Hiking blogs

Hours: 3 and half hours ( 3.5 miles for loop, and additional 3.5 miles for Sostomo Trail/Deer Valley)

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Pet-Friendly: Dogs are allowed on leash.

Parking: Free parking lot is available at the trailhead.

Start at the parking lot and take Rising Sun Trail, and went waterfall and ruins of old house. For additional workout, took Sostomo trail and Deer Valley Loop trail. It was great trail and well maintained. Since the most trail is exposed to the sun, it is better in Spring and Fall.

Hours: 1 and half hours ( about 3 miles loop)

Difficulty: Easy

Pet-Friendly: Dogs are allowed on leash. Not a steep or not too long.

Parking: Glendale Sports Complex Parking lot

This trail is easy and gradual ascent from the beginning to end. You can park your car in the parking lot, and take one end of the trail and continue. When you look at the junction, you can take left to the peak, or take a right as a loop then end in the other end.

Hours: 10 hours ( about 18 miles out and back, 5420 feet elevation gain)

Difficulty: Difficult

Pet-Friendly: Dogs are allowed on leash. But, considering the length and height, your friend be better to stay at home.

Parking: Vivian Creek Trailhead Parking lot

 

 

Hours: 7 hours ( about 11 miles loop, 2800 feet elevation gain)

Difficulty: Moderate, rock scrambling is too challenge for beginner.

Pet-Friendly: No. (Dogs are allowed only first one mile, and the last section doesn’t allow.)

Parking: There is parking lot at the trailhead. Wendy and Potrero, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

This is my second visit at Boney Moutain. I took a different path at this time. I start at the trailhead on Wendy and Potrero, and follow the Wendy trail and then Hidden Valley Overlook tail. The tail meet at the Danielson Road where I came last time. Continue downward and pass by the narrow valley, then turn right at junction to continue. When you see the junction to see Fossil Trail, take that trail on the right ascent. The last part is rock scrambling and some sections are very narrow and slippery. There are a couple rocky peaks you can conquer before you finally hit the tallest peak.

 

 

 

Hours: 7 hours ( 10 miles with water crossing and back with upside trail)

Difficulty: Easy

Pet-Friendly: Dogs are allowed on leash. I have seen few people bring their dogs. There are two ways to go, lower and water crossing, or upside trail. If you don’t want to go up to the Bridge, and just fun in the water, then just stay water near the first restroom about 5 minutes from the parking lot.

Parking: At the trailhead, and street parking. Prepare to come early during summer time.

Take the fire road from the trailhead, and it is just easy and almost no elevation gain if you follow the water crossing way. About a 10 minutes from the trailhead, there is little wooden bridge and the sheep mountain wilderness sign. Then follow the trail. Soon, you go down to the water and your shoes are ready to be get wet. First, I tried to save my shoes from the water, but there is section you can’t avoid water in the end. So just relax and prepare some spare shoes in advance. About one and half hour or more, you have choice to go follow the water, or take upside trail. We take the water and continue to the beautiful waterfall area. Take some pictures there, and then way back down and continued. In no time, we arrived at the cave. Don’t just go there alone. Get inside to the cave with your friend and some light with you. It is pretty dark, and be careful with rocks at the bottom. About 30 minutes or 1 hour, we finally went to the Bridge. it was so nice to be there. Some people are bunjee jumping there. The way return, the wet clothes are pretty quickly dried. My shoes are almost dried, but there will be more water crossing when we return. Don’t be scared to get wet. Just let your shoes wet, and enjoy.

 

 

 

Hours: 7.5 hours ( 12 miles with 5000 feet elevation gain)

Difficulty: Difficult

Pet-Friendly: Dogs are allowed on leash. Personally, I do not recommend with your dog unless summit similar length and altitude before.

Parking: Parking lot in Islip Saddle.

I started hike from Islip Saddle, and plan to summit 5 peaks in the region. As I climbing, I realized this is a bit challenging, then I reduced it to three peaks, Islip, Hawkins, and Mount Baden-Powell. The trip summarized well the trailhead sign. It is roughly 12 miles and finished at Vincent Gap. This route is part of PCT, and you might encounter PCTers during hike. About 2.1 miles from trailhead, I arrived at Little Jimmy campground. Continue follow the the sign of Islip peak. At the junction, go ascend to the right, and arrived at Islip peak. Back down the junction and take left this time to the Windy Gap. I climb to the Hawkins peak, walk around the other two peaks, and continue head to Baden-Powell. When you see the Baden-Powell sign that shows 2.5 miles to go, it is very straight forward to get the summit. The view from the Baden-Powell was great.