The Mojave National Preserve is a massive 1.6 million acre park on California’s southwestern border. Sandwiched between the I-15 and I-40, most California roadtrippers pass …
Read moreCamping at Hole-In-The-Wall Campground and Hiking The Rings Loop Trail
Chino Hills State Park is a 14,173 acre park located on the borders of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Visitors to Chino Hills State Park can explore 60 miles of trails and fire roads that pass through woodlands, sage scrub, grasslands, and wildflowers. One of the most popular hikes within Chino Hills State Park is the Bane Ridge Trail. This hike covers 4.8 miles with just under 1000ft of elevation gain.
The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is located in Claremont, CA. This small garden has Joshua Trees, Torrey Pines, a Boojum Tree, and more. In this post, I’m going to highlight one of my favorite walking routes at Rancho Santa Ana, and showcase some of the “must see” sights.
The hike from Pine Knot Trail To Grand View Point is one of the most popular hikes in Big Bear, CA. This 7-mile hike gains 1230 ft and provides hikers with stunning views out towards San Gorgonio Mountain and a bird’s-eye look down at Big Bear Lake. This trail requires no permit and allows dogs.
Castle Rock Trail is a popular 2-mile out-and-back hike located in Big Bear, California. This short trail gains 610 ft and provides hikers with a bird’s eye view of Big Bear Lake. The path up to Castle Rock is steep, rocky, and technical towards the end, so make sure to come prepared.
Stoddard Peak sits at 4624ft in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains. This peak is sandwiched between the low lying foothills of Upland and Claremont in the front, and the high rising mountains of Mt. Baldy in the back. Stoddard Peak’s location provides hikers with some spectacular 360 degree views of the surrounding landscapes. This hike is 6-miles roundtrip, with 1204 ft of elevation gain, and a trail mix of fire road and cross country single track.
Blue Ridge Campground is a cluster or 8 first come – first served sites near Wrightwood, CA. Situated at 8,000 ft, Blue Ridge Campground is intersected by the Pacific Crest Trail and is the end location of the Blue Ridge Trail hike. The 8 sites offer limited facilities with no piped water. The campground does have vault toilets, fire rings, and tables.
The Mojave Lava Tube Trail sits 25 miles from the city of Baker amidst a landscape of cinder cones, joshua trees, and lava beds. This short hike only covers half of a mile round-trip, but the views and experience it provides makes it one of my favorites. In this guide, I’ll provide maps, photos, and a step-by-step guide for those of you looking to explore this lava tube in Mojave National Preserve.
The 3.4 mile hike to Teutonia Peak passes through an area with the most dense concentration of Joshua Trees anywhere in the world. This 700 ft climb to the 5,755ft Teutonia Peak also provides hikers with breathtaking views of Kessler Peak and Cima Dome. If the scenic views, Joshua Trees, and volcanic domes don’t pique your interest, you can also take a side trail on this hike to explore the old Teutonia Mine.
This 21 mile loop hike strings together my favorite trails and mountain peaks in the San Gabriel mountains. Starting on the Bear Canyon Trail, you’ll climb 5,848ft to the summits of West Baldy and Mt. Baldy. From there, you’ll hit Mt. Harwood before finishing off on the 3 T’s trail with Thunder Mountain, Telegraph Peak, and Timber Mountain.