THE BEST OF HIKING  —  just photographs of the prettiest places you can't drive to


-2010-

ID  -  DATE  -  LOCATION  -  RATING

96 Aug 28 Twenty Lakes Basin, Short Loop  —  Hoover Wilderness 7
95 Aug 27 Horse Creek Canyon  —  Hoover Wilderness 7
94 Aug 18-20 Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River  —  Yosemite National Park 10
93 Aug 13 Bull Run Lake - Heiser Lake Loop  —  Carson-Iceberg Wilderness 8
92 Aug 03 Tokopah Falls  —  Sequoia National Park 7
91 Aug 03 Crescent Meadow Loop  —  Sequoia National Park 8
90 Aug 03 Moro Rock  —  Sequoia National Park 5
89 Aug 02 Nobe Young Falls  —  Giant Sequoia National Monument 6
88 Jul 06 Cody Lake  —  Eldorado NF 4
87 Jun 30 Cascade Basin Loop  —  Desolation Wilderness 8
86 Jun 23 Horsethief Canyon  —  Toiyabe NF 4
85 Jun 18 Grass Lake  —  Desolation Wilderness 5
84 Jun 16 Dipsea Trail - Steep Ravine Loop  —  Mount Tamalpais SP 6
83 Jun 09 Wapama Falls  —  Yosemite National Park 9
82 Jun 05 Chambers Creek Falls  —  Feather River Canyon 7
81 May 24 Sierra Point  —  Yosemite National Park 9
80 May 14 Castle Dome Trail  —  Castle Crags Wilderness 7
79 Apr 20 Angels Landing  —  Zion National Park, Utah 10
78 Apr 19 Emerald Pools  —  Zion National Park, Utah 8
77 Apr 19 Hidden Gardens  —  Zion National Park, Utah 3
76 Apr 18 Canyon Overlook  —  Zion National Park, Utah 6
75 Apr 18 Pine Creek Waterfall  —  Zion National Park, Utah 4

-2009-

74 Nov 04 Bloodsucker Lake  —  Eldorado NF 3
73 Nov 01 Haskell Peak  —  Tahoe NF 5
72 Nov 01 Devils Postpile  —  Tahoe NF 4
71 Oct 07 Devils Lake  —  Eldorado NF 3
70 Oct 01 Lamarck Lakes  —  John Muir Wilderness 9
69 Sep 17 Sword Lake  —  Carson-Iceberg Wilderness 5
68 Sep 16 Tuolumne Falls & Pothole Dome  —  Yosemite National Park 8
67 Sep 02 Mill Creek Falls  —  Lassen National Park 6
66 Aug 26 Showers Lake  —  Eldorado NF 6
65 Aug 10 Little Lakes Valley  —  John Muir Wilderness 10
64 Aug 09 Rainbow Falls  —  Devils Postpile National Monument 5
63 Aug 03 Kinney Lakes - Ebbetts Peak Loop  —  Mokelumne Wilderness 7
62 Jul 20 Liberty Lake  —  Ruby Mountains Wilderness, Nevada 9
61 Jul 14 Budd Lake - Cathedral Lakes Loop  —  Yosemite National Park 7
60 Jul 08 Winnemucca Lake Loop  —  Mokelumne Wilderness 7
59 Jun 27 Margaret Lake  —  Eldorado NF 6
58 Jun 24 Susie Lake  —  Desolation Wilderness 7
57 Jun 20 South Fork Silver Creek  —  Crystal Basin Recreation Area 6
56 Jun 08 Mist Falls  —  Kings Canyon National Park 7
55 Jun 03 Olmstead Loop  —  Auburn State Recreation Area 4
54 May 24 Feather Falls  —  Plumas NF 6
53 May 12 Jay Bird Canyon Falls  —  Eldorado NF 10
52 May 09 American Canyon  —  Auburn State Recreation Area 5
51 Apr 04 Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve  —  Vaca Mountains 5
50 Mar 27 Angels Landing  —  Zion National Park, Utah 9
49 Mar 26 Emerald Pools  —  Zion National Park, Utah 7
48 Mar 25 Hidden Canyon  —  Zion National Park, Utah 8
47 Mar 25 Two Pines Arch  —  Zion National Park, Utah 5
46 Mar 25 Hidden Arch  —  Zion National Park, Utah 4
45 Mar 17 Fairy Falls (aka Shingle Falls)  —  Spenceville Wildlife Area 5

-2008-

44 Oct 21 South Yuba River  —  Edwards Crossing trailhead, Tahoe NF 4
43 Sep 07 Glacier Lake Loop  —  Tahoe NF 4
42 Aug 25 Woods Lake Loop  —  Mokelumne Wilderness 5
41 Aug 16 Gaylor Lakes Loop  —  Yosemite National Park 7
40 Aug 14 Lundy Canyon (part)  —  Inyo NF 7
39 Aug 04 Loch Leven Lakes  —  Big Bend trailhead, Tahoe NF 6
38 Jul 29 Smith Lake  —  Desolation Wilderness 7
37 Jul 24 Lamoille Canyon  —  Ruby Mountains, Nevada 6
36 Jul 19 Twin Falls  —  Glacier National Park, Montana 6
35 Jul 18 Lunch Creek  —  Glacier National Park, Montana 8
34 Jul 08 Elephants Back  —  Mokelumne Wilderness 8
33 Jul 02 Umpa Lake Loop  —  Desolation Wilderness 8
32 Jun 19 Taft Point  —  Yosemite National Park 5
31 Jun 18 Vernal Falls & Nevada Falls  —  Yosemite National Park 9
30 May 20 Judge Davis Trail  —  Cache Creek Natural Area 2
29 May 14 Bassi Falls  —  Crystal Basin Recreation Area 5
28 Apr 22 Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve  —  Vaca Mountains 4
27 Apr 15 Codfish Falls  —  Auburn State Recreation Area 5
26 Mar 30 Lake Clementine Trail  —  Auburn State Recreation Area 3

-2007-

25 Aug 15 East Side Beaches  —  Lake Tahoe, Nevada 6
24 Aug 10 Tahoe Meadows  —  Toiyabe NF, Nevada 3
23 Aug 07 Woods Lake Loop  —  Mokelumne Wilderness 6
22 Aug 03 Spillway Lake  —  Yosemite National Park 8
21 Jul 31 Horsetail Falls  —  Desolation Wilderness 4
20 Jul 26 Desolation Valley Loop  —  Desolation Wilderness 6
19 Jul 23 Round Top  —  Mokelumne Wilderness 9
18 Jul 18 Floating Island Lake  —  Desolation Wilderness 2
17 Jul 13 Meiss Lake  —  Eldorado NF 6
16 Jul 10 Gertrude Lake  —  Desolation Wilderness 7
15 Jul 05 Thunder Mountain  —  Eldorado NF 5
14 Jun 29 Elephants Back  —  Mokelumne Wilderness 7
13 Jun 27 Silver Dagger Lake  —  Desolation Wilderness 8
12 Jun 25 Mount Lola  —  White Rock Lake trailhead, Tahoe NF 5
11 Jun 21 Shealor Lakes  —  Eldorado NF 4
10 Jun 18 Lake Sylvia  —  Lyons Creek Trail, Desolation Wilderness 6
9 Jun 16 Long Lake  —  Palisades Creek Trail, Tahoe NF 3
8 Jun 11 Crooked Lakes Trail  —  Carr-Feely trailhead, Tahoe NF 6
7 Jun 09 Glacier Lakes Trail  —  Sterling Lake, Tahoe NF 4
6 Jun 04 Loch Leven Lakes  —  Huysink Road trailhead,  Tahoe NF 5
5 May 23 Grouse Ridge Road  —  Tahoe NF   [snow]  3
4 May 14 Loch Leven trail  —  Big Bend trailhead, Tahoe NF   [snow] 2
3 Apr 17 Big Bald Rock  —  near Oroville 3
2 Mar 18 Buttemilk Bend  —  South Yuba River at Bridgeport 3

-2006-

1 Sep 08 Twenty Lakes Basin  —  Hoover Wilderness 8


ABOUT THE RATINGS

Hikes are evaluated subjectively, based upon actual experiences.  Criteria include scenery, climatic conditions, status of wildflowers and stream flow, companionship, and relative success of cross-country ventures.  Barring an injury, virtually every hike is worthwhile; any non-zero rating indicates that some enjoyment was had.  Call it a "fun factor."

Be aware that I am partial to running water and alpine environments; outings with those features do earn higher ratings.  Unless otherwise specified, all trails are in northern California, particularly the Sierra Nevada.


ELEVATION DESIGNATIONS

Elevation specifications for mountains and lakes are derived from topographic maps whenever possible.  No credence is lent to unofficial sources.  Be aware, however, that official measurements have undergone a wholesale technological overhaul in recent decades, resulting in a revision of virtually all elevation statistics.

On these pages, mountain peak elevations denoted in feet (13061') are derived from map data.  Numbers listed with an asterisk (14179*) reflect the more current estimates as published by the National Elevation Dataset (NED), a function of the U.S. Geological Survey.  Adjustments can be as much as 200 feet or more.  Unfortunately, updates for lakes and other features are not so readily available.


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California hiking trails
Sierra Nevada
Desolation Wilderness
Mokelumne Wilderness
Elephants Back
Sierra wildflowers
Ruby Mountains
Lamoille Canyon
Penner Lake
Feely Lake
Black Buttes
Mount Lola
White Rock Lake
Yosemite National Park
Vernal Falls
Nevada Falls
Spillway Lake
Kuna Crest
Glacier National Park
Lunch Creek
Loch Leven Lakes
Lundy Canyon
Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve
Blue Ridge Trail
Cache Creek Natural Area
Gaylor Lakes
Woods Lake
Winnemucca Lake
Round Top Lake
Smith Lake
Hemlock Lake
Grouse Lake
Island Lake
Umpa Lake
Codfish Falls
Angels Landing
Two Pines Arch
Hidden Canyon
Hidden Arch
Checkerboard Mesa
Emerald Pools
Canyon Overlook
Hidden Gardens
Pine Creek Waterfall
Fairy Falls
Shingle Falls
Twenty Lakes Basin
Conness Glacier
American Canyon Creek Falls
North Fork American River
Jay Bird Canyon Falls
Feather Falls
Mist Falls
Glen Alpine Springs
Susie Lake
Margaret Lake
Budd Lake
Cathedral Lakes
Cathedral Peak
Eichorn Pinnacle
Liberty Lake
Lamoille Canyon
Kinney Lakes
Ebbetts Peak
Rainbow Falls
Devils Postpile
Little Lakes Valley
Gem Lakes
Heart Lake
Showers Lake
Little Round Top
Meiss Lake
Red Lake Peak
Stevens Peak
Pothole Dome
Tuolumne River
Little Devils Postpile
Sword Lake
Lamarck Lakes
Piute Crags
North Lake
Mount Muriel
Devils Lake
Devils Postpile
Haskell Peak
Bloodsucker Lake
Castle Crags
Sierra Point
Illilouette Falls
Castle Crags
Mount Shasta
Chambers Creek
Feather River Canyon
Wapama Falls
Dipsea Trail
Steep Ravine Trail
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Horsethief Canyon
Woodfords Canyon
Snow Lake
Azure Lake
Cody Lake