With the first weekend of March ahead and a forecast of more spring-like temperatures ahead, many, including myself, will be out hiking more and more. When I stop and think about all the options for outdoors activities, especially walks and hikes, in this area, it is staggering. In [...]
Monday's snow aside (yes, Virginia, it did snow in Sonoma County), the hiking trails around the North Bay are getting crowded these days. No surprise, given the early mustard blooms and other things starting to come to life. In contrast from some of my mega-hikes of recent years, I'm doing [...]
Yes, ignore the calendar, it's time for spring hikes. And around Wine Country, there are plenty of scenic opportunities to find a trail, even if you're not into the back-breaking 15-mile rugged ones (hey, they're not that bad!) and just want a pleasant diversion from wine tasting or other weekend [...]
Glen Ellen author and veteran outdoors writer Tracy Salcedo-Chourre has a new book on the best Sacramento area hikes. Whenever I hear from local hikers, I like to ask them about their favorite hike. Tracy picked one that I just did a couple of months ago, coincidentally. "It's tough to [...]
The folks at Audubon Canyon Ranch are hosting a volunteer workday soon in case you want to get your hands dirty and do some good. It will take place at their Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary property about seven miles northeast of Healdsburg on Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. [...]
Haven't been to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in a while? One of the area's best hiking groups - Bill & Dave Hikes - is leading a benefit hike and brunch to the top of Bald Mountain. It will be this Saturday morning, Jan. 26, and your reward for [...]
If you've never been to Olompali State Park, that small but interesting park just south of Petaluma, there's no time like the present. An opportunity to pass along: "The California State Parks So put... Now you brown pricey does phone spy mobile scar where but my review. Best it essay [...]
Sometimes those automated cameras that are set up deep inside parks show some interesting visitors. At the Modini Ingalls Ecological Preserve and Mayacamas Mountains Sanctuary, the 1,750-acre preserve northeast of Healdsburg, an Audubon Canyon Ranch motion-sensor camera captured this shot of a black bear at 8 p.m. on Aug. 31. [...]
This Saturday is the fifth year that friends of the Bay Area Ridge Trail are doing a service day to help clear trails and do other outdoor work that is needed on the 340-plus miles of trails that loop around the entire Bay Area. There are park segments in Sonoma [...]
Press release from the Sonoma County Regional Parks: LOS ALAMOS ROAD ENTRANCE TO HOOD MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK CLOSED FOR REPAIRS The Los Alamos Road entrance to Hood Mountain Regional Park will be closed for construction from Wednesday, Sept. 26, through early December. Regional Parks is contracting with Bouthillier’s Construction of [...]
The sun is setting later and later this time of year (8:12 p.m. tonight, woo-hoo!), meaning those post-work and long weekend hikes can easily stretch into evenings. But while no one expects to be caught after dark and lost and stuck for a bit, it does happen. I speak from [...]
From the good folks at Pepperwood Preserve: ______________________ Celebrate the delights of our native wildflowers and the majesty of the Mayacamas Mountains at Pepperwood’s annual Wildflower Festival to be held Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Pepperwood Preserve. The festival is free and families are [...]
A Buffalo 
, New York native, I spent half of my life hibernating indoors, but for the past five years I have basked in the thrilling opportunity to enjoy year round hiking on the many trails of beautiful Northern California. In this blog I will continue in the tradition of trailhead, to recap the hikes I have taken and share the insights of my fellow hikers. Along with day hikes, I am also interested in dog friendly trails, and backpacking trips as well. Please feel free to offer suggestions of where I should hike next, or share tales of where you have explored. . Guest blog entries are extremely welcome as are your photos from your own hikes.