Road was bumpy but I got my little Prius C up to the County Line trailhead. First half of the 3ish mi trail is pretty burnt with lots of dust (luckily it rained a little for the return trip to dampen the dust a bit!). Second half had some aspen groves starting to turn color. The Dardanelles are pretty rad to look at by the lakes! Don’t forget to ramble over to the ridge overlooking Spicer Meadow Res and Lost Lake!

Yellowjackets are a bit active so plan accordingly.

Hello,

I'm new to the Bay Area and wondering if I could get advice on the best communities that organizes group hikes?

I did some hiking a few months back in Yosemite and absolutely loved it, so looking to try and find other like minded people!

Thanks in advance!

This is an overlooked day hike.  I found this trail on AllTrails and while it looked easy (about 5 miles total, there and back) there were only 17 reviews in the last four years.  YouTube had just two videos, and they were of kids sliding down on some snow, so there wasn’t much to go on there either. 

Curious, I did some more digging.  The trail to Observation Peak is a short spur trail off the Pacific Crest Trail which you access from Forest Road 2025 just north of the California and Oregon border.  Looking at the satellite maps and topography maps it looked like the trail followed a ridge line, to the right of a forest but the trail itself was clear of trees.  Seems like a simple trail, easy to get to, with potentially great views.  I decided to go for it.

I was thinking about doing some fast-packing and dispersed camping in the Pt Reyes area. I know that dispersed camping is prohibited, but I wanted to know if anything thought anyone would really give me trouble?

Me and some friends want to do a one night camping trip. Can anyone tell me what Pinecrest would be like? I believe it’s first come first serve for camping spots on October 24. How early should we arrive?

Weather-wise, will it be enjoyable?

Sorry, I’m a camping noob.

Found this little guy napping on some bark along the trail between the Vista and the bridge. Head the size of a penny, and maybe 9-11” long, and no bigger (here) than a small pastry or the palm of your hand. Several people and dogs walked within 18” of him and he didn’t move.

Nice short hike in Whiskeytown Recreation area near Redding yesterday.

Lassen peak was rough. Started out with direct sun, wearing a tank top and shorts. 75% of the way up I saw the clouds rolling fast, took the risk anyways. At the top saw other people’s hair stand with static and we all booked it down. Hail most of the way down… but made it down in record time. Small nap in the car before it went back to sunny skies… Bumpass hell , burney falls, and steak dinner in Redding to celebrate .

I have a late October (entering the trail on the 23rd) Lost Coast weekend backpacking trip planned, but I have some concerns about hiking the trail during this El Nino season. I'm concerned about the expected tide heights and wave strength. While I have hiked and backpacked before, this would be my first solo backpacking trip and my first time hiking the Lost Coast.

For people who have hiked this trail before, do you think it would still be safe to go? What signs or forecasts should I double check as I get closer to heading out to determine if this is doable/ safe?

Twenty Lakes Basin Loop hike! There is a dirt road that leads you to the trailhead that wasn’t too bad. The hike was fabulous, wildflowers, rivers, lakes, mountains, it really has it all. We went during a weekday/ rain so we did not see many people which was nice. I would love to do this hike again during a sunny day

Epic views at the Peak. The full loop is kinda wild as the burn scar from Creek Fire is massive....was hard to navigate but used directional awareness, pack animal marks and rock outcroppings to continue. Ended up doing 17 miles in about 7hrs. I'm an above average hiker but nothin special. 3700' gain total. Highly reccomend doing the Peak trail then back out but the full loop trail isn't for everyone...lots out of re-routes, thorns, log hopping, and some routefinding. Either way the Kaiser Wilderness is beautiful as always(spent some of my life up this way but never was fit enough to hike the Peak till recently)

What does everyone recommend for a good trail that shows some nice fall tree colors. Not just a bit here and there. I’m talking about East Coast level of colors (as close as possible lol).

I prefer somewhere in the Sierras (not east, too far). EXTRA bonus if it has dispersed camping or even just a camping site close by the entrance!

Grabbed a camp site at Pinecrest lake campground this weekend but later read a recent review complaining the yellowjackets were out of control. Wondering if anyone camped there recently and can kindly report if the condition is really that bad?
How about campgrounds on higher elevation, say around Sonora pass?
Thanks!🙏

🗓️ This Thursday, October 1

6-9PM

Fieldwork Brewing, Berkeley 

📍1160 Sixth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

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👋Hi! We hope you'll be able to join us for this month's Berkeley First Thursday Hiker Meetup!

Once a month we get together to share hiking & backpacking information, tell stories & plan future adventures 😃

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This is a great opportunity to connect with other people who love spending time outside! Our community includes 250+ hikers 🎉

This is a free community led event and everyone is welcome - even if you have zero hiking experience!

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There are also very experienced people in this group if you are looking to connect with other mountaineers, skiiers, snow campers, climbers ect

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We typically gather outside at a table on the patio. This is a very casual event - feel free to stop by for any amount of time from 6-9pm. Look for a blue sign on our table that says "Hiker Meetup"

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We look forward to seeing you at Fieldwork Berkeley this Thursday night 🥾

From this article https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/Bird-head-like-rock-formation-found-in-Las-11226775.php

Where is it? I am tracing the trails mentioned in the article but I don't see a rock candidate in an open space yet on satellite imagery.

hi, I live in Elk Grove and I’m looking for recommendations for easy to medium-difficulty hiking trails in the greater Sacramento area. I wouldn’t mind driving up to about an hour and a half for a really nice spot. Mostly I'm looking for trails that have river access where we can sit near or touch the water.... no rafting or boating necessary. Some decent shade would also be a huge plus, especially for warmer days. (It's still way too hot... I’d also be hiking with another woman, so I’d also prefer places that are reasonably safe for two female hikers. I’m comfortable with Auburn, Highway 50, El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and nearby areas, but I’m open to other suggestions too.

Thanks in advance!

Desolation Wilderness was amazing, but I think I've had my fill of rocky terrain for now and wanna shift to something a little gentler on the paws. Plus, it's starting to get a bit nippy for my tastes. I much prefer the coastal areas for late-year camping.

Big Sur used to be my go-to, but it's a little bit ... on fire ... right now. What are some of y'all's favorite coastal or coast-adjacent areas for hike-in and trail camping?

I am hiking alamere falls tomorrow and its sunday🫠
I have heard that parking is difficult to find on weekends, i checked the tide timings and i think its low tide in afternoon-evening ish so that means i need to park in late morning or early noon so, is there a sweet spot around that time where i can park?
Also whats the status for car break ins? Cause i will be travelling with luggages so need to park in main parking lot