#dayhike — Public Fediverse posts

Just a little hike on shifting ground under shifting weather at the local National Natural Landmark. For more information, check here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/01/shifting-sands-loop-of-ma-lel-dunes.html

#California #HumboldtCounty #HumboldtBayNationalWildlifeRefuge #MalelDunes #NationalNaturalLandmark
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #sanddunes #sand #beach

Got in a little bit of snowshoeing on a day hike out to see the canyon along Swift Creek, a popular Trinity Alps Wilderness location in the summer, and finally check around an old cabin.

For all the details, check here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/01/swift-creek-snow-survey.html

#California #ShastaNationalForest #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness #TrinityCounty
#waterfall #nature #landscape #hike #travel #outside #dayhike #mountains #snowshoeing #snow #canyon #river #water

One last grand wandering along the thin colored leaves of Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland that met up with a bit of history here and there.

For more info, check this link: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/10/ilchester-to-soapstone.html

#Maryland #PatapscoValleyStatePark #Ilchester #Soapstone #PatapscoRiver #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #river #forest #fallColors #history

Off to see another waterfall, this one so great it is called Great Falls! I also experienced a few miles of historic canal tow path, wandered past some mining history, but failed to get going on the particularly rough bit of trail.

The details are all here:
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/10/great-falls-of-patomac-river.html
Warning! Way too many photos included!

#Maryland #GreatFalls #ChesapeakeAndOhioCanalNationalHistoricalPark #ChesapeakeAndOhioCanal #PotomacRiver
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #canal #mining #river #waterfall #fallcolors #mine

We headed out for a bunch of little hikes among the peaks of the Lassics, which tend to feature in the minds of the outdoorsy locals because they can be seen from so many places.
Many more details here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/08/hiking-lassics.html

#California #SixRiversNationalForest #MountLassicWilderness #HumboldtCounty #TrinityCounty
#publicLands #NationalForest #nature #landscape #hiking #dayhike #travel #hike #outside blogpost

Once the crowds had died down from the official opening of this very important link in the Humboldt Bay Trail, I headed out to see how it was.

The details are here:
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/07/humboldt-bay-trail-connected.html

#HumboldtBay #California #HumboldtCounty #HumboldtBayNationalWildlifeRefuge
#hiking #nature #HumboldtBayTrail #GreatRedwoodTrail #CCT #CaliforniaCoastalTrail #landscape #hike #travel #outside #dayhike #pavedwalk #bayside

Back to Yolla Bolly for a little trail work, this time around the south mountains. This is the very southern end of the Bigfoot Trail! The first two days, we worked to Long Lake and along a connector trail for the Ides Cove National Recreation Trail.

All the details are here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/06/south-yolla-bolly-square-lake-and-burnt.html

#California #TehamaCounty #MendocinoNationalForest #YollaBollyMiddleEelWilderness
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #volunteering #volunteer #BigfootTrail #NRT

There were hints that it might be a grand time to view Rhododendrons, so Rhododendrons were viewed. Other flowers were about, too.

The details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/06/rhododendrons-on-rhododendron-trail.html

#California #HumboldtCounty #RedwoodNationalAndStateParks #PrairieCreekRedwoodsStatePark

#hiking #nature #hikingAdventures #hikeCalifornia #CalParks #landscape #travel #outside #hike #dayhike #forest #publiclands #flowers #wildflowers

They call it the "green Trinities", but it's the Salmon Mountains and here's a few lakes and a peak on a short day hike among them.

The blog post is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/05/north-trinity-mountain-waterdog-lake.html

#California #SixRiversNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness #HumboldtCounty

#dayhike #hiking #nature #SixRiversNF #landscape #outside #travel #hike #SalmonTrinityPrimitiveArea #snow #flowers #BloomScrolling #wildflowers #lakes

Next, the hike:
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/05/black-rock-mountain-lookout.html
which visited the old Guard Station location and then climbed to the fire lookout location. Only one is still standing and none were entered.

#California #TrinityCounty #TehamaCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #YollaBollyMiddleEelWilderness

#hiking #dayhike #ShastaTrinityNF #TrinityNF #YollaBolly #fireLookout #nature #wilderness #publicLands #TrinityNationalForest #landscape #hike #travel #outside #peakbagger #peakbagging

Hey, look! Actually got to the popular bit of the Trinity Alps Wilderness! Er, at a time when it's still really easy to get a parking space, even on the weekend.
The details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/04/waterfalls-and-snow-in-canyon-creek.html

#hiking #dayhike #hikingCalifornia #CaliforniaHiking #California #TrinityNationalForest #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness #TrinityAlps #TrinityCounty #snow #waterfall #nature #landscape #travel #outside stuff like that

For #ThrowbackThursday: #OnThisDay in 2017, I made a start in the faint dawn light at the end of Templin Highway to bag the Lower Peaks Committee (#SierraClub) listed Redrock Mountain. They list the benchmark, anyway. The actual peak was my goal and is a little further along the ridge. I skipped looking for any cursed gold mines the area is known for and went for the more reliable reward of beauty. The narrows of Fish Canyon, a diversion into the canyons past Pianobox when I missed a turn, then high into a clearing sky where the last wild California condor soared before all were captured. Once headed down again, I took a different route, a repeat of a stunning canyon I had hiked before, but this time with enough light to see it.

It was a wonderful day and the whole story is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2017/03/redrock-mountain.html

#hiking #dayhike #nature #canyon #peak #peakbagging #TbT #OTD

Things to do in February: bag desert peaks! For this #ThrowbackThursday I have a Feb 2022 hike up Corkscrew Peak in Death Valley, listed by the Desert Peaks Section. Unlike the last one, this was on my own like most my hikes. Some quick weather was expected to blow by in the morning, but it held off a couple hours. Without the weather, it would have just been boring blue sky all across the whole day.

The story's here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2022/02/corkscrew-peak.html

#hiking #dayhike #DeathValleyNationalPark #California #USA #peakbagging #DPS

#ThrowbackThursday In 2018, I spent a January day with the Hundred Peaks Section bagging my 100th listed peak. I should probably join up some time to get credit! They're a great bunch and allow all to come along even if you haven't joined. It doesn't even matter how many times.

For the whole story, the blog post is here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2018/01/butterfly-peak-and-rock-point.html and if you want to keep exploring, click the HPS tag for more HPS peaks and the Sierra Club tag for more club outings.

#SanBernardinoNationalForest #California #HPS #peakbagging #hiking #dayhike #landscape #nature

There's not been some real content here for a while, so I asked my everything map for just the January ones and picked this for a #throwbackThursday post. Seems I've generally been on the coast or Arizona for the first month.

Table Top may have been the most mundane of my Mojave National Preserve hikes, but also the most approachable of the off trail adventures there. Just a bit of across and a bit of up, a wander around the edge of the tall mesa for the view, then back the same way.

Get the whole story here (and a chance to click the tag for the others): https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2019/01/table-top.html

#hiking #dayHike #MojaveNationalPreserve #California #desert #peakbagging #nature #landscape #distance

Although a little busy on a weekend day and a little bit on road, this was a surprisingly nice hike to a peak and old lookout site where the view really opened out.
Details all here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/monument-peak-and-eagle-rock-lookout.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #MonumentPeak

#hiking #dayhike #ShastaTrinityNF #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #TrinityNationalForest #firelookout #ruins #peakbagger

Although a little busy on a weekend day and a little bit on road, this was a surprisingly nice hike to a peak and old lookout site where the view really opened out.
Details all here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/monument-peak-and-eagle-rock-lookout.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #MonumentPeak

#hiking #dayhike #ShastaTrinityNF #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #TrinityNationalForest #firelookout #ruins #peakbagger

Although a little busy on a weekend day and a little bit on road, this was a surprisingly nice hike to a peak and old lookout site where the view really opened out.
Details all here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/monument-peak-and-eagle-rock-lookout.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #MonumentPeak

#hiking #dayhike #ShastaTrinityNF #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #TrinityNationalForest #firelookout #ruins #peakbagger

Although a little busy on a weekend day and a little bit on road, this was a surprisingly nice hike to a peak and old lookout site where the view really opened out.
Details all here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/monument-peak-and-eagle-rock-lookout.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #MonumentPeak

#hiking #dayhike #ShastaTrinityNF #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #TrinityNationalForest #firelookout #ruins #peakbagger

Although a little busy on a weekend day and a little bit on road, this was a surprisingly nice hike to a peak and old lookout site where the view really opened out.
Details all here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/monument-peak-and-eagle-rock-lookout.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #MonumentPeak

#hiking #dayhike #ShastaTrinityNF #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #TrinityNationalForest #firelookout #ruins #peakbagger

Here's the easy way to get up Hayfork Bally, if you don't want the 8.5 mile lesser maintained trail and Jeep road route:
https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/hayfork-bally-lookout-and-high-point.html
#California #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityCounty #HayforkBally

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #mountains #peakbagging #peakbagger #peak #lookout #firelookout #TrinityNationalForest #Hayfork #PNW

When I saw "Natural Bridge" on the map, I had to go see it. It's off Bridge Gulch Road in Bridge Gulch, so I'm not the only one obsessed. (Plaque words are in the alt.)

All the details are here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/massacre-natural-bridge.html

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityNationalForest #PNW #naturalbridge #limestone

Back to the portion of the Bigfoot Trail that is along East Fork Tule Creek, this time the part that actually follows the creek.
Details are all here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/east-tule-creek.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #EastTuleCreek

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #creek #TrinityNationalForest #CaliforniaHiking

A little bit of climbing on another halfway forgotten trail. I went high enough for views, but there's more possible as one could continue all the way to the top of Hayfork Bally.

Details here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/bear-creek-trail.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNF #Hayfork

#hiking #dayhike #nature #landscape #mountains

Spending a little more time down by the river side. That's the South Fork Trinity River side.

Details are here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/10/lower-south-fork-river-trail.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #SouthForkTrinityRiver

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #TrinityNationalForest #river #goodCampingPlace

I decided it was time for a little peak bagging, complete with lookout. Oh, and a waterfall to check out and still on the Bigfoot Trail route.
Details are here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/09/philpot-waterfall-and-plummer-peak.html
#California #TrinityCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #TrinityNationalForest #peakbagger #peakbagging #peak #firelookout #waterfall

Starting by the historic barn and wandering down through (and once over) old growth to the tallest trees in the world at Tall Trees. All the details and so many more pictures of big trees are here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/08/dolason-prairie-and-tall-trees.html
#California #HumboldtCounty #RedwoodNationalPark #RedwoodNationalAndStateParks

#hiking #dayhike #thickTrunkThursday #redwoods #forest #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #trees #tallTrees #bigTrees

I made it out to the old growth redwoods and late in the day I could even feel those big trees getting ever bigger! And there was even a rhododendron remaining along the Rhododendron Trail this late in the season.

All the details are in the blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/08/big-tree-and-rhododendron-trail-to.html
#California #HumboldtCounty #PrairieCreekRedwoodsStatePark #RedwoodNationalAndStateParks
(The alt includes information about the subject and what the signs say.)

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #forest #trees #redwoods #walking #bigtrees

I delved deeper into the southern reaches of the McKay Community Forest, which is still mostly not technically open, but not closed either. It is definitely green.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/05/henderson-gulch-and-ryan-creek.html
#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #McKayCommunityForest

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #communityForest #countyPark #publiclands #optOutside #getOutside #redwoods #forest

Out to see the northernmost reaches of the McKay Community Forest. Probably few know some of these bits even are part of the community forest.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/03/ryan-creek-and-slough.html

#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #McKayCommunityForest #hiking #dayhike #communityForest #nature #landscape #travel #outside #hike #forest #woods #trees #creek #slough #geese #redwoods

I took the first day of spring to go out and see the new McKinleyville Community Forest! Unfortunately, it was a very grey start to the colorful season.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/03/mckinleyville-community-forest.html

#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #McKinleyvilleCommunityForest #McKinleyville #hiking #dayhike #communityForest #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #newplaces

The Beith Creek Loop is a spot to see a big tree or two, but the focus here is closer to the ground where some flowers are finishing up and others just starting.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/03/beith-creek-loop.html

#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #ArcataCommunityForest #BeithCreekLoop #hiking #dayhike #communityForest #redwoods #flowers #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside

Out on the Humboldt Bay Trail, which goes a little further now, where the Elk River, the largest tributary to Humboldt Bay, reaches that bay.

New blog post and sooo many more pictures: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/03/hikshari-trail-extension-and-eureka.html

#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #hiking #landscape #nature #travel #dayhike #hike #outside #ocean #HumboldtBayTrail #EurekaWaterfrontTrail #HikshariTrail #CaliforniaCoastalTrail #GreatRedwoodTrail #railsToTrails #coastaltrail #HumboldtBay #ElkRiver

Back to US-50, I completed the circle through Nevada with one last little hike joining a pair of interpretive trails outside Fallon. The interpretive trail at Grimes Point showcases the 8000 year old petroglyphs of the area. The interpretive trail at Hidden Cave showcases the geology including the tufa with its human connections.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/grimes-point-and-hidden-cave.html

#USA #Nevada #StillwaterBLM #GrimesPoint #HiddenCave

#hiking #dayhike #desert #petroglyphs #tufa #nature #landscape #outside #travel #hike #interpretivetrail #calciumcarbonate

Back to US-50, I completed the circle through Nevada with one last little hike joining a pair of interpretive trails outside Fallon. The interpretive trail at Grimes Point showcases the 8000 year old petroglyphs of the area. The interpretive trail at Hidden Cave showcases the geology including the tufa with its human connections.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/grimes-point-and-hidden-cave.html

#USA #Nevada #StillwaterBLM #GrimesPoint #HiddenCave

#hiking #dayhike #desert #petroglyphs #tufa #nature #landscape #outside #travel #hike #interpretivetrail #calciumcarbonate

Back to US-50, I completed the circle through Nevada with one last little hike joining a pair of interpretive trails outside Fallon. The interpretive trail at Grimes Point showcases the 8000 year old petroglyphs of the area. The interpretive trail at Hidden Cave showcases the geology including the tufa with its human connections.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/grimes-point-and-hidden-cave.html

#USA #Nevada #StillwaterBLM #GrimesPoint #HiddenCave

#hiking #dayhike #desert #petroglyphs #tufa #nature #landscape #outside #travel #hike #interpretivetrail #calciumcarbonate

Back to US-50, I completed the circle through Nevada with one last little hike joining a pair of interpretive trails outside Fallon. The interpretive trail at Grimes Point showcases the 8000 year old petroglyphs of the area. The interpretive trail at Hidden Cave showcases the geology including the tufa with its human connections.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/grimes-point-and-hidden-cave.html

#USA #Nevada #StillwaterBLM #GrimesPoint #HiddenCave

#hiking #dayhike #desert #petroglyphs #tufa #nature #landscape #outside #travel #hike #interpretivetrail #calciumcarbonate

I finished the day popping up to a little peak for the view and a geocache.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/below-corey-peak.html

#USA #Nevada #ToiyabeNF #HumboldtToiyabeNF

#hiking #dayhike #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #peakbagger

A journey to the high point of the Garfield Hills. It's a 2000 foot prominence peak, so "hills" seems a bit of a misnomer.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/garfield-hills-high-point.html

#USA #Nevada #StillwaterBLM #GreatBasin

#dayhike #desert #peakbagging #mountains #nature #outside #landscape #hiking #travel #hike #peakbagger #views

Some more peak bagging, but staying warmer by keeping lower. (Probably more useful was the lack of wind.) Exploring some area mining on the way up, too.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/mable-mountain-of-garfield-hills.html

#USA #Nevada #GreatBasin #StillwaterBLM #GarfieldHills #MableMountain
#hiking #dayhike #mine #ruins #nature #desert #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #peakbagger

More of the grandeur of erosive forces in the Monte Cristo Range, but this time with sunlight!

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/monte-cristo-canyons.html

#Nevada #GreatBasin #TonopahBLM #MonteCristoRange
#dayhike #hiking #nature #landscape #canyon #desert #travel #outside #hike #mountains #erosion #geology

A hike to see a striking, but rather short, peak. Then on to a taller, but not so striking, peak. The geology of the Esmeralda Formation (I think) dominates interesting patches along the way.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/castle-peak-and-norman-benchmark.html

#USA #Nevada #GreatBasin #TonopahBLM #MonteCristoRange
#hiking #dayhike #peakbagger #peakbagging #desert #basinandrange #EsmeraldaFormation #geology #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains

A hike to see a striking, but rather short, peak. Then on to a taller, but not so striking, peak. The geology of the Esmeralda Formation (I think) dominates interesting patches along the way.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/castle-peak-and-norman-benchmark.html

#USA #Nevada #GreatBasin #TonopahBLM #MonteCristoRange
#hiking #dayhike #peakbagger #peakbagging #desert #basinandrange #EsmeraldaFormation #geology #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains

A hike to see a striking, but rather short, peak. Then on to a taller, but not so striking, peak. The geology of the Esmeralda Formation (I think) dominates interesting patches along the way.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/castle-peak-and-norman-benchmark.html

#USA #Nevada #GreatBasin #TonopahBLM #MonteCristoRange
#hiking #dayhike #peakbagger #peakbagging #desert #basinandrange #EsmeraldaFormation #geology #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains

A hike to see a striking, but rather short, peak. Then on to a taller, but not so striking, peak. The geology of the Esmeralda Formation (I think) dominates interesting patches along the way.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/castle-peak-and-norman-benchmark.html

#USA #Nevada #GreatBasin #TonopahBLM #MonteCristoRange
#hiking #dayhike #peakbagger #peakbagging #desert #basinandrange #EsmeraldaFormation #geology #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains

Poking around The Crater. Because volcanos are fun!

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-crater.html

#hiking #GreatBasin #desert #volcano #nature #landscape #Nevada #TonopahBLM #basinandrange #mountains #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #peakbagging #peakbagger

Poking around The Crater. Because volcanos are fun!

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-crater.html

#hiking #GreatBasin #desert #volcano #nature #landscape #Nevada #TonopahBLM #basinandrange #mountains #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #peakbagging #peakbagger

Poking around The Crater. Because volcanos are fun!

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-crater.html

#hiking #GreatBasin #desert #volcano #nature #landscape #Nevada #TonopahBLM #basinandrange #mountains #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #peakbagging #peakbagger

Poking around The Crater. Because volcanos are fun!

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-crater.html

#hiking #GreatBasin #desert #volcano #nature #landscape #Nevada #TonopahBLM #basinandrange #mountains #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #peakbagging #peakbagger

Poking around The Crater. Because volcanos are fun!

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-crater.html

#hiking #GreatBasin #desert #volcano #nature #landscape #Nevada #TonopahBLM #basinandrange #mountains #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #peakbagging #peakbagger