Ziplining Near Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Ziplines and Adventures is a family-owned and operated ziplining ranch and is about 1 hour away from the east entrance of Yosemite off Highway 140 near the town of Mariposa. It was a perfect way to escape the busy summer Saturday Yosemite crowd.
Hiking to Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
The Half Dome hike has amazing scenery with up close views of Vernal and Nevada Fall. Whatever your level or desire, there are multiple hikes and stopping points along the Mist Trail and you can turn around at any time. So here is a breakdown of the hike up to Half Dome and some facts you'll need if you're lucky enough to get to the summit!
Bridge to Nowhere Hike
The Bridge to Nowhere hike was one of those mysterious, must-do hikes that I seemed to hear about as soon as I moved to Los Angeles. This hike is epic for a reason! It's beautiful, rugged, filled with river crossings, bungee jumpers, a beautiful bridge and even some waterfalls and swimming holes! I never thought I could find this type of terrain so close to LA!
Hidden Valley Hike - Joshua Tree National Park
The next stop was the popular Hidden Valley Trail. This hike is a popular one for many reasons, it's surrounded by picnic areas and a nearby campground, it's right off the main road, it's only a one mile loop, and it's a gorgeous nature walk that is well maintained and easy for all levels.
49 Palms Oasis Hike at Joshua Tree National Park
49 Palms Oasis is a 3-mile roundtrip hike to a fan palm oasis and takes between 2-3 hours to complete. It's considered moderately strenuous and ascends 300 feet each way. This hike has it's own access road off Park Boulevard and therefore does not require an entrance fee.
Emerald Pools Hike- Zion National Park
The Emerald Pools hike is an easy and quick hike that is great for all ages and hiking abilities. There are three stops along the way; the lower, middle, and upper pools so you can plan your hike accordingly or hit all three for a 3 mile roundtrip hike. This is one of the parks most popular hikes so it gets very crowded on the narrow parts of the trail, but it is worth every busy step.
Hiking The Narrows - Zion National Park
The Narrows is one of the most unique and beautiful hikes in America. It was ranked #5 in National Geographic's America's Best 100 Adventures. This gorge runs along the Virgin River in Zion National Park. The entire trail is 16 miles in length and goes from the Temple of Sinawava to Chamberlains Ranch where there is a campground for two-day hikers.
Angels Landing Hike, or the SCARIEST HIKE EVER!
I knew the Angels Landing hike was going to test me. Zion National Park is a part of the Mighty 5 parks in Utah (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Canyonlands, and Capital Reef). Located about 3 hours from Las Vegas, we were able to get there, park, take the shuttle to the visitor center, and then shuttle to The Grotto (the start point for Angles Landing) by noon.
The Pacific Crest Trail and the Wild Effect
With award season in full gear and Oscar buzz for the movie Wild, I began wondering what effect this will have on the Pacific Crest Trail next year. Will the serene woods be filled with new hikers who became inspired to look beyond the world they know? Or will there be an epic number of inexperienced hikers all trying to escape their painful pasts. Instead of the usual bearded and dirty thru-hikers will it be crying, divorcee's carrying condoms?
Sturtevant Falls - The Best Hike Near Los Angeles
Who knew that a gorgeous 50-foot waterfall existed within 30 minutes of LA? This girl! Sturtevant Falls was my favorite hiking discovery when I moved to Los Angeles. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have to drive hours or spend an entire day hiking to find it! Chantry Flats is just north of Pasadena.
Hiking La Jolla Valley to Point Mugu
Point Mugu is one of the best hikes in Malibu, California. It runs through La Jolla Valley and ends at Point Mugu State Park. Just beware of the Malibu mountain lions!