Mount Shasta Area | Lassen Area | Trinity Alps | Shasta-Trinity NF | Klamath NF | Redwood Coast | Wine Country | Bay Area | Sierra Nevada | Hiking Advice
The hike to Enderts Beach on the Coastal Trail packs a lot of beauty into its short length: sweeping vistas of ocean and cliff; lush, green forests; the canyon of Nickel Creek; and Enderts Beach itself, with its steep cliffs and opportunities for … [Continue reading]
Here are all the details on Myrtle Beach, a primo swimming hole on the Smith River just outside Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. … [Continue reading]
NEWER UPDATE: Most California national forests will reopen on September 16, 2021. Areas impacted by wildfires will still be closed, so check with the specific national forest ranger district before planning hiking and travel.Update: all national … [Continue reading]
Do you love day hiking? Ever wish you had a cool notebook/journal so you could record all the important details of your day hikes, along with nature observations, your most vivid memories, and the main things you want to remember for next … [Continue reading]
Hike the Shasta area's iconic Heart Lake Trail in 2025 on the recently rerouted path. This article has all the details of everything you need to know to enjoy this popular hike, including a detailed trail description, trailhead directions, and a … [Continue reading]
Walking the lower, middle, and upper falls of the McCloud River is one of the premier hikes in the Mount Shasta area. This post has everything you need, including a detailed description of the trail, directions to the trailhead, a map, and several … [Continue reading]
Making your summer plans for backpacking and day hiking in California? I urge you to go earlier rather than later.Why? Two main reasons... … [Continue reading]
Faery Falls on Ney Springs Creek is one of the most beautiful spots in the entire Mount Shasta area. The fifty-foot waterfall is just a short 0.8 mile hike, and the route also travels through the ruins of intriguing Ney Springs Resort. This article … [Continue reading]
Hidden Falls Regional Park near Auburn contains an extensive network of hiking trails that run near the year-round streams Coon Creek and Deadman Creek, and also along steep hillsides dotted with oaks and pines and open hillsides filled with spring … [Continue reading]
My new all-color guidebook Urban Trails Sacramento is now widely available throughout Northern California! The book has the 35 best trails for hikers, walkers, and runners within an hour drive of downtown Sacramento.Go here for details of all the … [Continue reading]
If you hike long enough in the Trinity Alps or anywhere else in the mountains of Northern California, you’ll see a black bear. In my several dozen backpacking trips and day hikes in the Trinity Alps, I’ve probably seen a black bear about a third of … [Continue reading]
There are six free-entrance days in 2021 for national parks and national monuments in Northern California. Hike your favorite trails, picnic, explore, and enjoy nature with your friends and family.2021 Free Entrance Days to Northern California … [Continue reading]
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 guidebooks, or my … [Continue reading]
The Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail is an easy redwoods hike near the north end of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Most people drive right by it, usually because they're headed to the more popular hikes located farther south along Newton B. Drury Scenic … [Continue reading]
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 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]
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]
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]
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]
Do you love camping in solitude out in the beauty of nature? Then check out my new book Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America's Public Lands.For now, it's only for sale on Amazon, as both a 156-page paperback and as a … [Continue reading]
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 nine tips. … [Continue reading]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Hike peaceful redwood groves and rugged coastline: more info.
All my favorite hikes in my home territory! Details here.
Check out the new fourth edition of 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California. Completely updated!
