Does anyone have any trail recommendations for a hike around the San Diego area? I’m looking for one with a great ocean view while I’m out there in mid March. Also plan on going to Joshua Tree National Park if anyone has advice for there.
Calling all hikers
- Thread starter hawkeyetraveler
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At least in Iowa all you have to worry about is a stray farm dog or a rabid coon…
Don’t hesitate to use youtube as a resource. I do it all the time.
Edit: or the free (or paid) version of All Trails
I’ve actually done Longs twice as well
. Very fun hike/climb! It was my first 14er when I used to vacation to Estes Park every summer during high school and college. I’ve actually knocked off about half of the 14ers to date. So it’s getting to the point where I need to venture further from the front range to keep knocking them off.
We did a drive thru, day hike, trip thru Joshua Tree some years back. Beeeyootiful ground. This was the last real hike we did with my Pops. Kinda bouldering, climbing in one stretch, we came up close and personal to one of the biggest rattlers I have ever seen. Dad was reaching out to a rock outcrop for support when he suddenly pulled back his hand. The reptile was huuuge.
I think that JT is in a crisis these days due to severe drought. Seems like I read that many of the cacti are showing signs of distress.
Rattlers.. oh no!😳 I better keep that info to myself & not share with no pics wife🤣
Not to say they were particularly abundant, but that one specimen was memorable. I hope y’all get to have fun in the JT.
If you want to go a bit farther afield I highly recommend Mt Whitney in Ca (tallest peak in lower 48). I find the Sierras to be even more scenic than the Colorado peaks - which is saying something as Colorado is amazing. I’ve only bagged Bierstadt and Quandary in Colorado but looking forward to doing more later this year.I’ve actually done Longs twice as well
I’ve actually knocked off about half of the 14ers to date. So it’s getting to the point where I need to venture further from the front range to keep knocking them off.
Daughter and I have bagged a number of the Southern Sixers… those above 6,000 feets in the south.
Haywood County, where we live, is thick with them.
Haywood County, where we live, is thick with them.
Whitney is definitely on the “to do” list at some point. Ideally I’ll tag it while doing the PCT. I spent six years of my childhood in northern CA. So I spent a decent amount of time in the Yosemite area. CA does absolutely have some gorgeous areas as well.
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Yep, there are some quality places to hike in Iowa. I love Ledges. When I was a kid, i'd ride my bike out there and do the trails
Glacier is amazing. We stayed at Many Glacier campground maybe 10 years ago or so and indeed saw two Moose in a small lake maybe about 1 mile from our campsite. Something very big walked by our tent one night and that had me a little nervous…guessing it was a bear of some sort.
For me the highlight was the Highline trail. I would not recommend if you are scared of heights though. It’s narrow in points with a very long fall if you misstep.
Your post about the Highline reminds me of Angels Landing in Zion NP.
It’s narrow in points with a very long fall if you misstep.
Your post about the Highline reminds me of Angels Landing in Zion NP.
It’s narrow in points with a very long fall if you misstep.
I used to live in Montana. Never saw a mountain lion, but once the no-pic and I took a short winter hike up the south fork of the Teton on the Front breaking trail after a fresh snow. Five minutes after we turned around, fresh mountain lion tracks crossed ours. People would say that for every mountain lion you see, at least a hundred have watched you. Easy to believe.
The Highline is great, but sometimes you end up on the cliff's edge and it's only about a 2 feet wide with people ahead of you either stopped or coming at you. There is that cable to hang onto, but I'm not super fond of heights and when you look down or away from the wall there is that great expanse of absolutely nothing but air for about a mile below and getting around someone on the edge side sets my brain on edge as well. The last time we were on it my son was a bit ahead of me and right along the narrowest part of the trail I noticed a mountain goat on a tiny ledge about 8 feet right above his head. It was an interesting picture to say the least. I didn’t say anything for fear of startling him till we were off the ledge.
Not central Iowa, but if you get into it, Yellow River State Forest is my favorite place to hike in Iowa. Tons of great trails and beautiful scenery there.
Fantastic thread, man! Hope you have good weather and a great time. Did you have much trouble getting backcountry permits for camping? I'm looking at October for a R2R2R, but worried about getting a spot. Worse case scenario, I guess we'll do the whole distance rim to rim each day, but I'd like to have more time to take it all in. Haven't been there, but Ribbon Falls is highly recommended. Last I heard the bridge got damaged in a flash flood, so not sure if open.
Also, get to Zion when you can but go off season. I just got back from hitting Utah's mighty five and the Grand Canyon. Zion was very busy the day with nice weather, and much more open when it was colder the next day. Just a stunningly beautiful place, but very heavily visited, and a lot of work being done right now. Capitol Reef is a slept on gem as well.
Tagging my PSU frenemy from the wrestling boards, @HikeNatParks. I figure he has some good insight to share in this thread.
We absolutely love Capital Reef... It's by far our favorite park out of the mighty 5 and we loved em all. Zion was very beutiful but very busy in May but I'd go back in the off-season.
Edit.. the Kolob Canyon section of Zion wasn't too busy in May but the rest of the park was.
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No issue with permits this early in the year. This is my second year in a row doing it and both times permits were easy to get. Last year I did it solo and this year we got a group permit which I hear are near impossible to get later in the year. It is now projected to be unseasonably cold (lows in the 20’s vs we were hoping lows in the 40s) in the canyon so that will make things a little uncomfortable at night.
Ribbon Falls is definitely on the possible side quest list. When I was alone last year I wanted to do it, but yes the bridge is no longer there. The creek was very elevated and flowing very fast last year. I was planning to do it on day 3 with super tired sore legs. I ended up backing out as i almost wiped out on a slick rock starting to cross and realized if I fell it might be a very bad situation - ice cold water and no one around for miles. Hoping this year with our group we do it - but then again it would be on top of a 14 miles day.
Thanks for the advice on Zion and Capitol Reef!
Kolub is a cool area. We went in after noon one day with the sun at our back and the red rocks were mind blowing, as were the wild flowers, especially the Columbine. It was just a day trip there, but I sure would like to go back.
That area is underrated... There's a couple really good trails in that area I wanna go back for. Way less people too.
CSB, one of the wife's cousin's is in sports medicine, and she used to work with a lot of Olympic athletes when she lived in Colorado. She did every one of the 14s that you could navigate without equipment in a day.I’ve actually done Longs twice as well
I’ve actually knocked off about half of the 14ers to date. So it’s getting to the point where I need to venture further from the front range to keep knocking them off.
Young, sports medicine, so, yeah, giant pile of wood.
The wife and I love to look at a map and pick a college town with interesting looking state parks near it, then plan a 3-4 day vacation out of the college town home base. We are looking at Carbondale, IL, for the next one. Southern Illinois has some nice looking parks and great topography. We do the college towns because they have ample, nice hotels, and after a day of hiking we can find a local favorite restaurant for dinner.
As examples: Winona, MN, Duluth, MN, Stevens Point, WI, Platteville, WI, Bloomington, IL, Terre Haute, IN, have all been base camp for us.
As examples: Winona, MN, Duluth, MN, Stevens Point, WI, Platteville, WI, Bloomington, IL, Terre Haute, IN, have all been base camp for us.
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