A hike in January

January 6, 2021, was not a good day for the U.S.; but we knew nothing about the events occurring as we happily hiked from the trailhead at Sterling Pointe on Folsom’s north fork that morning. Parking is free and plentiful, with room for both cars and horse trailers. The trails can be a bit confusing, but in general if you […]

Read More →

Spring at Steele Canyon

Northern California’s Lake Berryessa has seen many changes over the years since its construction in the 1950s, not all of them positive. While the reservoir provides flood control and drinking water for a number of communities along the west side of the Sacramento Valley, it’s also been a prime location for recreation facilities, administered by the California Bureau of Reclamation […]

Read More →

A walk on the beach

We walked from the house where we were staying over to Manchester Beach via an unpaved road cutting through what was once private property but is now part of a State Park Nature Preserve. I’m hoping to get a chance to explore this area further; both times I walked out this way it was late afternoon and I ended up […]

Read More →

The trail at Caples Lake

A week or so ago I shared some photos from an outing to Caples Lake near Kirkwood and Carson Pass, and today I have a few more scenes from that trip. There were quite a few images that I overlooked until going back through my archives recently, and I’m always very happy to find pictures I’ve forgotten about, sitting there […]

Read More →

Walking to Manchester

Mendocino County has such a beautiful coastline that it can be frustrating when we often find access blocked by private property and “No Trespassing” signs. I’m really grateful that the California Coastal Commission is always working to protect the state’s coastal habitats and to improve access to beaches and bluffs. Whenever we get over to the coast for a few […]

Read More →

Salmon Falls splendor

Colors, details, and wide vistas — all found on an autumn hike by the shore of Folsom Lake, on and around the Monte Vista Trail. I sometimes wish I could have seen this area before the building of Folsom Dam. It’s clearly very rich in history as well as plants and wildlife.

Read More →