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Welcome to Northern California Hiking Trails!

I’m John Soares, a long-time writer of hiking guidebooks published by Mountaineers Books. Click the pics below to get details about each of my books — and visit my blog for hundreds of articles about hiking trails and other hiking info.

John’s Recent Articles

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  Trail Gulch and Long Gulch Lakes Loop: 2022 Hike Report After the 2021 River Complex Fire
  by John Soares
  July 15, 2022
  I hiked the Trail Gulch Lake/Long Gulch Lake loop on July 8, 2022. Here’s my report of trail conditions, lake conditions, and how the two drainages and other nearby Trinity […]
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  Download This PDF Gear Checklist for Boondocking, Dispersed Camping, and Campgrounds
  by John Soares
  May 21, 2022
  Here’s the complete list of gear you need for whenever and wherever you head out to do boondocking/dispersed camping. The list is also perfect for your campground adventures. Click Here […]
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  Hike Beautiful Burney Falls Trails in 2022
  by John Soares
  May 12, 2022
  Burney Falls is one of America’s most stunning waterfalls. This article has everything you need to make the most out of your visit: details of hiking trails with a trail […]
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  Hedge Creek Falls Trail: Easy Hike Beside I-5
  by John Soares
  May 2, 2022
  The Hedge Creek Falls Trail is easy and convenient: just pop off I-5 in Dunsmuir and quickly descend to the sweet little waterfall. You’ll also get views of Mount Shasta […]
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  Hike the High California Mountains Early in 2022 — Before Summer Wildfires and Smoke
  by John Soares
  March 27, 2022
  Making your 2022 summer plans for backpacking and day hiking in California? I urge you to go earlier rather than later. Why? Two main reasons…
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  New Day-Hiking and Walking Notebooks/Journals: Capture All the Details and Memories
  by John Soares
  March 3, 2022
  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 […]
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  2022 Dispersed Camping/Boondocking Changes: Updates to my Camp for Free Book
  by John Soares
  January 28, 2022
  2022 will continue to see more rule changes for and restrictions on dispersed camping/boondocking in the United States. These changes and restrictions accelerated in 2020 and 2021 as more and […]
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  2022 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments
  by John Soares
  January 1, 2022
  There are six free-entrance days  in 2022 for national parks and national monuments in Northern California. Hike your favorite trails, picnic, explore, and enjoy nature with your friends and family. […]
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  Give the Gift of Hiking and Camping Books This Year!
  by John Soares
  November 22, 2021
  Looking for the perfect inexpensive 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 […]
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  Hiking to Enderts Beach Via the Coastal Trail: One of the Top North Coast Hikes!
  by John Soares
  October 21, 2021
  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 […]
• 
  Myrtle Beach: Superb Smith River Swimming Hole
  by John Soares
  August 23, 2021
  Here are all the details on Myrtle Beach, a primo swimming hole on the Smith River just outside Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
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  National Forest Closures in Northern California Due to Wildfire Danger
  by John Soares
  August 20, 2021
  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 […]

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