Fly Fishing San Diego CA

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: California
Location: Mount Diablo State Park
Length: Round Trip: 1.2 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Best Season: Year-Round
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Moderate

Description: The Fossil Ridge Trail takes hikers up an initial climb providing imposing vistas of the massive main peak of the mountain, as well as of San Ramon Valley in the opposite direction. The road parallels the crest of Fossil Ridge the adventurous may wish to scramble up to the rocky ridge, a sharp hogback (tilted sandstone layer with adjacent layers eroded away) with interesting exposed fossils, rock-garden-like appearance. Dramatic view of Black Hawk Ridge strata across Sycamore Canyon from small path beyond end of road.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: California
Location: Angeles National Forest
Length: Round Trip: 9 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Elevation Change: 2600 feet
Best Season: Summer, Fall
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate

Description: This is a beautiful, mostly forested trail with oaks, Manzanita and chaparral along its lower portion and Alder, California Laurel and Big Leaf Maple trees where the trail follows and crosses Strains Canyon. There is cool water in this little stream except during the driest months. Higher, the trail switches back and forth through one of the finest stands of Big Cone Spruce (also known as Big Cone Douglas Fir) on the Forest. Near the top, some Ponderosa, Jeffrey and Sugar Pines may be seen with oaks predominating along the final stretch. From this upper portion, just below the summit (el. 5710'), is a fine view of the Mt. Wilson Observatory and the higher peaks of the San Gabriel range, including the highest, Mt. San Antonio (Mt. Baldy), at 10,064 ft. elevation. Along the last upper stretch of the trail is the site of an important scientific milestone. During the 1920's, Professor Michaelson made the first precise measurement of the speed of light. This was done by an instrument installed beside this trail and a mirror device set on Mt. Baldy some 20 air miles to the east. The foundation for this instrument was visible beside the trail for many years, but is now either hidden by growth of chaparral or has been removed. After visiting the mountain top and enjoying the views of the Los Angeles basin and several islands out in the ocean – all depending on the local atmospheric conditions – return by the same route. A round-trip may be made by Hiking 3 miles west toward Red Box along the Mt. Wilson Road to Eaton Canyon Saddle and taking the Valley Forge trail back down into the West Fork to the Gabrielino Trail, then east to your starting point. It is 4 1/2 miles to Mt. Wilson from West Fork Campground. Approximately 9 miles to Mt. Wilson from Red Box Divide – Hwy. 2.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: California
Location: Angeles National Forest
Length: Round Trip: 6.1 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Elevation Change: 1250 feet
Best Season: Summer, Fall
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate

Description: Mt. Islip (pronounced eye-slip) affords spectacular views over the San Gabriel Valley to the south and clear to the ocean, if the air is clear. For a good view of the valley areas, a smog-free day is best. The reason for the good view in all Directions is that the summit is not only high (8250 feet elevation), but is a fairly sharp peak. There used to be a Forest Service fire lookout tower on the top. Remains of a small cabin used by the lookout for living quarters may be seen just below the top. One of the earliest two-way radios used by the Forest Service was located at this lookout for fire reporting during the 1930's. Forty years ago, there were many more lookouts on various peaks of the Angeles National Forest, but the increase in smog decreased visibility so much that their effectiveness was greatly reduced and they were closed.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: California
Location: Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks
Length: 1.7 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 6700 feet
Maximum Elevation: 7100 feet
Elevation Change: 400 feet
Best Season: Summer
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Heavy

Description: The trail to Tokopah Falls in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks begins beyond the Log Bridge in Lodgepole Campground. The trail is rocky at first but the surface smoothes with the terrain as it climbs the valley. The trail climbs gently at first and then levels providing great views of the Tokopah Valley and Watchtower Cliff. In 1.5 miles, the trail reaches the impressive granite cliffs and waterfall of Tokopah Canyon. Tokopah Falls are 1,200 feet high and cascades down a granite surface. The falls are most impressive in early summer when the run-off from the melting snowpack, in the Pear Lake region upstream, is at its peak.

Activities: Road Cycling

Info:
State: California
Location: Palo Alto
Length: Round Trip: 52.5 miles
Ride Type: Loop
Minimum Elevation: 150 feet
Elevation Change: 4300 feet
Best Season: Year-Round
Difficulty: 4
Traffic: Moderate

Description: The ride from Palo Alto to the Pacfic is one of the best rides in this part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The Palo Alto to the Sea ride is an excellent introduction to peninsula riding. The climb up Page Mill Road is unshaded and can be very hot during the summer. And Alpine Road is a twisty, poorly paved descent so it can be tricky. Highway 84 is a fast, gradual descent down to the coast. Tunitas Creek Road may be the perfect example of Northern California riding. A narrow patchwork of pavement, it follows a stream through a redwood forest to the summit of the local ridges. King’s Mountain Road provides an exhilarating decent back to civilization. The sections of the Palo Alto to the Sea ride on Highways 1 and 84, Sand Hill Road and portions of Page Mill Road have good shoulders, which is good considering these are the busiest sections of the ride. But use caution as there are little or no shoulders for most of the rest of this ride. The road surface on Alpine Road and Tunitas Creek Road is very rough in sections. Sections of Alpine Road and Tunitas Creek Road are little wider than a single lane. Exercise caution when turning off of Sand Hill Road as traffic can be heavy and the immediate left turn onto Junipero Serra can be difficult.