Hike Review: McKinley Peak

Location: north of Highland, CA
Distance: 3 miles round trip 
Difficulty: strenous 
Elevation Change: 1,700 feet 
Time of Year Best: late fall, winter, spring, no shade

Fun hike. No shade. No crowds. Easy to lose the trail. Register/log at the top. There were only a dozen or so entries from all of 2013. There was an entry in the log from Iron Hiker who had climbed McKinley the day before. 
Saw some mule deer. It's nice knowing you aren't the only option for lion food.

 

Hike Review: Mission Bay Park

Mission Bay Park

Location: north of San Diego near SeaWorld
Distance: optional  
Difficulty: easy  
Elevation Change: zero (you're walking on the beach)  
Time of Year Best: any

Mission Bay is shielded from the Pacific Ocean by Mission Beach. There are a lot of sidewalks, parking, grass, bathrooms, and people. If you go early in the morning, you will have the place to yourself, but the grass fills up quick with people to picnic, bbq, and enjoy the sun. If you want to go for a swim, don't go to Mission Bay. Although some people swim here, the water if largely stagnant. It is better to go to Mission Beach and swim in the surf. At Mission Bay, the atmosphere is much more relaxed and much more accessible then the beach. You can park at one of the many large parking areas, carry your picnic gear to the nearest grassy patch and you are ready to bbq. I saw a lot of these while I was there: Char-Broil Smoker Grill. Mission Bay is a very cool place to come hike/walk and relax with the family or friends. There is a lot of room to run and play. 

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Box Springs Mountain Park Hiking Trails in Riverside, CA

Box Springs Mountain Park

Box Springs Mountain Park offer some excellent hiking and biking trails suprisingly close to Riverside, CA. Box Springs is an island of wilderness. From the top of the parks high point you can look down on Riverside and Moreno Valley and the tangled freeways. I have been several times and each time the park has been empty. There are fifteen miles of trails. It can get very hot. Due to proximity to the city and the types that the city produces, there is some graffiti on some of the rocks and trash strewn about. However, the hiking, the ease of travel, and the amazing views make this an excellent half day destination.

Click here: for a map and directions.

Onyx Peak near Big Bear Lake

On the road to Big Bear from Redlands on highway 38, you must pass through Onyx Summit, at 8,443, this road is the highest paved through road in all of southern California. At Onyx Summit, there is a turn off to the east of the highway for a dirt road 1N01 that leads to Onyx Peak (9,113). However, the road is usually gated about 1 mile from the peak. Park here and walk the 2 miles round trip for an easy hike. There is about 300 feet of elevation gain.

Location: eastern part of the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear
Distance: 2 miles round-trip
Difficulty: moderate to easy
Elevation Change: 300 feet
Time of Year Best: any
Recommended Map: National Geographic TOPO! Weekend Explorer 3D (Los Angeles, Los Padres, San Bernardino National Forest)

Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park

Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park

Vernal Falls Mist

Vernal Falls from Mist Trail

Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park reigns majestic as a mighty awe of God's handiwork. Approaching the falls via the Mist Trail the sound booms deafening. Approaching the falls the mist rains steady and the sight demands pause. Prepare to get wet and walk steady as the trail travails into the mist.                

Location: eastern end of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park
Distance: 3 miles round-trip
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Elevation Change: 1,000 feet
Time of Year Best: May
Recommended Map: Yosemite SW - Yosemite Valley & Wawona - Trails Illustrated Map # 306

Mirror Lake in Yosemite National Park

Hiking to Mirror Lake was mostly easy.  Round trip it was a flat 2.5 miles from the bus stop. We walked the paved road to a bridge that crossed the Tenaya Creek. Instead of crossing the bridge and following the road like we were supposed to, we followed a well worn dirt trail that skirted along the creek opposite side of the paved road until Mirror Lake. This trail ran between the creek on one side and the cliffs of Half Dome on the other. The scenery and the broken rocks through here were surreal. Once we arrived at a meadow we realized we had reached Mirror Lake, but we failed to find a way across Tenaya Creek and were content to walk back the way we came. The weather was overcast, but Mirror Lake lived up to its name. Thunder and rain accompanied our hike.