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Exploring Lands End

December 4, 2013 By Jeff H 2 Comments

Lands End in San Francisco

I love San Francisco. Don’t get me wrong. I love LA, too. But as far as cities go, SF is one of my favorites. Last week Joan and I drove up to visit family for Thanksgiving. My mom is a fantastic cook, and I knew we’d have to get out and stretch our legs after […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: beach, coastal, dog-friendly, easy, family-friendly, Golden Gate, NorCal, NPS, out of bounds, San Francisco

Salt Creek Trail

March 25, 2011 By Jeff H 12 Comments

Views stretching out to the ocean

One of the challenges of winter is that during the week, it’s already dark outside when I leave the office. I don’t mind hiking in the dark, but many people aren’t comfortable hiking in the wilderness at night, and most of the regional trails are officially closed from sundown to sunrise. The Salt Creek Trail […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 6-8 miles, beach, coastal, Dana Point, dog-friendly, family-friendly, Laguna Niguel, night, Orange County, paved, rain-friendly

Inside San Onofre State Beach

December 21, 2010 By Jeff H 8 Comments

San Onofre State Beach is best known for the world-class surfing at Trestles. The surf spots along here begin at the north end with Cottons, then moving southward come Uppers, Middles, Lowers and Church. Lowers is consistently one of the best surf spots, and this place is full of both professional and amateur surfers. Even […]

Filed Under: State Parks Tagged With: beach, San Clemente, San Onofre, State Park

San Onofre Loop to Cristianitos Fault

December 20, 2010 By Jeff H 5 Comments

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 […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, beach, coastal, moderate, Orange County, San Clemente, San Onofre State Beach, scenic, State Park, video

Exploring Doheny State Beach

December 19, 2010 By Jeff H 1 Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: State Parks Tagged With: 3-6 miles, beach, Dana Point, Doheny State Beach, easy, family-friendly, flat, Orange County, scenic, State Park

Exploring South Carlsbad State Beach

December 19, 2010 By Jeff H 5 Comments

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 […]

Filed Under: State Parks, Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, beach, beachcombing, Carlsbad, Carlsbad State Beach, coastal, family-friendly, flat, guide, hike, San Diego County, scenic, State Park, trail, walk, walking

Inside Huntington State Beach

December 11, 2010 By Jeff H 3 Comments

Huntington Beach is known as Surf City, USA. During the warm summer months, the broad, sandy beaches are crowded with surfers and sun worshipers. Most hikers–myself included–don’t think of the heading to the beach for  a trail but Huntington State Beach is a great place to enjoy the smell of the ocean and beautiful views. […]

Filed Under: State Parks Tagged With: beach, dog-friendly, easy, Huntington Beach, Orange County, State Park

Inside Crystal Cove State Park

December 9, 2010 By Jeff H 13 Comments

Crystal Cove State Park is one of my favorite areas to hike in Orange County. Nestled in the coastal hills between Newport and Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove feels like a world away from the OC. There are beautiful bluff-lined beaches, challenging hikes and panoramic coastal views. You can even go backpacking! Crystal Cove State Park […]

Filed Under: State Parks Tagged With: beach, Crystal Cove, State Park

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I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking and backpacking trails with enough detail to make it an enjoyable experience for you. And while I started with trails in Southern California, I’ve expanded across the west. We hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more…

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