#lets explore

Autumn in the sierra nevadas is just spectacular. It happens much earlier than down in the foothills and the valley but it is so worth the time and travel to explore the beautiful groves of aspen trees. Early to mid October is peak season for these trees and this year, I went to some new places to explore. We had been to Lake Margaret over the summer and decided it would be fun to do the hike again in autumn to see the aspens. And while some spots were past peak and some would be peak in another week, it was so wonderful to get away from the road and see the aspens back in the forests. The trails were busy with chipmunks preparing for winter and birds flying around. The gentle wind rustles the aspen trees and makes the chilly morning all the more spectacular.

I’ve drive along Latrobe Road through El Dorado and Amador Counties and have always imagined how beautiful it would be to hike back away from the road. And this past summer I finally learned that it was truly possible. The El Dorado Trail is about 30 miles long and runs from the county line all the way up to Placerville. Truly a gold country blessing. While it can be a little hard to find, once on the trail it is a journey of walking along the hills under oak trees and among grass. We only hiked seven miles round trip but there was so much to explore from seeing lots of cows to walking along the rail road tracks, visiting this part of gold country was a real treat.

The middle of autumn in gold country is not necessarily very colorful in appearance. At Folsom Lake the water is low, the trees are barley green, and the grass is light brown. I went on a new hike this week from Red Bank to Brown’s Ravine which went along the southwestern part of the lake. Early in the morning, the sun was peaking through the oak and pine trees along this trail. The deer, squirrels, and birds were busy with the morning work. Winter is starting to approach at the lake and I am excited to continue exploring new parts in gold country in the upcoming months. 

Here’s a post just about leaves in the Cosumnes River Preserve. I had heard about this area for a few years and finally decided to visit for myself. I found myself looking up into the tree canopy, taking in all the different types of trees and leaves that covered the trails. I’ve noticed while hiking and exploring this year that I need to look up more when I’m beneath the trees. It’s a whole other world just a few feet above me. These leaves were just some of my favorites that I enjoyed gazing at. 

The difference from July to October of Hope Valley and Red Lake. Now Red Lake has been a favorite spot of mine for a few years for fall photography. There’s a beautiful grove of aspens near it and I’ve gotten some amazing shots of the lake before. But not until this summer did I know that there is actually an amazing spot to over look the lake. And that’s at the far side of Frog Lake in Mokelumne Wilderness Area right off of Highway 88. I loved the view so much I went back in October for the short hike and the amazing view. It definitely wasn’t as green anymore and the aspens in the area were ranging from almost peak to peak. But I’m pretty sure that whatever season you go, it would be breathtaking. 

I’m working on hiking in lots of new places that are close to home and am excited to be more of a tourist in my own area. This spot is along the American River at Lake Natoma in Fair Oaks. It really is right on the edge of gold country but I felt the landscape fit more with the oaks of the foothills than the valley. And while this was a short hike we went on, the view at the top of the lake was spectacular. I’ve driven by this area lots but never thought I could go hike there. It’s relatively close to other parts of the American River I’ve hiked lots at but the landscape is totally different, just oak trees and grass up along the ridge. 

I think I may have found my new favorite trail. It’s not too long, only five miles round trip, but it’s filled with so much variety. There’s forests, meadows, granite boulders, creeks, ponds, and more. The first time we hiked it we even got to experience an afternoon thunderstorm and a beautiful light rain. I’ve found this trail to be such a wonderful step out of the busy world and into the world of chipmunks, leaves, and rocks. It’s so simple and beautiful. A perfect step away from the stress and loudness of our world. I know that we’ll have lots of photos from this trail over the next few years, and I’m excited to explore it throughout the seasons. 

We’re starting to get a few foggy mornings in gold country. Fall is arriving and the temperatures are starting to drop. Leaves are starting to change colors slowly and pumpkins are starting to appear. This view of gold country is one of my favorites as the valley of trees seems endless. Fog creeps into the crevices and settles for the early morning. This valley seems so mysterious to me. I’ve never actually been in the valley, I’ve just viewed it from atop. I imagine that it is marvelous to walk through the oak trees and along the small hills. A perfect walk for an early fall morning.

After years of never hiking off Highway 80 in the northern part of Lake Tahoe, I finally made the trip. A few weeks ago we hiked Mount Judah on the Pacific Crest Trail. And while you are technically hiking the mountain of a ski resort, the views and the trees were gorgeous. We arrived just in time for alpine spring in July when all the wildflowers are in bloom. There were so many colors and types of wildflowers I had never seen before. And while our summer hiking has now come to an end, I look forward to a few autumn and winter hikes in the area.

Located 25 miles back on Ice House Road in the Sierra Nevadas is Loon Lake. Its a larger high alpine lake than most that I’ve been hiking too but it is one of the prettiest. A few weeks ago we did a 12 mile hike around the lake which was the longest hike we had done so far this summer. The lake has the most gorgeous blue water and pine trees and granite all around. Since it is just a few miles outside of Desolation Wilderness, the landscapes look very similar. It was so peaceful and quite out among the trees. We found so many perfect tea drinking spots to take in the beauty of the lake and rest in the shade throughout the hike. 

A quiet afternoon hike at the edge of the El Dorado National Forest in the sierra nevadas means being around lots of tall trees. And the Fleming Meadows trail right outside of Sly Park is the perfect moderate hike to enjoy the trees. And while there is never a final destination to stop and look at the view, I still fell in love with this trail. The best part would also come when you stopped and looked up and saw the tops of the trees overhead. 

Clear skies and golden grass is what summer looks like in the great valley & the delta. We got up early a few weeks ago to go on a nature walk in Vacaville on the Pena Adobe Trail. It’s a beautiful (mostly uphill as the trail started down by the lake) trail scattered with oak trees and a view of the valley. Up at the top we could see the fog rolling over the hills in the distance. For years we had drive by the sign for this trail but we never stopped until this year. 

Up off Highway 88 just at the edge of Amador and Alpine County lies Lake Margaret. It’s a fair sized like, 2.5 miles in on a gorgeous trail. Surrounded by granite rocks and pine trees this lake is so still and quiet. I find high alpine lakes to be so surreal, especially the ones you have to hike to. We hiked back to the lake during the middle of an afternoon mountain thunderstorm with light rain most of the way. This rain made the lake even more beautiful as you could see all the rain drops falling into the water and hear the quietness of the rain.