After our hike up Ryan Mountain we headed to the Boy Scout Trailhead off Park Blvd. You can also access this trail from Indian Cove. This is a beautiful trail that hikes through the backcountry. There are options to camp here too. The trail offers a variety of terrain and great views of the Wonderland of Rocks. It follows sandy washes lined with Pinyon pine, juniper and oak. You’ll also travel along a rocky mountainside and through narrow canyons if you take it all the way to Indian Cove. We have done this trail from both directions, but today we our turnaround point was the junction for the Big Pine Trail at 4 miles in. If you hike this trail in its entirety, it is 8 miles one way. The winds were still strong but refreshing. We took our time and soaked in every moment. The desert is a magical place unlike any other I’ve ever experienced. I cannot put it into words. I will continue to return to it for years to come.
Click “Read More” below for more photos from this hike.
We started the day with a hike to the top of Ryan Mountain. We hiked this mountain only once before. It’s a short climb at just 1.5 miles one way, but the elevation gain is 1,070’ so expect to enjoy a nice cardio workout on the way up if you ever decided to check it out. The winds were gusting strong as we made our way to the summit. I was getting pushed around pretty good, but it felt so refreshing! On the summit, we had 360 degree views. In the distance we noted San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, the Pinto Basin and Wonderland of Rocks. This trail is beautifully constructed with sections of rock steps making the climb a little easier. It was a great way to start the day!
Click “Read More” below for more photos from this hike.
On the way to Twentynine Palms, we stopped off at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve to stretch our legs. The preserve offers lovely trails through woodland and wetlands. From the Yucca Ridge Trail there are beautiful views of the San Gorgonio and San Jacinto mountains. We did a quick walk along the Marsh and Desert Willow Trails today, but we have hiked the other trails in the past and they are very enjoyable. The dirt path of the Desert Willow trail passes through cresote bush, Mojave yucca and desert scrub. It was very windy today, but the winds were warm and I enjoyed the dry desert air. We passed through honey mesquite and desert willow before connecting to The Marsh Trail which is a winding boardwalk that winds over a stream under the cottonwoods. The water here drains from the surrounding mountains and flows into a river through the canyon. The ground water rises up along the Morongo fault to form the marsh habitat. Unfortunately, part of the trail system was damaged by Hurricane Hillary earlier this year, but the preserve and volunteers are working to repair the damage. The preserve is also an internationally-recognized birding site and it is home to various wildlife. I highly recommend a stop here if you’re on your way out to Joshua Tree.
Click “Read More” below for more photos from this visit.
The beautiful Pacifico Mountain stands at 7,124’. It’s located in the central San Gabriels and the climb up on the PCT offers expansive views that sweep across the Antelope Valley and the Mojave Desert. This hike is about 6 miles one way. We’ve done it in its entirety in the past, but today our goal was to reach the PCT mile marker, break for lunch and then turn around and head back. With the shorter days, we wanted to make sure we were back down the mountain before darkness fell. We began the hike from Mill Creek Summit heading up the PCT. The aroma of chaparral was comforting and familiar and there was plenty of Manzanita on the trail. The charred trees burned in the Station Fire still held fast. As the trail hugged the north face of Mt. Pacifico, we passed large Spanish Bayonet. The trail is easy graded, but it is narrow and parts have now eroded since we were last here in 2019. We stopped to watch a group of ravens call and croak to one another as they danced and dived on the wind in tandem before landing on the precipitous ledges. I’ve always loved this hike because of those birds. The views to the PCT marker did not disappoint. The clouds decorated the blue sky only adding to the dramatic scenery of this incredible hike. After our break, we began making our way back. It was a nice way to end our time in the Angeles, until we return again next year.
Click “Read More” below for more photos from this hike.
Once again we are back home in Southern California. It is here that I feel more like myself. The mountains and desert terrain is what I know best, and to start our adventures, we chose one of our favorite trails, Waterman Mountain.
Waterman Mountain was named after Liz Waterman, the wife of Bob Waterman who explored the area in 1889 along with Commodore Ferry Switzer. The mountain was originally named “Lady Waterman Mountain” after Liz. Later, when the U.S. Geological Survey mapped the mountain, they removed the “Lady” and the mountain is referred to as “Waterman Mountain”.
We took the trail from Buckhorn off the ACH climbing south through tall stands of Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine and Incense Cedars. This section took a hit from the Bobcat fire in 2020, and there are many charred trees, but the trail is still beautiful nonetheless. The vanilla smell of Jeffrey pines and dry sand along the trail was familiar and welcoming. I felt a sense of comfort. All worries and troubles from the past year were swept away on the fresh mountain air as we stepped onto the trail and began our climb. Once we reached the saddle on Waterman’s east ridge, we enjoyed the spectacular views down into Bear Canyon and out to Twin Peaks. Wildflowers were still blooming along the ridge. We took a short break before heading westward and up to the summit where we sat amongst the large rock formations and enjoyed our lunch. I reminisced how one year on New Year’s day we sipped champagne from the rocks and watched the stealth bomber fly over from the Pasadena Rose Parade. This mountain has always held special meaning to us and the San Gabriel High Country will always be one of my favorite sections of the Angeles.
Click “Read More” below to view more photos from this hike.
Today we headed back to Joshua Tree National Park. The desert is something I miss dearly when I’m on the east coast. I have so many memories here; sunrise, sunset, long hikes in the backcountry, the milky way and endless starry nights. It’s a magic place… hard to put into words, really.
We hiked one of my favorite trails today, the Panorama Loop from Black Rock Campground. At the beginning of the hike, there was a raven perched in a joshua tree. I took a moment to make his acquaintance and listen to what he had to say. His message clearly stated, “Welcome back! We’ve missed you!” (As I said, the desert is a magical place.) :)
The hike on the Panorama loop starts in the far northwest section of Joshua Tree National Park. Much of the trail is hiking through a sandy wash with a moderate incline until you reach the base of a mountain where you’ll make your way up to the high point of the loop. The trail winds through the canyon walls and the scenery is lush and green abundant with juniper, pinyon pine and oak. It’s a very diverse section of desert and that’s why I love it so much. There’s also a spring which contributes to the greenery on this section of trail. At the top of the loop the views are some of the best I’ve seen in the park, in my opinion. You can look out to Mt. San Gorgonio, Mt. San Jacinto, Yucca Valley, Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. The winds were really strong today and we descended just below the high point and took shelter behind some boulders to sit and have a bite to eat while we enjoyed our surroundings. A few groups of horseback riders passed us as they made their way down from the top of the loop. To me, horses and desert encompass everything that is wild and free. This resonates so deep within my heart that it brought a tear of joy to my eye. I guess I am sentimental that way. Being here in this moment and being home again in the places that I love, I was filled with contentment. I laid atop a boulder and just let the winds pass over my body while looking up at the blue sky. As much as I could have stayed there forever, we needed to start heading back. We continued along the trail through the pinyon pines and joshua trees until we arrived back at the start of the loop. It was a wonderful day!
Today we headed back to one of our favorite trails in Wrightwood, the Blue Ridge Trail. I was so happy to be back again and seeing the gorgeous golden color of the black oaks in autumn. We hiked the trail up to the campground and from there traversed northwest along the PCT. We soaked in the spectacular views of Mt. Baden-Powell and listened to the winds blowing through the big pines. I was in my happy place! Along the way we met a group of happy PCT hikers. We shared trail stories and then parted ways to continue to our own destinations. The day was simply perfect and my heart was filled with joy. At about three miles in we turned around and made our way back. We had another destination to cover that day and it was to our favorite diner in Wrightwood, the Grizzly Cafe!
Being back in the mountains of California was the most incredible feeling of coming home. The evening we arrived we walked the hills of Griffith Park overlooking the city lights of Los Angeles. I really can’t describe how happy and at peace I finally felt after being out of sorts on the east coast for the past couple of years. The next morning we drove up the crest into the ANF. I’d not forgotten anything about the highway with its twisting turns, steep drop offs and views of the mountain peaks. I could still point them out. I guess they are not so easily forgotten after spending so much time on top of them. It was a beautiful morning and our plan was to return to Waterman Mountain, a mountain we’d climbed many times, snowshoed in the winter and even spent a New Year’s morning on the summit sipping champagne waiting to see the stealth bomber flyover after it opened the Pasadena Rose parade. We parked the jeep and hit the trail in the cool air and warm sunshine. Immediately I was gifted with the familiar vanilla scent of Jeffrey pine. It almost brought me to tears, only reinforcing that I was truly home. As we made our way up the trail, I noticed the damage that had been done by the Bobcat fire which happened just shortly after we left California in 2020. The trees were charred, but surprisingly the trail was in good shape and still beautiful nonetheless. I thought of all the firemen who put their lives on the line to save this beautiful land. We took our time hiking up the trail through the great conifers and rock formations. I wanted to savor every single moment of this trail. Upon reaching the junction for Twin Peaks and the summit to the top of Waterman, we stopped and sat on the rocks as we’d done so many times before. The quiet forest and sound of the mountain breeze whispering in the trees reminded me that this is where I belong. I felt grounded, centered and at peace. Like a huge weight had been lifted and carried away on the wind. When we were ready, we climbed the rest of the way up to the summit where we sat, had a snack and gave an offering to the forest, thanking it for always being here and taking us in. I had so much gratitude in my heart. We were back! Ready for more adventure!
After we left Big Morongo Canyon Preserve and started heading back to Los Angeles, we decided to make a pit stop at Whitewater Preserve. I’ve been by this area many times on our way to and from Joshua Tree, but never made a point to stop even though I’ve always been curious. Today we decided to check it out. I’m so glad we did! It’s incredibly beautiful and the flowing river is amazing. You wouldn’t think there’s be water like this flowing in a desert. Whitewater Preserve is also part of the Sand to Snow National Monument and it is another wildlife corridor between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. Another birding hot spot, its wetlands attract more then 216 bird species. The preserve also has a population of bear, bighorn sheep and deer. As we hiked along the trail towards the river access, I heard plenty of frogs too. The wind was really kicking up by this time of day and the passing storm clouds coming from the direction of Mt. San Jacinto was causing some light rain showers. You’ll notice the rain spots on my camera lens in the photos. While I didn’t have time to do a proper hike today, Whitewater Preserve is definitely on my list to return. I highly recommend exploring this incredibly unique area.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a wildlife corridor and desert oasis linking the San Gorgonio Wilderness with the San Bernardino National Forest and Joshua Tree National Park. It’s part of the Sand to Snow National Monument and if you’re into bird watching, over 254 species have been observed within the preserves 31,000 acres. It is also an internationally recognized birding site. The marshland habitat is caused by the snowmelt from the surrounding mountain ranges and attracts many animals such as desert bighorn sheep, mule deer and bobcats to name a few. There’s also a trail system that can accommodate all levels of hikers. On this day, it was extremely windy. I did an easy walk around the Desert Willow and the Marsh Trail, but I’ve hiked the Yucca Ridge Trail in the past and the views of the surrounding mountains are wonderful. The trees were blowing around quite a bit, so it was hard to get many good bird photos. I was, however, able to photograph my first Phainopepla. Adding another bird to my life list always makes my day!
Hiking the Panorama Loop from Black Rock Campground. This hike starts in the far northwest section of Joshua Tree National Park. You can park at the Black Rock Canyon Campground where there’s a visitors center and bathrooms. From there, look for campsite #30 and you’ll find the trailhead. You’ll see a water tank and a dirt road which you will follow southeast for a short distance until you are on a dirt trail. You’ll reach a sign for the Panorama Loop and Warren Peak via Black Rock Canyon Trail. Much of the trail is hiking through a sandy wash with a moderate incline. You’ll be winding through canyon walls here and as you continue, you’ll notice the lush greenery beginning to present itself. This area is abundant with pinyon pine, juniper and oak. You’ll also discover a spring. But keep your eyes peeled because it’s easy to miss. When we were here in February it was just a trickle. However, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen in this area such as insects, birds, rabbits, and ground squirrels. It’s a very unique section of the park. At about 1.7 miles in you’ll find the signage for the start of the loop to Panorama Peak. If you hike it clockwise, you’ll have a steeper climb up, but it will save your knees on the way down the other side. As you do the work to ascend, you’ll be rewarded with views of snow capped Mt. San Gorgonio. Continue upward on the steep switchbacks for incredible panoramic views of Mt. San Jacinto, Yucca Valley, Mt. San Gorgonio and the Coachella Valley. You can even catch a glimpse of the Salton Sea. When you’re ready to return, follow the ridge and descend down into a wash where you’ll continue to enjoy the lush terrain along with majestic Joshua Trees. Eventually, you’ll be back at the start of the loop and return the way you came. It was a beautiful hike. Much different then the typical terrain I’m used to seeing in the desert.
Today we headed up the ACH with our maps, but no solid commitment to a particular trail. I really just wanted to bird watch. We ended up stopping at Cloudburst Summit and hiking down into Cooper Canyon. This is a beautiful section of Angeles National Forest. We’d hike this last year on the PCT in the summer. This time there was a lot of snow. The weather was perfect. It was cool, but the sun was warming. We took a break at Cooper Canyon Trail camp and both of us dozed off lying on top of a log. We saw lots of ladybugs near the stream and there were a lot of butterflies on the trail which was surprising since there was still so much snow on the ground. I was able to get a few photos of the butterflies and I believe they were California Tortoiseshells. My bird sighting list for today included plenty of Mountain Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Common Ravens and a new one to add to my list, a Clark’s Nutcracker. It was a perfectly beautiful day.
It was a beautiful Sunday to spend a night in Idyllwild. As we drove up the 243 early Sunday morning, the fog hung heavy over the mountain. Our first stop was Lake Fulmor where I did a little bird watching. This was a much different experience then when we were here on New Year’s day. On that day we couldn’t even get near the lake because there were so many people. This time we had the whole place to ourselves, and it was wonderful! It was so quiet and the fog rolling over the lake was eerily beautiful. I saw a beautiful Red-wing Blackbirds singing in the cattails; a new species to add to my life list! After about an hour or more enjoying the lake, we headed to the Ranger Station to drop off our permit for the Deer Springs Trail. My husband brought along his video camera, and I had both my Nikon birding camera and my Lumix. We took our time and mostly played around with the cameras taking photos and video and not worrying too much about covering any set amount of mileage. The forecast was calling for rain turning into snow later in the afternoon/evening, so we had to keep an eye on the weather. When we reached the junction for Suicide Rock it was clouding up quite a bit, but we decided to push on since it was only one more mile. The forest was very quiet and as we approached Suicide Rock, we started to see some light snow flurries. The clouds were thickening and looming over the mountain and the sky was turning darker and gray. It was so pretty and so peaceful. As we hiked down we passed through a couple of light hail storms. It wasn’t a long hike back — only about four miles. I was thoroughly enjoying the mountain weather and the peace and quiet of the wilderness. We got back to the trailhead around 4:30 pm. By that time I was tired and I was looking forwards to a nice, warm dinner and spending the night by a cozy fire back at our cabin in Idyllwild. It was a beautiful hike. I love it when the weather is gray and chilly. After dinner we snuggled up by the fire and fell asleep. I kept waking up every once in a while to look out the window to see if it had started to snow. The wind was blowing strong and I could see the pine trees being rocked back and forth. It was nice to be snuggled up in a nice warm cabin and I enjoyed listening to the wind in the trees. The next morning there was a light dusting of snow on the car. We got the fireplace going and my husband went to pick up some breakfast while I waited inside. It was snowing and hailing off and on all morning. We enjoyed the lovely fire, a delicious pancake breakfast and the warmth of the cabin before heading back to Los Angeles.
Ahhhh! Another amazing trip to Joshua Tree! Have I mentioned how much I love it here??? We visit several times a year, but we always go in January because the weather couldn't be more perfect for hiking. On our trip in November we hiked the Boy Scout Trail from Indian Cove. It's a 7.7 mile hike one way and on that day we did about 3 miles. This time we got an earlier start and we hiked it from the opposite end from the trailhead at Keys View West. The trail starts off pleasantly flat from this direction but eventually starts to descend gradually until it finally makes a bee line for the canyon floor. But the really fun part is climbing back up on the way back! We saw very few people on our hike today which was surprising since the Boy Scout Trail is pretty popular with backpackers and people who do it as a shuttle hike. But we did see a lot of desert critters including a HUGE Jack rabbit. We hiked the trail just past the point where we had turned around last time and ended up with about an 11 mile day. This was a lovely trail filled with beautiful pinyon pines and juniper. The climbing section provided a moderate challenge which was just enough to make us not feel guilty about the delicious dinner we had later at the Twenty-nine Palms Inn. After dinner, we settled in back at our cottage at Campbell House. I stepped outside to watch the moon rise and listen to their resident owls. We heard them during the night too. It was so peaceful. It slept so good. I always feel very at peace in the desert. It was a great day and a restful night. I woke up feeling relaxed and recharged.
On the way back from Johsua Tree we stopped at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. We’d been here once before, but at the time, I wasn’t into birding. I’d read that this was a birding hot spot, so I was super excited to go again. We didn’t do a big hike on this day. I mostly meandered about the short Marsh Trail in awe of all the different kinds of birds I was seeing and trying to get photos of them. This place is such a gem and I can’t wait to go back again for more birding!
Today we headed up to my favorite go-to place for snowshoeing, Waterman Mountain. We started out on the fire road which had been plowed. When we reached the junction to the Waterman Trail, we hopped on it and began the climb up. The beginning of the trail had been broken by other snowshoers, but it was deep and difficult to maneuver. Eventually, the trail disappeared and there were no more tracks. We were on our own at this point to break trail. It was a nice challenge and we were having fun. Boy was it a workout! We were postholing a lot and it was hard work getting through the deep, heavy snow. It was definitely not the powder we all prefer. After we’d had enough of a challenge, we decided to head back to the fire road and take it easy. Coming back on the trail was just as difficult going down as it was going up. We returned to the fire road, hiked until we were satisfied and then headed home. It was beautiful winter day!
On this trip we spent some time in the town of Idyllwild and stayed at a romantic little cabin compete with a cozy fireplace. It was perfect for the holidays. The weather was chilly and there were still patches of snow around from the last snowfall. I’d been wanting to come up here for a while, but never made the time. I finally had a chance to scope out some new potential trails to explore on this side of the mountain. The trail that we chose was the Deer Springs Trail. This trail will take you all the way to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. It’s about a 16 mile round trip hike, and I’d love to do this over the summer when the snow is melted. Today we hiked a little past the junction for Suicide Rock. The trail was steep without much of a breather, but it was lovely and a nice, steady climb. At about 6,000’ feet we started to encounter more snow and some patches of ice on the trail, but nothing unsafe that we couldn’t navigate with light traction. We did about six miles today. The weather was perfect with clear skies and fresh mountain air! We will definitely be back again.
Headed up Josephine Peak today. With storms predicted, I wanted to get in a quick hike before we’d be stuck at sea level for a couple of days. If we get the amount of snow they’re calling for, CalTrans will have their work cut out for them. This next storm is supposed to be bigger than the one we had on Thanksgiving. If that’s the case, the next time we’re up here we’ll be donning the snow gear (and believe me, I can’t wait!). It was a perfect day for this hike. The clouds were rolling past Strawberry Peak making for great photography. The sun was in and out for most of the afternoon. As we wrapped around to the north, it got much cooler and the wind picked up slightly. There were plenty of ravens to watch as they put on their aerial displays, diving and twisting in the sky. They are fascinating birds to watch, and I’ve become enamored with them through the years. We didn’t see one other person on this hike today. I guess everyone is out Christmas shopping. As we headed back, the sun began to lower on the horizon and the clouds started to roll in and wrap around the mountain. Glad we got one in before the weather hits tomorrow!
It had been raining the past few days, but we got out for a bit on Thanksgiving to do rain hike in Griffith Park. But what I’d really been waiting for was to get up into the forest. The snow levels came down to about 3,000’! We headed up Angeles Crest around 8:30 am and started seeing snow just past Clear Creek Station. We went as far the 6,000’ Day Use Area (just before Winston Peak and Cloudburst Summit) which is where they had the snow gates closed. The road was clear until that point with just little patches of snow/ice here and there, and although we carried chains we didn’t need to use them. We parked the car, geared up in our snowshoes and got to climbing up the hill. There was no trail so we broke our own. We snowshoed up to a high point near John Henge rocks. Our elevation top out was 6,600’. It was a steep, but short climb and enough to give us a good work out. The snow was super deep. We were both in awe of seeing the forest covered in snow at such low elevations. We took in all in and thoroughly enjoyed this gift of an amazingly beautiful early snowfall. I hope this is a precursor of what’s to come this winter!
This weekend we did a hike up Pacifico Mountain. I love this hike. It’s a nice, long 13 mile day from Mill Creek, and in the summer the trail is full of wildflowers. I also enjoy this hike because I always see lots of ravens. They are such fascinating and intelligent birds. I love to watch them twisting and twirling as they play in the wind. On this day we got started a little late. We didn’t have time to cover all 13 miles, so we didn’t go all the way to the campground. When we first arrived the wind was gusting pretty hard, but it subsided as we got to hiking. As we climbed higher, we started to see snow on the trail left over from the rains we had the previous week. I imagine this will be the last time we hike this trail until the snow melts. Because this is a north facing mountain, the snow will hold for a long time. There’s another storm coming later in the week, and this one is supposed to bring a lot of snow down to the lower elevations. There is another route to the top on a fire road that you can take, but I’ve never tried hiking it. This could be an option for a future winter hike rather than the icy trail. As always, we had another fantastic day in the mountains!
We spent another relaxing weekend in Joshua Tree. Before we left, I researched a few different hikes, but I wasn’t really tied to any one plan. We didn’t get up super early, so by the time we got to Joshua Tree it was around 11:30 am. There was a sign on the 62 diverting people to enter the park at the north entrance. That’s when I knew it would be a long line of traffic to get into the park. This is the price you pay when you don’t get up early. Rather than wasting more time, I remembered the Boy Scout Trail. You can gain access to the trailhead at Indian Cove Road. So that’s what we did and it ended up being a lovely day void of any crowds. The hike on the Boy Scout Trail starts out fairly flat and then slowly begins to ascend gradually. We were taken through beautiful winding canyons surrounded by huge walls of rocks. The scenery was wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed this pleasant, leisurely hike through the backcountry. When we reached our turnaround time, we headed back. With the days being much shorter, we’d soon be running out of daylight. The Boy Scout Trail is a little over 7 miles one way. If you begin on the Indian Cove side, it hikes you into the park. You can also start from the trailhead off Park Boulevard and hike all the way to Indian Cove. Some people like to do a car shuttle so then you only have to hike the 7 miles one way. After the hike we checked in at my absolute favorite place to stay in Twentynine Palms, The Campbell House. Then we had dinner and drinks at The Twentynine Palms Inn. Afterwards, we came back to the room, put on our fluffy robes and watched old movies on TV. I get so relaxed when I come here! The next morning we had breakfast in the main dining room and then headed out. We drove to Juniper Flats and hopped on the California Riding and Hiking Trail until we reached the junction for the Stubbe Springs Loop. From there we decided to loop it back on Juniper Flats road. It was an unseasonably warm day for November. Hopefully, when we come back in January, it will be cooler. At any rate, we had a wonderful time just as we always do any time we visit this magical desert.
