The mule ride down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with a stay at the historic Phantom Ranch had been on my To Do List for a while and I got her done! Unbelievably beautiful, colorful and ever changing light on the canyon walls was around every switchback on the trail. It was absolutely incredible to learn that we ...

Fannie the Corgi led the way as we took a short fall hike looping our way around the trails and hills at Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park, watching the fog lift and roll onward. Where: Ahwahnee Hills Regional ParkDistance: 3.40 Miles (more or less, depending on how far you wish to go)Difficulty: Easy to ModerateElevation Range: 2,286’– 2,625′Elevation Gain: 359′Date: November ...

The clock is ticking this year to drive on Glacier Point Road and out to those wonderful trailheads along it’s way. When Glacier Point Road closes this year, it will be closed for at least a year due to construction. This week, I headed to two destinations full of amazing views from the Taft Point Trailhead, Sentinel Dome and Taft ...

When Glacier Point Road closes this year, it will be closed for at least a year. That is why I am trying to make hay while the sun shines, getting my hikes in on the trailheads off of this road while I can. This week, I headed to Ostrander Lake on a cool, fall day. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 12.59 ...

This hike was all about the views and there were some dandies, not to mention getting in a good workout as I gained 3,415′ to see those magnificent views along the Pohono Trail. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 8.79 MilesDifficulty: Moderate to StrenuousElevation Range: 4,384′ – 7,087′Elevation Gain: 3,415′Date: November 12, 2021CALTOPO: Pohono Trail from Tunnel View to Stanford and Crocker ...

I was sneaking in a fall color hike in Yosemite Valley before a storm could blow the leaves off the trees, but where to go? I picked Mirror Lake to see delightful dogwoods, beautiful big leaf maples, wonderful willows and outstanding oaks. Oh, and those reflections of them all in magnificent Mirror Lake! Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 8.24 Miles (Depending ...

I kept watching and watching. Every day I drove north on Hwy 49 I could see those oaks up on Pilot Peak and Silver Knob turning more yellow and I wondered what a walk up on those dirt roads might show me in the fall color arena. The north side of Pilot Peak has quite a few dogwoods at the ...

Tioga Road had closed due to a storm but would it reopen before an even bigger storm was due to dump serious snow? The short answer is yes it did, for about 2 1/2 days, and I couldn’t wait to get up there to see if those Gaylor Basin lakes were icing up. Where: Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestDistance: 3.06 ...

There is no need to travel far to see fall colors, just a drive or walk where you live will deliver. But I put in some extra miles because I just couldn’t resist heading over to the Sierra’s eastside to do some leaf peeping at Convict Lake, even more beautiful with a dusting of snow up high on those rugged ...

Leaf Peeping season has officially begun. . . . so Mom and I decided to take a day road trip through Yosemite Valley to see how those fall colors were shaping up. Where: Yosemite National ParkDifficulty: EasyElevation Range: 3,996′ – 4,184′Date: October 7, 2018Dog Hike? Maybe It was a bit early for prime leaf colors in Yosemite but Mom and ...