Let your imagination go wild. You have been riding on a dusty, bumpy, hot stagecoach all day from Mariposa. Or perhaps the day is freezing cold and you are bundled up the best you can in that stagecoach with your coat and some quilts. You are approaching Cold Spring Stage Stop and sure are looking forward to the break. You ...

YOSEMITE — The peace and relative quiet of Yosemite in winter, particularly after a fresh snow fall, can be a magical experience. Unfortunately, travel in California is currently restricted to within 120 miles of home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the beauty of Yosemite persists. Yosemite is now open only to day use visitors, between the hours of 8 ...

There was no rhyme or reason where I walked and wandered on old wagon roads and Off Road Vehicle trails near my house. I was getting some exercise in before Christmas with some bonus views. I am trying something a little new on the Blog format, including a link to this track on CALTOPO at the top and under the ...

Please don’t tell my dogs that I left them home for this easy hike along the Wild and Scenic Merced River on an old Railroad Bed. It would have been a perfect hike for them. Where: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Merced River Recreation Management Area, United States Forest Service, Sierra National ForestDistance: 8.93 miles round trip but you can ...

YOSEMITE — As we come to the end of what can only be described as a “unique” 2020, we are indeed grateful that places like Yosemite have remained intact and protected through these challenges. Thanks to the foresight and commitment of countless advocates throughout the last century, Yosemite remains a sanctuary – what some might even consider a temple – ...

After hiking Nelder Grove’s Graveyard of the Giants Trail through the 2017 Railroad Fire the prior week, I started wondering what new views I might have since that fire. Would I be able to see Nelder Ridge and the Hawksworth Tree from below? Well, I took out my topographic maps, looked at my GPS track and Google Earth images, and ...

I had been dreading taking this hike because of the devastation left behind when the 12,047 acre 2017 Railroad Fire roared through the area. It would be a sad hike through many burned trees to visit the Giant Sequoias along the Graveyard of the Giants Trail up on Nelder Ridge. Where: Sierra National Forest, Nelder Grove.Distance: 6.28 miles, but you ...

For the interactive 360° VR experience, go to https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/#node26 This past weekend, a California regional Stay at Home order – prompted by a dramatic spike in COVID-19 infections — went into effect. Yosemite National Park was closed to overnight visits, including all camping and lodging facilities. Until further notice, the park is open only for day-use visitors between the hours ...

On any given hike, I just never know who or what I will run into. What should have been a fairly routine hike along Eastman Lake’s rolling Lakeview Trail became more interesting when tarantulas came into the mix! Distance: 7.82 MilesDifficulty: Easy to Moderate, depending on how far you goElevation Range: 586′ to 707′Date: November 23, 2020Maps: Ben Hur and ...

VALLEJO – With winter just around the corner, all visitors to California’s National Forests should continue to plan ahead before visiting and recreate responsibly once there. Early snowfall has already begun on some forests and road conditions will begin to impact access so please ensure that your vehicle is snow ready before you go. Visitors are encouraged to view the ...