Redwood Nature trail

This trail is only .6 mile and is a relatively easy hike.  The redwood nature trail is in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and its about 22 miles from Saratoga, its an hour drive but its worth it. To get to the hike, the look for a tall redwood post in the parking lot across from the headquarters, follow the trail and then turn on the second left.  For the most part this trail is really flat, it climbs about 10 feet over the whole trail.  The trail is alongside a creek, and there are various amounts of trees you can see on this hike.  This is a pretty popular hike, so there is usually a good amount of people on it. This trail is pretty much all shaded because of all of the huge trees, but there is always some sun shining through.

Clean Up!

Taylor and I have decided, since 20 time is winding down its time to get serious about the clean up. We will evaluate and discuss which trail to clean but plan on preforming the clean up on May 6 sometime after school. We already have some students interested and have reached the amount we planned on (10 people) but anyone is welcome but they have to provide there own transportation. Once we figure out which trail to clean then we will post the location and more information for any interested in helping out. We will be bringing trash bags to pick up the litter that tarnishes the mountains I love so much and I can't wait to actually make a real difference, even if it's only one trail, it's a start! Anyone interested can talk to me at school or leave a comment and I'll fill you in on more details.

Berry Creek Falls

Now this is no hike for beginners. Most of the other hikes and trails on this blog are moderate so that a wide array of people can enjoy them, but the Berry Creek Falls loop is not for just anyone. It takes up an entire day and is about 11 miles round trip. It is beautiful and deep into the forest where great redwoods are abundant. The trail is steep and challenging in areas and the hike over all is very rigorous but the end result is completely worth it. Once you hike about 5 or 6 miles out you can reach the powerful berry creek water falls the run beautiful down the mountain side. It's important for this hike that you bring a map however because it is easy to get set of course and miss your destination. All the shade from the redwoods makes the trail pretty cool but layers are still recommended. The sunset trail lead you to the falls and is a very steep trail but there are areas to turn back and other trails to explore if you don't want to commit to the 11 mile loop. There are obstacles on this trail like small bridges to cross but the views are so beautiful its worth it all. Below is a photo of the farthest fall on the hike and I recommend this hike as a goal for any prospective hikers.

Summit Rock Loop

This 2.5 mile loop is a beautiful scenic hike off skyline boulevard. This trail is one of the more popular and crowded trails, especially on weekends. The deep woods and pretty rock formations make for a relaxing hike that is relatively moderate. Parking is probably the only real challenge of this hike because the space for cars is limited. The park is near a shooting range so it can be loud at times and dogs are welcome but must be on leash. The trail is mostly shaded and can get hilly at parts so its important to bring water in case you get tired on the uphill sections. The trails is very woodsy and has everything a hiker could ask for except a view of the valley. It gets dark quickly under the thickness of the trees so its best to hike this trail earlier in the day1 Great beginners hike and well worth the drive.

Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden trail is pretty short and easy hike, its a mile there and a mile back.  This trail is almost completely shaded, so you can hike this no matter what the weathers like. On this trail you are surrounded by all sorts of trees and plants.  The trail leads to a big swimming hole where a lot of people like to go swimming and picnic.  This is a good trail to take with your friends or family because its an easy fun trail and you can go swimming. Be careful because this trail does not allow dogs, they can fine you up to $300. Overall this was a really fun hike.

Moving Along: 4th Blog Post

It's been difficult to find time for 20 time. With spring break and these busy school weeks Taylor and I have had little time for 20 time. We have continued to hike and collect data but haven't transferred much new information onto our blog. Overall this hasn't affected us much though and we expect to pick up more steam as we get into the back into things. The next step for us is to continue compiling information and begin preparations for our TED talk. With 20 time winding down its important to finish up strong and continue to work towards our goal of a thorough polished hiking blog. It's a little stressful knowing that the TED talk will act as our final but I believe we have done good enough work to create and solid presentation. We are beginning to organize our clean up and have recruited a few school mates who are interested in helping out. We hope to expand and get more volunteers and promote the clean up more in the upcoming weeks.

Castle Rock State Park

The Castle Rock State Park Loop is approximately 6.5 miles around and could be considered a moderate or medium to high intensity hike depending on your experience. Their are varying types of gorgeous scenery to observe like beautiful trees, lookouts, and rocks. This trail is shaded in many areas and some parts of the trail is open. The trail is lengthy and has swells of hills so proper footwear is recommended. The trail becomes very narrow in some areas so make sure to watch your footing! Many animals can be seen as well as many different kinds of birds. You can climb on many of the rocks and enjoy the view but be careful its not all as easy as it looks. This trail is great in spring because it isn't too hot and the shade makes it very easy to rest and cool off at some of the more challenging parts of the hike. Castle rock itself is a massive state part with many different trails, this is just to Park Loop, so if you wish to go on a shorter excursion then there are countless other trails to explore.