Bartle Gap to Peak 6213

Near: Mt Shasta
Distance: 13 Miles
Elevation: 4,800 to 6,200 feet
Vegetation: Pine Forest and Manzanita
Last Visit: May 2020

The Pacific Crest Trail takes a long detour around Mt Shasta near the California/Oregon border.  Along the southern stretch of this loop is an oft-overlooked series of ridges that are mostly tree covered, but offer a few great views of Mt Shasta across the McCloud River Basin to the north and even a few peaks at Lassen Peak across the lower hills to the south.  Peak 6213 is one of the main high points on this ridge, with outstanding views from it's brushy, manzanita covered summit.  This route is doable as a day hike, or as an overnight trip.  If backpacking, beware that water can be hard to come by on the ridge in the summer.  While less sweeping than the views at Peak 6213, there are also some good views to be had at Mushroom Rock, which the PCT passes under en route to 6213, but be aware that reaching Mushroom Rock requires some painstaking bushwhacking through thick manzanita bushes. (See the route notes for more detail on our misadventure to Mushroom Rock).

Feather Falls

Near: Oroville
Distance: 8 miles
Elevation: 2,400 to 1,400 feet
Vegetation: Deciduous/Pine Forest transition
Last Visit: May 2020

 

 **Note: this hike was impacted by the North Fire Complex of 2020.  Check the Feather River Ranger District website for up to date information on trails**

I wasn't ready for Feather Falls.  From the few pictures I'd seen, I didn't really get a good sense of scale.  I was expecting a pleasant but not that impressive set of low-elevation California falls like maybe Murietta Falls or Alamere Falls.  But unless you're in the Yosemite Valley, you're not going to find any more impressive falls than Feather Falls.  In the spring and late summer, a large creek drops 500 feet down a cliff face viewed from an unobstructed platform built about 500 feet away from the falls on a steep ridge.

This was both a pleasant and problematic surprise.  You see, for our first return to the mountains in the Covid 19 shelter in place of spring 2020... I chose these falls as our destination.  Some minor falls away from any well known state or national parks seemed like a good bet not to be too crowded.  If I had just looked at the frequency of postings on All Trails, I would have realized otherwise.  This is a VERY popular hike, with all the extra annoyance that entails.  (Pot smoking teenagers at the falls, lots of cell phone boom-boxing, etc).   Also there is a lot of poison oak along the narrow trail, which is also on a steep hillside near the falls.  So social distancing is near impossible.  (Not that anyone besides us even bothered trying).  So if you're not up for big crowds (or your dog is unexcited about a lot of close contact with dogs going the other way on the trail), I strongly suggest you avoid this hike on pleasant spring weekends.  If I had it to do over again I'd come on a cool, damp, early spring day.

Piute Pass

Near: Bishop
Distance: 10 Miles
Elevation: 9,000 - 11,300 feet
Vegetation: Pine forest to moon scape
Last Visit: November 2019

Piute Pass is a relatively easy (by the standards of the Bishop area) route over the Pacific Crest from the east.  The trail up Bishop Creek passes between the imposing peaks of Mt Thoreau and Mt Emerson, past a couple of alpine lakes, and emerges onto the wide expanse of Humprey's Basin.  This hike is pleasant, and the steep sides of the Bishop Creek canyon and surrounding peaks make for imposing scenery, but for me, the pass and Humprey's Basin were just a bit too barren for my aesthetic tastes.  I like me some rocky peaks, but they're best when contrasted with some shady forest and green meadows. Like much of the immediate area around Bishop, Piute Pass is really more of a desert person's jam.

Mammoth Crest

Near: Mammoth Lakes
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation: 9,000 - 11,300 feet
Vegetation: Mostly pine, some sandy open plateau
Last Visit: November 2019

 

The ridge line of Mammoth Crest, overlooking Lake George in the Mammoth Lakes area, is one of the most easily accessible high points in the High Sierra.   The high-point on this hike is very reachable by fit hikers, but this route is also a great starting point for less experienced hikers or those who want to take in the High Sierra, but are still working on the altitude acclimatization because there are several rewarding shortened versions of the hike. 

The first mile or so is a 700 foot climb up a ridge overlooking Lake George.  The trail switchbacks into the shade then back out to the ridge for nice views of the lake many times on the way up. Those views are well worth the effort.  There is an option to take in Crystal Lake just under the impressive spike of rock called the Crystal Crag with only a 3 mile round trip, and an option for a 4 mile round trip to the shoulder of the main ridge line which affords fantastic views of the Ansel Adams Wilderness and the cluster of peaks known as The Minarets to the northwest.  But if you can make it the high point atop the cliffs overlooking Hammil Lake is fantastic.  

We didn't have enough daylight on the November day we visited to attempt this, but it's possible to continue along the crest to beautiful Duck Lake and then loop down to Lake George from there.  I can see why that loop is very highly rated. Though from what we could see and by all reports the section between the crest and Duck Pass can be hard to navigate, so do not attempt it without a good map and route finding experience.

Bear Lake

Near: Pincrest Lake
Distance: 6.5 Miles
Elevation: 7,100 to 7,700 feet
Vegetation: Pine Forest
Last Visit: November 2019

Bear Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness is a good destination for a relaxed day hike.  The fact that I thought the lake was very ho-hum is a sign that I'm getting spoiled.  It's a pleasant spot with some rocky minor peaks overlooking it.  I was a bit more excited to scramble around the rocky prominence above Bear Lake and the smaller Camp Lake the trail passes along the way.  From those spots you get some expansive views over the valley to the south and into the wilderness. 

Mariposa Point

Near: San Jose
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation: 1,500 to 3,000 feet
Vegetation: Pasture
Last Visit: Spring 2019

**Note: This hike was affected by the 2020 SCU fire complex. Check on official information for Joseph D Grant Park, for up to date information on the state of trails there** 

Mariposa Point is not the highest point in Joseph D Grant Park, near San Jose, but close, and it's the point with the most prominence.  At just shy of 3,000 feet it's one of the highest places in the San Francisco Bay Area that you can hike to with a dog.  There's no point with unobstructed 360 degree views, but the views at the point and at a few places along the high ridge leading to it are still quite good, particularly in the spring when the grass is green. 

Black Diamond Mines Preserve

Near: Antioch
Distance: 4.5 miles 
Elevation: 300 to 1,200 ft 
Vegetation: Oak and pasture
Last Visit: May 2020

Black Diamond Mines Preserve is another hilly grassy San Francisco East Bay cowpark.  Wide trails climb steep grassy hills with sparse oak trees.  The east-west running ridge running through the middle of the park has a nice combination of views of nearby Mt Diablo to the south, and the flat expanse of the Sacramento River Delta to the north and east.  Sadly my phone was dead on this run so no pictures. Make sure to bring water for yourself and your dog, this route is very exposed with only a few bits of shade up along the ridge.

Hilton Creek Lakes

Near: Bishop
Trip Type: Day Hike
Distance: 10 miles
Elevation: 9,700 to 10,300 ft
Vegetation: Pine and Aspen
Last Visit: October 2018

3rd Hilton Creek Lake

Sitting about avoiding Covid19, I found this old incomplete post for a hike to the Hilton Lakes (Hilton Creek Lakes on some maps) in the eastern Sierra near Bishop, CA.  The Hilton Lakes make a nice destination for a moderate hike without going too crazy on elevation, which can be a challenge in the area.  But all in all, a it's a bit less spectacular than some of the other hikes in the area from nearby trailheads to the south. 

Lake Aloha

Region: Lake Tahoe
Distance: 12 Miles
Elevation: 7,400 - 8,400 ft
Vegetation: Pine Forest
Last Visit: October 2019



The Lake Aloha basin is a truly unique piece of the Desolation Wilderness.  In a broad, sparsely treed, rocky bowl surrounded by high peaks, there was once a collection of small interconnected lakes (the Medley Lakes) separated by a maze of low rocky ledges.  In the early 1900s the outlet to the basin was dammed, forming Aloha Lake.  If you visit in spring or early summer the entire basin is a broad shallow lake, late in the summer or fall, the Medley Lakes re-emerge as Aloha Lake is drained to keep water higher in downstream lakes and keep the Echo Lake Water Taxi viable.  Either way, it's a beautiful spot and a popular destination for overnight camping trips or day hikes.