Mount Shasta Area | Lassen Area | Trinity Alps | Shasta-Trinity NF | Klamath NF | Redwood Coast | Wine Country | Bay Area | Sierra Nevada | Hiking Advice
I've just provided a 2018 update to my Trinity Alps trail conditions post. The main upshot: it looks like there will not be weekly updates of the PDF file that had been created by Jim Holmes of the Weaverville Ranger Station for many years. (Jim … [Continue reading]
Day hike or backpack to the twin summits capping Snow Mountain Wilderness for expansive views of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and much of Northern California. 2020: Snow Mountain Wilderness Trails Closed Due to 2018 Ranch Fire through … [Continue reading]
The Heart Lake National Recreation Trail offers day hikers and backpackers a beautiful trek through Lassen National Forest to a lake just west of Lassen Volcanic National Park. It offers plenty of natural beauty, and the chance for solitude. Note: in … [Continue reading]
The Caribou Wilderness hiking trails to Triangle Lake, Twin Lakes, and Turnaround Lakes offer backpackers and day hikers both natural beauty and solitude. This article has a full trail description, detailed directions to the trailhead, and a … [Continue reading]
The post provides a brief introduction to the intriguing human history and natural history of Shasta Lake, along with a list of Shasta Lake hiking trails, all of which are either in my book Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions … [Continue reading]
Want to go hiking or backpacking in your favorite wilderness, national park, or state park in the western United States, but you're not sure of the smoke conditions and the air quality because of all those summer wildfires?This post will help. I … [Continue reading]
I'm very happy to announce that I've recently signed contracts with my publisher, The Mountaineers Books, for a fourth edition of 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California and an expansion of 75 Hikes in California's Mount Shasta and Lassen Volcanic … [Continue reading]
Backpackers and day hikers need to know the conditions of Trinity Alps Wilderness trails and trailhead access roads before they begin their explorations of this beautiful and remote region in Northern California. I discuss the main source for trail … [Continue reading]
National Trails Day 2015 is this Saturday, June 6th.What Exactly Is National Trails Day? It's a national program run by the American Hiking Society to promote awareness and improvement of trails throughout the United States. Different public, … [Continue reading]
The hiking trails of Anderson Marsh State Historic Park near Northern California's Clear Lake in Lake County offer rolling foothills, spring wildflowers, historic buildings, and views of surrounding mountains. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is … [Continue reading]
The Canyon Creek Lakes and Boulder Creek Lakes are likely the most popular backpacking destinations in the Trinity Alps, and for good reason. The trails have everything a backpacker wants: roaring creeks with waterfalls, verdant meadows, abundant … [Continue reading]
In between hiking in northern California and southern Oregon I've written a new e-book: Find Your Freelance Writing Niches: Make More Money for Less Work.I know most of you are hikers, but I also know that some of you are writers. You can find … [Continue reading]
I've been exploring the Russian Wilderness in northern California over the last two summers. Here are my best videos from my Northern California Hiking Trails Youtube channel. Enjoy! Big Duck LakePaynes LakeBig Blue LakeSouthern Russian … [Continue reading]
Stephanie and I just saw the excellent documentary film Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago here in Ashland, Oregon. This hike has been on my radar for the last couple of years, never more so than now! Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago … [Continue reading]
Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park offers great views of the lake and also other landmarks, including Mount Thielsen.Stephanie and I spent two days in the area last week. We camped in the park the first night and outside the park on BLM … [Continue reading]
Michael Kauffmann of Backcountry Press is the author of Conifer Country: A Natural History and Hiking Guide to 35 Conifers of the Klamath Mountain Region. I've been very impressed and very informed by Michael's Conifer Country blog, and he has … [Continue reading]
Hiking/backpacking to Big Bear Lake and Little Bear Lake in the Trinity Alps is one of my favorite far northern California excursions. Trailhead access is easy, and I quickly get into beautiful sub-alpine granite wilderness. Note that the trail … [Continue reading]
Many hikers and outdoors recreation enthusiasts use private land with the owners' permission. However, a federal court ruling regarding the 2007 Moonlight Fire on Sierra Pacific land may have a major impact on that.Here's a press release I just … [Continue reading]
I did a fantastic hike to Little Bear Lake in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. It started with a steep 3000-foot climb on the trail to Big Bear Lake, followed by a moderate 1-mile cross-country scramble over granite.From my Northern California Hiking … [Continue reading]
Stephanie and I went backpacking to Russian Lake in the Russian Wilderness of far northern California last weekend. Stunning, and we had a lot of solitude. There are also several campsites around the lake, so even if there are other groups, it's not … [Continue reading]
Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) in partnership with the National Park Service announced the 2012 Point Reyes Trails Challenge today. The program is a fun and exciting way to inspire novice and experienced hikers to explore the Point … [Continue reading]
The California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) has released a video commemorating its tenth year of awarding its State Parks Legacy Award to deserving state park heroes. The Legacy Award recognizes the efforts of policymakers who have demonstrated an … [Continue reading]
A Paradise, California man claims he was attacked by a mountain lion and saved by a mother bear, and that he played patty-cake with the bear's cub on an earlier occasion. Robert Biggs Claims a Mountain Lion Attack... The story about Robert Biggs, … [Continue reading]
California State Parks supporters/trail hikers: important event happening tomorrow, March 20, in our state capitol. It's the... Tenth Annual Park Advocacy Day Advocates to Highlight Efforts to Defend State Parks, Feature Problems Already Happening … [Continue reading]
Could be fun! They're looking for contestants.Here's a press release I just received...The Boy Scouts of America have recently announced a partnership with Original Productions and the National Geographic Channel to produce “Are You Tougher … [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!
