Shasta | Lassen | Trinity Alps | Redwood Coast | Sierra Nevada | Bay Area
Remoteness and lush creek-side vegetation lure hikers to the Sugarloaf Creek trail near Shasta Lake. Sugarloaf Creek runs year-round, and originates a few miles northwest of the trailhead. The trail itself parallels the creek, and always stays on the … [Continue reading]
Hike to Smith Lake beside California's Russian Wilderness and enjoy the deep-blue waters and surrounding steep granite. Fishing is good, but campsites are basically nonexistent. Note: Smith Lake is actually just outside the Russian Wilderness on the … [Continue reading]
Subway Cave and the Hat Creek Trail are on opposite sides of Highway 89 in Lassen National Forest near Cave Campground. And their opposites in another sense: Subway Cave takes you deep underground in a dark, cool, and still lava tube, while the Hat … [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 both of my hiking guidebooks. Where to Buy in … [Continue reading]
Sims Flat along the upper Sacramento River has a hiking trail around the campground perimeter, and you can hike the west river bank in either direction to great swimming holes. There's also good fishing!Sims Flat makes a great place to … [Continue reading]
The intriguing Darlingtonia Trail in the Smith River National Recreation Area of Six Rivers National Forest is on the north side of Highway 199. You've likely seen the sign for "Botanical Trail" when traveling Highway 199 to and from Jedediah Smith … [Continue reading]
The Sugar Lake Trail takes you into the beautiful glacial granite of the Russian Wilderness. It's a great option for day hikers and backpackers who want solitude along with stunning scenery.Sugar Lake "Miracle Mile" Conifer Diversity The … [Continue reading]
Autumn is a great season for hiking the mountain trails of Northern California, especially at the peak of fall color. Here are the pros and cons of autumn hiking, along with some advice. (Some of this advice also applies to spring backpacking in … [Continue reading]
Take a scenic hike on the Klamath section of the Coastal Trail to Hidden Beach, with the option to explore the Yurok Loop Trail. Get world-class views of the vast Pacific Ocean, redwood-clad slopes, and the mouth of the Klamath River, plus enjoy the … [Continue reading]
Nestled under Lassen Volcanic National Park's Chaos Crags, Crags Lake is reached by a moderate hiking trail that sees relatively few visitors, but is located near Manzanita Lake Campground. But the hike is worth the effort to enjoy the stark … [Continue reading]
Hiking the Sierra Buttes Trail wins you one of the best views in the Northern Sierra Nevada, ranging from Lassen Peak in the north to the Desolation Wilderness in the south. You’ll have to do some steep climbing, and you’ll have to mount steep stairs … [Continue reading]
The Manzanita Creek Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park offers hikers meadows, wildflowers, vistas of Lassen Peak, Chaos Crags, and Loomis Peak -- and a fair amount of solitude. It's a great moderate day hike that leaves from the Manzanita Lake … [Continue reading]
The Carr Fire near Redding in Northern California and other recent wildfires like the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa demonstrate the danger of wildfire to property and human lives. But what practical approaches can we adopt individually and … [Continue reading]
Hiking the trail to the summit of Ellis Peak rewards you with views of Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness, Granite Chief Wilderness, and a vast swath of the Northern Sierra Nevada. You'll also see lots of summer wildflowers and you'll walk through a … [Continue reading]
Surviving a wildfire you encounter while day hiking or backpacking is definitely possible. This post gives key wildfire-survival hiker safety tips to decrease the chance you'll be caught in a wildfire -- and to increase your chance of survival if you … [Continue reading]
Ken DeCamp's all-color Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps is a beautiful book covering 505 wildflower species. Here Ken discusses the book, his favorite Trinity Alps wildflower hikes, and the course of his career as a photographer and writer. Where to … [Continue reading]
Hiking the French Hill Trail in the Smith River National Recreation Area of the Six Rivers National Forest is well worth the effort. You’ll have solitude, you’ll gain good views of Siskiyou Wilderness and nearby ridges and slopes, and you’ll see a … [Continue reading]
Hike the trail to Ruffey Lake and Meeks Meadow Lake for a day, or backpack in and camp overnight. Ruffey Lake and Meeks Meadow Lake lie just below Etna Mountain in Klamath National Forest, just north of the Russian Wilderness. Both are sweet little … [Continue reading]
Lassen Volcanic National Park hosts a wide variety of hiking trails that will appeal to day hikers and backpackers of all levels of ability. Some trails are flat, short, and easy, while others are steep, long, and challenging. But all reward you … [Continue reading]
Hikers, want to go hiking or backpacking in your favorite California wilderness, national park, or state park, but all those wildfires have you uncertain about smoke conditions and air quality?This post will help. I list nearly two dozen ways you … [Continue reading]
The Pacific Crest Trail travels through the rugged Trinity Alps Wilderness from Scott Mountain Summit to Carter Meadows Summit. This post provides PCT section hikers/backpackers details of lakes, campsites, connecting trails, along with a topographic … [Continue reading]
Hike peaceful redwood groves and rugged coastline: more info.
Check out the new fourth edition of 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California. Completely updated!
