If you've tried to get into Sugarloaf Ridge State Park recently, you've noticed the difficulty. In addition to the park gates being closed, there are no-parking signs posted in places outside the park where people would often park. And even where there aren't signs posted, tickets are still [...]
News from the Sonoma County Regional Parks: Join a Regional Parks ranger on a four-hour guided hike at Tolay Lake Regional Park on Saturday, Feb. 11th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Bay Area while learning about this incredible property and its history. This hike [...]
There are actually several big trees, redwoods in fact, along the Big Trees trail. It's part of the impressive, and incredibly underrated, ridge lines that go behind and through Novato's western neighborhoods. But there is a big tree too, right at the top as you head up into Indian Tree [...]
Sharing this news from the good folks at the Pepperwood Preserve, an extraordinarily interesting (and local) place to hike. If you haven't been out there, it's worth a visit. _____________________________________ Join an interpretive hike of Pepperwood on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 9:00am to 1:00pm. This is a moderate 4-5 [...]
Reprinting this story from today's Press Democrat on an interesting series of hikes in Lake County. See below: By MARY CALLAHAN | THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | January 18 The Bureau of Land Management launches its annual series of guided hikes to view bald eagles along Cache Creek in Lake [...]
I'm not a dog owner, but I certainly see plenty of dogs on trails, from rigorous ones to easy local walks. A reader asks the question below. Feel free to respond in the comments, or if you'd prefer, email me and I'll add the responses to this blog entry. "I've [...]
Having hiked more than 150 miles of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, I wouldn't have predicted that one of the toughest parts would be just outside San Rafael in the hills of Marin County. But it is what it is. Last weekend, I hiked about 13.5 miles on several Marin [...]
For many people, New Year’s Day is time to start on a resolution, or embrace some superstition or tradition. Black-eyed peas, anyone? For me, it’s a chance to take a hike. After whatever occurred, or didn’t occur, the big night before, a brisk walk on the first day of the [...]
As the headline suggests, I'm in need of suggestions of where to hike on New Year's Day. Some of the suggestions will appear in a column to be published next week in the newspaper (aka, the non-digital edition of this thing you're reading). Feel free to leave some ideas here [...]
With Sugarloaf Ridge State Park now closed, there's one less option for local hikers. And the park is truly closed. All of the parking areas outside the park grounds are now marked with no-parking signs and citation warnings so even treks up to Gunsight Rock or to the waterfalls just [...]
More than a century ago, a tiny alcove on San Pablo Bay near San Rafael was a bustling shrimping village. Hundreds of people from the Guangdong province of China had settled in the area, and were busy catching and selling shrimp. Of course, that didn't last for long, but amazingly, [...]
I've never been to Mono Lake, located just east of Yosemite, but I've heard the 1-million-year-old watering hole is gorgeous. It's also having an early Christmas as it just got removed from the state parks' closure list. How did they do it? More than 4,000 signatures to the governor's office [...]
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.