If you’re a hiker visiting Santa Cruz Island, this hike to Smuggler’s Cove has to be on your itinerary. This 8.2 mile hike gains a modest 1500ft of elevation gain, but provides some incredible ocean views in the process. Most hikers reach Smuggler’s Cove via an out-and-back route on Smuggler’s Rd, but in this guide I’ll provide directions for a more scenic loop route through Scorpion Canyon.
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.
Johnson’s Pasture is a 180-acre plot of land in the foothills of Claremont that’s a part of the larger Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. This 4-mile loop hike gains a respectable 860-ft of elevation, and provides some of my favorite views of the San Gabriel Mountains. In this guide, I’ll provide directions, a map, photos, and a detailed hike description for the Johnston’s Pasture Gale Mountain Loop.
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.
Fossil Falls is a basaltic lava flow located just off of Highway 395. In this guide, I’ll provide all of the information you need to find Fossil Falls, hike out to the dry fall area, and find a place to camp if you’re looking to make this an overnighter.
The Cameron Ridge Segment of the Pacific Crest Trail is a 6.5 mile stretch of trail that starts on Cameron Rd and ends on Tehachapi Willow Springs Rd between the cities of Mojave and Tehachapi. This trail takes hikers right up to the wind turbines of the Alta Wind Energy Center. Hiking this trail in late spring will allow you to rub shoulders with PCT thru-hikers making their way from Mexico to Canada.
The Vasquez Rocks Natural Area is a 932 acre park located in northern Los Angeles County. There are many ways to enjoy a visit to Vasquez Rocks Natural Area, but in this guide, I’m going to detail a 2-mile loop hike that passes many of the park’s best sites.
The Red Cliffs Nature Trail is a short 0.8-mile loop hike located in California’s Red Rock Canyon State Park. This hike gains a modest 118ft of elevation, while passing by the iconic sedimentary red rocks that Red Rock Canyon State Park is known for.
This 4 mile out-and-back hike of Cerro San Luis begins at the Lemon Grove Loop Trailhead in my old hometown of San Luis Obispo, CA. This hike gains 1082ft to reach the 1292ft summit of Cerro San Luis for commanding views of the Central Coast. This guide provides a detailed hike description with photos, maps, and directions.
The Hagen Canyon Nature Trail is a 1.2 mile hike located in the beautiful Red Rock Canyon State Park of California. This guide provides a detailed hike description with photos, maps, driving directions, and a historical background on Red Rock Canyon.