Bald Mountain in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Stunning views from Bald Mountain

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is a located in the heart of Sonoma County wine country. Last month, we hit the road to Northern California, spending a few days enjoying Sonoma — my first time visiting. There are many wonderful wineries and restaurants in the area, and of course, one of the wonderful benefits of hiking, is [...]

Mile… Mile & A Half

mt-whitney-muir-project

The team working on their multimedia documentary of their 2011 John Muir Trail hike has finished the official trailer, and it’s beautiful. Now titled Mile… Mile & A Half, the trailer gives you a little glimpse into what it’s like to hike this epic, 211-mile trail. Even after hiking the JMT twice, watching this trailer [...]

Batiquitos Lagoon Trail

Batiquitos Lagoon panorama

Batiquitos Lagoon in north San Diego County is one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the southern coast of the United States. Located between Carlsbad and Encinitas, the lagoon is managed as a wildlife preserve by the California Department of Fish and Game. This lagoon is home to several protected nesting areas and water [...]

San Onofre Loop to Cristianitos Fault

San Onofre State Beach

The Cristianitos Fault is a major earthquake fault line located less than one mile from the San Onofre nuclear power plant. This hike takes you on a 3.8 mile loop through San Onofre State Beach to the site of the fault line. Along the way, you’ll see the Monterey Formation, which holds most of the [...]

Exploring Doheny State Beach

Doheny is popular among beginning surfers

Doheny State Beach is a perfect place for a beach walk. There are towering palms, sailboats from nearby Dana Point Harbor, surfers, a wide assortment of birds, and beautiful coastal views. This is a great place to watch the sunset and unwind. This isn’t a “hike” per se, but a really great walk. It’s virtually [...]

Exploring South Carlsbad State Beach

Carlsbad State Beach at low tide

I have fond memories walking along the beach in Carlsbad. My grandparents retired to Carlsbad, and I’ve been there first with them, and later with my own kids. South Carlsbad State Beach is a great stretch of bluff-lined beach that makes a beautiful place to amble about, exploring the beach, enjoying the sunshine and the [...]

Crystal Cove Blue Route

Crystal Cove Pano East

Crystal Cove State Park is nestled in the coastal hills between Newport and Laguna Beach. The “Blue Loop” is a hiking trail that traces the boundaries of the inland section of the park, climbing up and down ridge and valley through coastal scrub. I love this park, not only because it’s so well located for [...]

The San Clemente Beach Trail

San-Clemente-Beach-Trail

The San Clemente Beach Trail extends from the Metro Station parking lot at North Beach to Calafia State Beach in the south. It is basically a flat, fairly smooth crushed granite trail that’s shared by walkers, runners, bikers, dogs and strollers. Because it’s a flat out-and-back trail, you can make it as easy or challenging as [...]

Hiking Morgan Trail

Morgan Trail vista

The Morgan Trail to Killen Road is a beautiful out-and-back hike through oak-lined valleys, crossing a usually-dry creek bed and rewarding you at the mid-way point with terrific views over Lake Elsinore and out to Mts. San Jacinto, San Gorgonio and Baldy. I hiked this with the Hiking OC meetup to clear my head after too [...]