Big Santa Anita Loop (Mt. Zion Loop)
October 28, 2007
Trail.com preview: In the lush and shady recesses of the Front Range of the San Gabriel Mountains you can easily lose all sight and sense of the hundreds of square miles of dense metropolis, and the millions of Angelenos, that lie just over the ridge to the south. With easy access from the San Gabriel Valley by city street and mountain road, you can be laying bootprints down a fern-lined path less than half an hour after leaving the freeway traffic behind. Keep Reading
© Copyright Paul Backhurst, Editor Published by Wilderness Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Cool to American River Loop
October 28, 2007
Trails.com preview: A loop day hike through foothill terrain and the American River Canyon. As more and more of California’s classic foothill scenery falls to development, conservationists and long-time devotees of the High Sierra are paying more attention to the unique beauty of the Sierra’s lower western flanks. The shortage of extensive natural preserves in the foothills makes the 35,000-acre Auburn State Recreation Area all the more special. Of its more than 100 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian paths, this challenging loop on the Pointed Rocks, Western States and Wendall T. Robie Trails traverses a rich range of foothill scenery—rolling oak savanna, chaparral, and rugged river canyon. Keep Reading…
© Copyright Barry Parr Published by Falcon Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
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Sacramento and Western Sierra Foothills Campgrounds
October 28, 2007
Trails.com preview Tourists traveling to the Sacramento and Western Sierra Foothills Area from the north via the Golden Chain Highway are welcomed to the region by the gold rush towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley. Once rivaling San Francisco and Sacramento in population, Nevada City has reinvented itself, turning from gold fields to grape fields as it hosts a flourishing wine industry. North of the town lies Malakoff Diggins, the world’s largest hydraulic mining site, while to the south Empire Mine State Historic Park preserves what was once California’s largest and richest hardrock mine.
Farther south, at Coloma, a replica of Sutter’s Mill stands on the original site of the 1848 gold discovery that started the worldwide rush to California. Placerville, once called “Hangtown†because of its speedy law enforcement, has the distinction of owning its own gold mine, which is open for tours. Columbia State Historic Park, near Sonora, provides the opportunity to tour an actual gold rush era town, with its original buildings, covered boardwalks, and storefronts. Fortunately, the tourist wares for sale in most of the shops fail to dent the authentic feel of the town, which even has two operating Victorian-style hotels. Coulterville, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, once had 50 saloons.
But all that glitters in this area is not gold. Twelve large lakes offer their shining surfaces to water sports enthusiasts. Campgrounds included in this eTrail are: Malakoff Diggins, South Yuba, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Scotts Flat Lake, White Cloud, Skillman Group Camp, Rollins Reservoir, Auburn, Parker Flat OHV Staging Area, Sugar Pine OHV Staging Area, Sugar Pine Reservoir, Big Reservoir, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, Marshall Gold Discovery, Sly Park, Chaw’se Indian Grinding Rock, New Hogan Lake, New Melones Lake, Don Pedro Reservoir, Lake McClure, and Merced River Recreation Area. Keep Reading…
© Copyright Richard McMahon Published by Falcon Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
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North Fork of the American River
October 28, 2007
Trails.com preview The North Fork of the American River is touted for whitewater rafting and gold mining. It’s rough and scenic, with boulder banks, raging rapids, and deep-blue pools. This ruggedly secluded hike lets you get intimate with this famous fork, then it heads into rolling foothills, highlighted by photogenic views of the river and some bizarre rock outcrops called Pointed Rocks. Pointed Rocks shows off its plentiful native wildflowers in spring. Keep Reading…
© Copyright John & Marc Soares Published by The Mountaineers Books. All Rights Reserved.
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20 Lakes Basin Loop
October 28, 2007
Trails.com preview This easy trip can even be done as a dayhike, and you won’t believe how much alpine beauty is packed into such a short jaunt. 20 Lakes Basin is set among majestic peaks and is full of pretty lakes. Yet, in spite of its rugged setting, the trail through it is mostly gentle to moderate. Most of the basin lacks acceptable campsites, but a short cross-country jaunt brings hikers to scenic if Spartan campsites in a granite sub-basin. There’s delightful dayhiking in addition to simply looping through the basin. Just rambling through the sub-basin is great fun. If a more adventurous cross-country trip appeals to you, consider a scramble toward the crest west of the sub-basin (on the other side of which is the northern backcountry of Yosemite National Park) or up to the Conness Lakes south of the sub-basin. Keep Reading…
© Copyright Paul Backhurst, Editor Published by Wilderness Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Half Dome Trails
October 28, 2007
Trails.com preview Half Dome is the symbol of Yosemite, its summit the goal of just about everybody who has ever donned a pair of hiking boots. It is a grueling workout, especially if you do it in one day, but if you spend the night in Little Yosemite Valley and tackle the peak first thing the second morning, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding the traffic jams that sometimes build up at the base of the cables.The cables? The last 400 feet are over what feels like nearly vertical (though the angle is probably more like 45 degrees), smooth, exfoliating granite, so a series of horizontal bars about 5 feet apart, flanked by chains with which to pull yourself up, are the only way to get there without technical climbing equipment. It sounds scary but it is done by kids and grandmas and everybody in between. Because of its popularity, wilderness permits are snapped up quickly. Keep Reading…
© Copyright Suzanne Swedo Published by Falcon Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
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American River Bike Path
October 28, 2007
Trails.com preview Arguably one of the most successful and beautifully paved bike paths in northern California, this 32-mile gem of a trail stretches from downtown Sacramento eastward to Folsom Dam (64 miles round-trip). Also known as the Jedediah Smith National Recreation Trail, the American River Bike Path is nearly 100% separate from vehicle roads (a mile or two shares the road). The route hugs the American River as it ever so gently gains roughly 450 feet elevation as you ride from west to east. The trail is well maintained and mile markers are posted, starting at zero on the western end. You can start from a dozen access points and ride for as long or short as you like. In between the two trailheads, the path leads through a rich riparian en-vironment, graced by an abundance of birds. You’re never far from civilization since the bike path leads past many residential and commercial neighborhoods and city parks (some of which have historical significance). Keep Reading…
© Copyright Linda Austin Published by Menasha Ridge Press. All Rights Reserved.
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American River Confluence to Lake Clementine Trail
October 28, 2007
Trails.com Review: Contrasting dynamics and a wild-river canyon take center stage on this hike. You’ll encounter raging rapids, soothing pools, a loud waterfall at a dam, and a tranquil lake. Start near the confluence of the north and middle forks of the American River, and follow the North Fork’s deep and rocky canyon journey where it is interrupted by serene Lake Clementine. This 3.5-mile-long lake was formed when the 155-foot high dam was finished in 1939. The dam was built as a debris-catching device to protect bridges downstream. Fishing is good, and you may see mountain bikers and horseback riders. Leashed dogs are allowed on area trails. Keep Reading…
© Copyright Marc J. Soares Published by The Mountaineers Books. All Rights Reserved.
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