Tucked back from the main road opposite the trail to the more famous Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) in Haleakala National Park, the Pipiwai Trail leads through forests and along a creek until it reaches a towering waterfall. While the waterfall is pretty nice, the highlight of this trail is the mile-long stretch that runs …
Yosemite, Day 2: Panorama Trail
Distance: 8.5 MilesElevation Gained: 800'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 4:45Critters: NoneDetails:The Panorama Trail is one of the more popular and famous trails in Yosemite. It doesn't rank quite up there with Half Dome or Yosemite Falls, but it still encompasses one of the most popular areas of the Valley, from Glacier Point two the canyon holding Vernal …
Yellowstone: The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
Distance: 3 MilesElevation Gained: 1,000'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 2:00Critters: Bison, elkPros:- Epic waterfalls- Epic views of an epic canyonCons:- Hot- Crowded, particularly on the stairs- Sight-seeing fatigueDetails:After the stops at Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs, Kelly and I set out for a long stretch of driving around the northern loop through Yellowstone Park. To …
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Tokopah Falls – Sequoia National Park
Distance: 3.4 MilesElevation Gained: 400'Difficulty: EasyTime: 2 hours?Critters: Deer, marmot, rumors of a bearPros:- Easy hike through a beautiful glacial valley- Enormous cascading waterfall- Towering rock cragsCons:- Close to Lodgepole Campground, which is a noisy madhouse Details:Tokopah Falls is one of the landmark trails in Sequoia National Park. The trailhead is located within Lodgepole Campground …
Mt. San Antonio (Baldy)
Distance: 11.2 MilesElevation Gain: 3,900'Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 7:30Critters: chipmunks, squirrelsPros:- incredible mountain topography, including precarious drops, stellar views, mixed-conifer forest, alpine forest, waterfalls.- Highest peak in L.A. County- Flat-out awesome.- Wind!Cons:- WIND!!!- A lot of smog in the L.A. Basin Details:Mt. Baldy Fire Road - Devil's Backbone Trail - Baldy Bowl Trail Wow.Just wow. This phenomenal …
Berry Creek Falls Loop and Pine Mountain
Campground Connector Trail - Redwood Trail - Sunset Trail - Berry Creek Falls Trail - Skyline to the Sea Trail - Bubbs Creek Trail - Pine Mountain Trail.Distance: Berry Creek Falls Loop - 12 Miles              Pine Mountain - 5.2 MilesElevation Gained: 700', 1,200' Difficulty: Strenuous, ModerateTime: 6:15 (Berry Creek), 3:12 (Pine Mountain)Critters: NonePros: - Great trees, …
Santiago Peak
Trabuco Creek Road - Holy Jim Trail - Main Divide Road - Holy Jim Falls TrailDistance: 18.8Elevation Gain: 4,100'Difficulty: Strenuous (but you should call a therapist about that masochistic streak)Time: 6:50Critters: A salamander, a gopher snake, hawks, rabbits, squirrels, teenagers.Pros:- From a central location in the SoCal area, you can experience epic views of every …
Backpacking in Santa Anita Canyon
First Water Trail - Gabrielino Trail - Rim Trail - Sturtevant Trail - Lower Winter Creek TrailDistance: Day 1 - 5.2 Miles              Day 2 - 13.5 MilesElevation Gain: 4,100' totalDifficulty: StrenuousCritters: A thriving grey squirrel populationPros: - Easily accessible from Los Angeles- Beautiful forest set along a stream- A sense of being a world apart …
Los Penasquitos Canyon
Penasquitos Canyon TrailDistance: 11 MilesElevation Gain: 300 feetTime: 3:50Difficulty: ModerateCritters: A coyote, woodpeckers, various verminPros: - Close to urban and suburban areas of San Diego- Long stretches of oak and riparian woodland- Nice waterfall stop halfway can cut the distance in half- Accessible on the the east and west ends- Surprisingly remote feeling despite how …
Photography – Western Sierras
These pictures were taken during two summer trips to the Sierras. The first trip, taken in June, 2011, went through Giant Forest, the High Sierra Trail, the Lakes Trail, Kings Canyon, Paradise Valley, Mist Falls, Redwood Canyon, and Stony Creek. The second trip in August 2011, which was shorter and included less hiking, features Moro …
scott turner hikes 