From the category archives:

Trail Write-Ups

Hiking the Devil’s Postpile

June 8, 2010

An under 6-mile trail in Devil’s Postpile National Monument. This is spectacular Sierra scenery all around, with the Wild and Scenic San Joaquin River, several waterfalls, and the Postpile itself – an exquisite example of columnnar basalt. While the Monument itself is small, it is nestled within the Inyo National Forest, with plenty of opportunities [...]

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Hiking Cathedral Lakes – Yosemite National Park

May 20, 2010

A 7 mile out-and-back on the John Muir Trail to a set of glacial lakes in the Yosemite Wilderness. This northern hike near Tuolumne Meadows offers some relatively easy hiking away from the crowds, with some fantastic scenery not usually associated with Yosemite National Park. No views of Half Dome or tourists biking along paved [...]

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Hiking Mount Lee to the Hollywood Sign

May 18, 2010

Get up close and personal with two of L.A.’s landmarks on this moderate 6.5 mile out-and-back in Griffith Park — the iconic Hollywood Sign AND the Batcave from the 60′s TV series “Batman.” This dog-friendly route is popular with local hikers, fitness buffs, and equestrians, and is a good way to tack a local workout [...]

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Hiking the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve

April 26, 2010

A short and easy but breathtaking stroll through the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve – a 1800 acre reserve of prime California poppy real estate. Accessible for just about everyone, this small unit of the State Park system is a must-see during bloom season, when the low hills become absolutely covered in carpets of orange. [...]

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Hiking North Dome and Indian Rock – Yosemite National Park

April 5, 2010

A moderate 9.5 mile hike to North Dome – a granite promontory with commanding views of Half Dome, Cloud’s Rest and the Yosemite Valley below. This meandering trail on the north rim of the valley is usually not crowded, providing a nice break from the throngs in the valley. The trail is mostly shaded, but [...]

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Hiking The High Sierra Loop – Yosemite National Park

March 23, 2010

A nearly 13 mile trail that hits some of the highlights of Yosemite National Park. This route starts out with a refreshing soak from Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail, then treats you to great views of Nevada Falls and Half Dome before giving wide vistas of the Valley Floor from the Panorama Trail and [...]

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Hiking Los Liones Trail to Parker Mesa

January 4, 2010

A 7.3 mile hike from the Pacific Palisades to a popular overlook in Topanga State Park. The first part of this hike – the Los Liones Trail – is one of the most lush riparian canyons I’ve seen in the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s gently graded, moderately shady, and definitely worth a look even if [...]

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Hiking San Gorgonio Mountain via South Fork Trail

September 22, 2009

The fact that San Gorgonio Mountain is the tallest peak in Southern California (11,502 feet) is reason enough to hike it – the breathtaking 360 degree vistas and stunning alpine scenery along the way are icing on the cake. This trip follows the South Fork Trail, approaching the peak from the north. It is longer [...]

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Hiking Mount Islip

August 18, 2009

A mostly shaded, gently graded 7 mile hike to the mostly-exposed peak of Mount Islip. This hike offers unparalleled views of the Yerba Santa Ampitheatre and nearby middle peaks of the San Gabriels. There is also a well-maintained campground – Little Jimmy – on the route, which can make this a great stop on a [...]

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Hiking Throop Peak and Mount Hawkins

July 23, 2009

A just over 6 mile out-and-back trail to two prominent peaks to the west of Mount Baden-Powell. With a stretch of spectacularly-designed trail, lots of shade, and phenomenal scenery with not a whole lot of elevation gain, this is a great way to introduce yourself to this area of the San Gabriels and plot out [...]

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