Rose Peak. The name evokes thoughts of gentle beauty. But this Rose is guarded not by thorns, but by a relentless series of climbs and descents. In total, nearly 20 miles for the round trip, and 5,000 vertical feet. This is one tough hike. This out-and-back route can be hiked as a long day hike, or as an overnight backpacking trip. It begins and ends at Del Valle Regional … [Read More]
Featured Post
Hiking to Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore
Alamere Falls is one of those rare and special places where a beautiful waterfall cascades directly onto the beach. This 14 mile hike is the easiest route to the … [Read More]
Featured Post
Cairn Obsidian Spring Collection Unboxing
We first looked at Cairn three years ago when they launched their monthly subscription box. Last year, they created the Obsidian Premium Collection – a quarterly … [Read More]
Featured Posts
Hiking Mount Sizer Loop in Henry Coe State Park
Mount Sizer is one of the highest points in Henry State Coe State Park. While the peak is really just the high point along Blue Ridge, getting there and back via this loop requires four climbs totaling well over 3,500 vertical feet, including one of the … [Read More]
Backpacking San Bernardino and San Gorgonio Peaks
One of the best way to enjoy the mountains of Southern California is on an overnight backpacking trip. I have hiked both San Bernardino Peak and San Gorgonio Peak both as day hikes and as overnight trips, but since many of the trailheads closed by the Lake … [Read More]
Hiking Mitchell Canyon to Mount Diablo
Mount Diablo stands tall over the San Francisco Bay Area. At 3,849' it is not the tallest peak in the area, but it is one of the most prominent. Surrounded by low-lying hills, Diablo looks even more impressive. In fact, in 1851 it was established as the … [Read More]
Mark Your Calendar for the Switchback Showcase
Mark your calendar and join me at the Starbright Theater in Campbell, CA for the first-ever Switchback Showcase 2018 – Sights and Sounds of the Outdoors. There will be several short films, including the premier of Chris Smead's The High Sierra Trail and … [Read More]
Hiking Stinson Beach to Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais stands guard over the bay, with views stretching from the Farallon Islands to the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains. And while you can drive almost to the top, it's nothing to brag about. Hiking to the top is better. Better … [Read More]
Hiking Mount Umunhum
Mount Umunhum is one of the tallest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and has a rich history, first as a sacred site for Native Americans ("umunhum" means "resting place of the humming bird"), and more recently as a Cold War-era Air Force radar station. The … [Read More]
Celebrating 8 Years of SoCalHiker
My wife Joan remembers exactly when I first shared the idea for SoCalHiker with her. I was living in San Clemente and preparing for my second thru-hike of the 211-mile John Muir Trail. We were hiking the Salt Creek Trail in Laguna Niguel after work (we were … [Read More]
Join us at Adventures Worth Exploring
On Saturday, March 3, 2018 we will be at the Adventures Worth Exploring expo in the Anaheim Convention Center. We will have a booth for the SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, and I'll be speaking in the Adventure Talks room at 4:00 pm. This is a great … [Read More]
Hiking Bighorn and Ontario Peaks
At 8,696 feet, Ontario Peak is one of several peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains, and lies within the Cucamonga Wilderness. It is one of the many peaks near Mt. Baldy which are accessible from the Icehouse Saddle. It is named after the nearby city of Ontario. … [Read More]
The 4th Annual SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge is here!
Early Bird registration for the 4th Annual SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge is now open! The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge is designed to be a tough-but-achievable goal. If you're willing to train, put in the time, and get on the trail on a regular basis, … [Read More]
Gear Review: BioLite Stove
The idea of a lightweight, clean-burning wood stove that's about the size of a 1-liter water bottle is promising. Not having to worry about fuel canisters (or carry them) is pretty cool, too. Quickly boiling water with nothing more than a handful of twigs is … [Read More]
Giving Back on #GivingTuesday
Hikers are a generous bunch. We will share our trail tips, a bottle of water or a granola bar at the summit without giving it a second thought. And we care about the places we venture out in. #GivingTuesday is an annual day of giving that is celebrated on … [Read More]
Kintla Lake Hike in Glacier National Park
Kintla Lake is a beautiful, remote location in the northwest corner of Glacier National Park. It sits just above 4,000 feet, and lies just a few miles from the Canadian border. The Boulder Pass Trail starts here on the western outlet of Kintla … [Read More]
Where Adventures Are Born
Where are adventures born? They begin with inspiration. The adventure takes a giant leap forward when you commit it to paper and write down that adventure goal. At our 2017 Six-Pack of Peaks Finisher's Party last month, we asked challengers to share their … [Read More]
Hiking to Mission Peak in the East Bay
At 2,517 feet, Mission Peak towers over the southern arm of the San Franciso Bay. It offers a 360-degree panorama that extends from San Jose to Mount Tamalpais. On a clear day, you can even see the Sierra Nevada range to the east. In History of Washington … [Read More]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Upper Dusy Basin to South Lake
DAY SIX on the North Lake/South Lake Loop We would celebrate completing the North Lake South Lake Loop today with another short day – up and over Bishop Pass and then down to the trailhead. We woke up to another COLD morning with ice on the rain fly – and we … [Read More]
Find a Hiking Trail
