hikespeak

Contact Mine was in operation at the start of the 20th century, extracting gold and silver from the mountains south of Twentynine Palms, California. A hundred years of desert decay have left the mine rusty but recognizable. The old road to the mine is worn down and eroded, now just a little-used hiking trail. This 3.95-mile round trip trek ascends 700 feet up a wash, a canyon, and an old road to a mountainside mine site that offers a glimpse into the mining history of Joshua Tree National Park. ...Read more.

Mount Pickering rises to 13,485 feet and offers fine views over the Sierra. While not tall enough to be called a 14er, this 13er offers great views of two of those exclusive peaks, Mount Whitney and Mount Langley, as well as several other high peaks. This remote mountain is located west of the Sierra Crest in the Whitney Region of Sequoia National Park. ...Read more.

If you are hiking to Sky Blue Lake in the high mountain backcountry of Sequoia National Park, There are nearby lakes worth visiting. Primrose Lake, is located just off the side of Miter Basin and is a scenic destination. To get to Primrose Lake, follow Upper Rock Creek to Miter Basin. Pass the Major General on the right and turn left up the last cirque before the ridge that separates Primrose Lake from Sky Blue Lake at the top of the basin (see the map below for a visual explanation). ...Read more.

A remote and picturesque basin on the west side of Sequoia National Park rises to a large lake with waters so deep and blue you will think you are staring up at the heavens. The trek up Miter Basin begins at Rock Creek Meadow, nine miles from the nearest trailhead. Those making the hike typically stay overnight in the area, and nearby Lower Soldier Lake offers great camping for backpackers. ...Read more.

Cirque Peak can be reached from either Cottonwood Pass Trail or Cottonwood Lakes Trail. The mountain rises between the two, straddling the divide of the Golden Trout and John Muir Wildernesses. The summit boasts an excellent panorama with a good look at Mount Langley to the north, the Cottonwood Lakes to the east, and the sprawling Sierra to the west. ...Read more.

Rising to 14,042 feet, Mount Langley is less than five hundred feet shorter than Mount Whitney but receives far fewer visitors. While the lottery to get a permit for Mount Whitney can be challenging and competitive, Mount Langley's hikers can easily get a free permit on the day of their hike. The summit provides expansive views, solitude, and a deep feeling of accomplishment. ...Read more.

Sidewinder Canyon is located at the base of the Black Mountains on the east side of Death Valley National Park south of Badwater Basin. The canyon is fairly wide with a gravel bottom and forty-foot stone walls on both side. Within these walls lie tight slot canyons with pour-overs, carve outs, and dark passages that beg to be explored. There are three slot canyons off the south wall of the canyon and other slightly wider side canyons worth experiencing. ...Read more.

This 8.5-mile hike ascends 2,500 feet to summit a 6,365-foot peak in the small range of mountains in the southwestern corner of Mojave National Preserve. Silver Peak looks out across the Granite Mountains toward the Kelso Dunes, Cima Dome, and the peaks of the Providence Range - a worthy view of Mojave National Preserve to be sure. Nearby Granite Peak is the tallest mountain in the range (6,762 feet), but Silver Peak is an easier hike because there is a rough trail leading almost all the way to the summit. ...Read more.

Calabasas Peak offers panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains, Red Rock Canyon Park, and a sliver of the Pacific Ocean. To the north, the peak looks down on the city of Calabasas and a wide stretch of the San Fernando Valley. The 3.6-mile round trip hike to Calabasas Peak travels an easy-to-follow fire road. There is 900 feet of elevation gain along the way, but that effort is rewarded by great views at every turn. ...Read more.

Rose Valley Falls is a magnificent two-tier 300-foot waterfall located on the west end of the Topatopa Mountains in Los Padres National Forest. Rose Valley Falls is the tallest waterfall in the range and while it is an easy hike to the base of the 100-foot tall lower tier of the waterfall (0.8 miles round trip with 150 feet of elevation gain), it is adventure to reach the more impressive upper tier. ...Read more.