Lassen Volcanic National Park press … [Continue reading]
Beach Walking at Bandon, Oregon
I'll be spending the next few days in Bandon, Oregon at an internal martial arts workshop. All the classes take place on the beach and are taught by many talented instructors, including my tai chi teacher Gene Burnett of Ashland, Oregon and Joel … [Continue reading]
Environmental Resources Programs at College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California
As most regular readers of the Northern California Hiking Trails blog know, I live in Siskiyou County near Mount Shasta, one of the major hiking heavens of the western United States.There's an excellent opportunity for outdoors lovers who want to … [Continue reading]
Visit Your National Parks for Free This Weekend — August 15-16
I wrote last month about the National Park Service's free weekend for July. Well, they're doin' it again this weekend, August 15-16.Here's the list of all the national parks in California, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada. Get out there and hike those … [Continue reading]
August Hike of the Month — Lake Aloha, Lake of the Woods, and Ropi Lake in Desolation Wilderness
Desolation Wilderness ranks as one of my absolute favorite places on Earth. Jagged granite peaks, lush meadows, expansive alpine lakes -- it's my favorite scenery.The Hike of the Month explores Desolation Wilderness via a hike to Lake Aloha, Lake … [Continue reading]
Pacific Crest Trail Hikers Urged to Detour Around the Sugarloaf Fire in Section O
Update from Lassen National Forest on August 7, 2009: Pacific Crest Trail section near Hat Creek is closed: The Lassen National Forest is closing a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) through an area that leads into the Hat Creek Fire Complex … [Continue reading]
Hikers, Backpackers, and Campers: New Fire Restrictions on California National Forests
Most of California has been relatively free of major wildfires, at least compared to recent past years. And to help keep it that way, most, and perhaps all, of the national forests have recently imposed restrictions on campfires and other activities … [Continue reading]
Rockfall Death Closes Lassen Peak Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Very sad news about a hiking tragedy in Lassen Volcanic National Park's Lassen Peak Trail: a rockfall killed a young boy. A take-home message for all of us: watch out when you are around slopes. They can be life-threatening. Read more here about … [Continue reading]
Hikers vs. Marijuana Growers near Northern California Trails
Hikers on Northern California trails need to be aware of the potential danger they face from people illegally growing marijuana on public lands, usually national forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.Marijuana is legal to grow and use … [Continue reading]
Where I’ve Been Hiking This Summer
I've actually done quite a few hikes this summer, though only a few have so far made it into this blog. Why? It takes a lot of time to process and resize the photos with Adobe Photoshop Elements, and also write the text and do all the other things it … [Continue reading]
