Los Piños Peak sits at 4,455 feet above sea level in the Cleveland National Forest, just west of the Main Divide between Orange and Riverside Counties. There are other more strenuous routes to this summit, but this route is made easier because you start at over 3,000 feet. Instead of approaching from Orange County, you […]
Temescal Canyon Loop
Temescal Canyon in the Pacific Palisades provides a beautiful setting for a short hike. Wooded canyon? Check. Great exercise with a challenging climb? Check. Beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific coastline? This hike has all of the above. We checked this trail out late on a Saturday afternoon and were able to enjoy the sunset from […]
Ridgeline Loop to Barbara’s Lake
Few people know that Orange County is actually home to several natural lakes. Most “lakes” are actually man-made reservoirs, but the Laguna Lakes in Laguna Canyon are the real deal, and Barbara’s Lake is the largest in the chain. This moderate hike in Laguna Canyon’s James Dilley Preserve gives you a glimpse into a rare […]
Condor Gulch Overlook in Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park is a gem hidden in plain sight. It’s one of the youngest National Parks in the system–having been promoted to NP status in 2013–yet many of the trails date back over a hundred years. Back then Schuyler Hain — the “Father of Pinnacles” led tours up Bear Valley to the caves. He […]
Vital Link Trail to Verdugo Peak
The Verdugo Mountains sit between the San Gabriel Mountains and the Santa Monica Mountains, towering like an island above Glendale and Burbank. Our first foray into these mountains was on the nearby Beaudry Motorway Loop which begins in Glendale. This time, we took in a different side of the mountain, starting in Burbank, and bagged […]
Beaudry Loop in the Verdugo Mountains
Joan and I headed out early on Saturday morning to hike the Beaudry Motorway Loop trail. Why are the trails called “Motorways?” It’s part of the charm of the Verdugo trail system, made largely of fire breaks and limited access roads for the antennae dotting the ridge line. The weather was forecast to reach the […]
Aspen Grove in San Gorgonio Wilderness
Spectacular fall color in Southern California? It exists! Just a short distance from Big Bear we found the southernmost aspen grove in California. The quaking aspen (populus tremoloids) are readily identified by the disc-like leaves about the size of a silver dollar. The slightest breeze sets these leaves in motion, leading to that “quaking” effect. It’s […]
Inspiration Loop Trail in Will Rogers State Park
When the heat is on, the coast beckons. This easy, family-friendly hiking trail begins at the historic Pacific Palisades home of Will Rogers and loops up to Inspiration Point. The Inspiration Loop Trail is not challenging. It’s not long. But with balmy breezes, great views, and a dose of history, Inspiration Loop makes a fun outing. We […]
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