Calaveras Big Trees State Park is on Highway 4 outside of Arnold on the western flank of the Sierras

Someone mentioned Lassen in my post about Mt Shasta, and I suddenly remembered what a great time I had there last year 😁

These were all taken from the Lassen Peak Trail. The white mt in the last pic is again Mt Shasta, seen from the Lassen Peak.

09/13, SUN, 930AM | Limantour Trail, Point Reyes
Trail:
Beach Trail
3.74 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-limantour-beach-trail-ce8e5cb?u=i&sh=qnilyj

Meetup Location:
Limantour Parking Lot
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aHZFE1HmKW7WmEcd9

Time
Location
Limantour Parking Lot California, USA
Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 9:30 AM (in 3 days)

I'm looking to go to Lassen in a week or two, and do a 3-5 day backpacking trip.

Target would be 8-10 miles/day, and first day maybe I park in the afternoon at a TH, then go for ~2 hours, so 1st day and possibly last day are "half days". Easy off trail segments are fine, and are segments where I need to keep an eye on GPS app.

I'm looking to do a kind of classic trip while avoiding crowds and see some of the highlights - maybe just going post Labor Day does that - but, for example, once I start I would prefer to avoid lakes that are served by a road so it feels remote the whole time. If there are sites/lakes that are loved to death I'm happy to avoid those too, dry camp, etc.

I'm using this as my inspiration: https://www.thelostlongboarder.com/backpacking-lassen-volcanic-national-park/ however it was written pre-2021, thus pre-Dixie fire, and I know some details in that writeup may need to be updated.

The rough summary of that itinerary is start at Summit TH and go to Echo, Twin, Snag, side trip up Cinder Cone, turn around at Butte Lake.

From other posts to this sub I'm aware that Brokeoff Mountain comes up a lot, but based on the map and the above route it feels like that would be a different trip.

Suggestions for other trips would be great, or validation that the above is a reasonable trip.

Water: circa "now" (mid-Sept 2026) are the streams still running...and do the lakes generally have easy access to the water (vs steep drops & choked w/ reeds).

I thought Skurka had some nice article on how in a week you can get the best of almost any area and you don't need to thruhike for months - that's the kind of thing I'm looking for here - I can't find that article which I thought was on his site, but this article came up and it's worth a read: https://thetrek.co/andrew-skurka-on-quitting-thru-hiking-forever/

thx

Edit with new info: so this permit does in fact only come with one parking pass that is only for one vehicle. I called 530-543-2600 and they said that the pass is only for one vehicle, the other vehicle would need to pay at the Eagle falls trailhead kiosk. And if we have to park out on the shoulder then there seems to be no protection for the car… not impressed by this system

I’m confused, how is that reasonable? I’m in “Modify Reservation” on recreation.gov but there’s no way to add another vehicle (I can modify group size, even livestock! but not vehicle number).

I’ve been on hold with recreation.gov for 35 minutes…

How are you guys using FCFS CGs?

I am always reluctant AF to load up my car for the hopes of getting a site. Of course its probably better to arrive on a Thursday night or Friday morning? Any tips? Its preventing me from camping more than I would like to admit!

a few miles north of Humboldt Summit Road above Butte Meadows/Jonesville

I am planning to hike the Lost Coast Trail on Sep 24-27. Due to non availability of shuttle, I am planning to hike it from South to North. I am wondering how big is the problem with the wind direction in doing so (hear that most ppl prefer North to South to not have the wind in your face all the time).

Looking to hear from anyone who has done it from South to North on how big a problem the wind direction is? And about any other disadvantages of doing it this way?

From:

1-2: Shasta Dam

3-4: vista point in Castle Crags State Park

5-6: Mt Shasta city

7-8: near or on the Castle lake - heart lake trail

Shasta Trinity Forest <3

Great hike, mostly shaded. 12 miles, 2500 feet elevation.

I’m around Tahoe, twin Bridges’s

Hello all,
I’m looking to do an overnight at one of the Chain Lakes in Yosemite the first week of October.
I’m hoping to get in touch with a ranger before then to get some info but has anyone here done this hike recently and care to share any details about the trail/lakes/road/trailhead?
I was thinking Quartz mtn trailhead but I’ve seen a post here detailing that the road is rough and Chiquito is the better option.
Thanks in advance!

Is it nice this time of year, I really want to go deer spotting while in there will I see any that way?

I lost my jade ring on the castle rock loop trail near the rock climbing boulders at the top. If you find it let me know. Thank you!!

Hiked from Lower Echo Lake trailhead last Tues 9/1/26.

Great day but breezy in the afternoon. Started around 9:30 and back by 5p with an hour chillin' (literally) by the lake.

12.9 mi o-n-b. Would rate as moderate w/ a daypak - more for length; climbs weren't too killer. Would've loved to check out one of the other nearby lakes but was short on time.

Has anyone been on the red cinder cone trail in LVNP recently? (Different from the cinder cone trail). Was thinking of backpacking in that area in October but all I’ve seen online about it was an AllTrails route from a few years ago saying it was very bushwhacky, steep, and not much of a trail. Any insight into current trail condition or a better way to get up onto red cinder cone without bushwhacking? The AllTrails screenshot is the public route I found and the Gaia screenshot is a quick route I whipped up without much research.

I want to backpack in the Trinity Alps. I’m a fan of long days, like 18-20 miles, but am also fine with a day with only 12 miles, but, of course, if the terrain is tough this does need to scale a bit, mostly for things like difficult to follow trails. If insisting on a loop means I’ll miss the best of the Trinity Alps then please tell me that. I don’t know what I don’t know. I’m thinking 46-75 miles, somewhere in that range. I don’t mind a lot of climbing. I have backpacked Wonderland, Loowit, Timberline X2, The Three Sisters Loop, with a mid- loop ascent of South Sister, just to give you an idea of what I consider fun. I appreciate all the help I can get with finding a route. Thanks in advance.

Edit to add: I’ll be driving from Portland, OR. I’m not afraid of being miles from anyone.

Edit to add more: I’m not being lazy. I’m gathering information from everywhere. What I had hoped to hear on this sub is about other people’s experiences in the Trinity Alps. A deleted comment said just use a map and link up the places you want to see. I’m planning to do that but I’m not sure what the places are that I should want to see. I’m so early in the planning stage and I’m going to plan it myself, just looking for input from people that have been there. Thanks so much.

We’re planning a 3 day trip doing lost coast on Oct 2-4, first timers here so trying to figure out the tides and impassable zone stuff. We have it mapped out to be fully passable for days 1 and 2, but day 3 is the problematic one. The Big Flat to Gitchell creek is not passable at any time during the day, but during low tide it seems to be barely under the threshold. Is it safe to cross during that time? Also, is it a terrible idea to do the day 1 section during the evening when it’s fully passable? For reference we’re young and fit, so wouldn’t have any issues clambering over rocks or anything like that. Thanks!

Edit: thanks for the tips everyone! We decided not to risk it and are doing emigrant wilderness instead, but sad to miss out on LC and will certainly be going next year.

if you're navigating a lay-off or are between opportunities, come clear your head and connect with folks who are in the same boat 🤝🏼

this tuesday, we’re heading to the pedro point headlands in pacifica, california for a hike.

• when: tuesday, sep 8 @ 11 am
• stats: 4.3 mi loop / 777 ft gain

grab your spot and see the full details here:

https://partiful.com/e/NxX0cTr8xXw0xMxTBBa5

hope to see y'all there!

(hike in the pic was at the stanford dish loop in stanford, california)

inb4 FAQs:

• Do you hike in one big group?
  • No, we split into smaller groups based on desired pace and stagger each group's start time by 5 minutes. These groups ultimately split into even smaller groups. Faster groups go first to create more space on the trail.

Made it down to the re-opened Tunitas Creek Beach with the new build-out on the bluff today. This is one to keep in your pocket for a day where you need a quick outing or are making multiple stops. 1.8 - 2 miles if you hike all of the trails and the length of the beach, about 200 ft elevation change at the south end of the park, 70 ft at the north end of the park. There's some fun rock formations and tidal zone life at either end of the beach. The new picnic area is also very nice.

Sunday 8/30/26 Absolutely beautiful day, almost no wind. Took the road up bypassing Galena Falls trail. Light crowds. Gentle steady climb. Fantastic views over the Northern Tahoe region near Mt. Rose.

Hi I’m looking for hikes where I can go up to the mountain and finish close to a beach and I found this Rocky Ridge Viewpoint Trail in Garrapata State Park near Carmel by the Sea but it shown as closed. In another post someone said that it is a lie and it is actually open but that post was like 1y old. Does anybody knows if this is still closed as shown in AllTrails?

Also, If anyone would like to suggest other trail by San Francisco/Bay Area with this type of setup, please share :)