Sheldon Neill and Colin Delehanty met via Vimeo, and discovered a mutual love for Yosemite. They set out to capture Yosemite’s beauty in this amazing high-definition time-lapse video. I think they did a damn fine job.

Discover more about Project Yosemite at http://projectyose.com/

If planning to backpack Yosemite, remember that you need to be applying for permits 26 weeks in advance. There are backcountry quotas that fill up quickly.

Batiquitos Lagoon in north San Diego County is one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the southern coast of the United States. Located between Carlsbad and Encinitas, the lagoon is managed as a wildlife preserve by the California Department of Fish and Game. This lagoon is home to several protected nesting areas and water sports (even kayaking) are not allowed, keeping the waterway exceptionally natural.

Joan and I stopped by here last Saturday. She was feeling a cold coming on, and so we were looking for an easy hike. The Batiquitos Lagoon trail fit the bill perfectly. As an out-and-back hike, you can tailor the distance to suit your time and energy. We hiked the entire length and back — a modest 3.25 miles with only one gentle hill along the way.

There are several access points to the Batiquitos Lagoon trail, but I recommend starting at the beginning. Drive to the end of Gabbiano Lane in Carlsbad, and you’ll see a sign marking the start of the trail.

About 30 yards down the trail is the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation Nature Center, with information on guided walks, special events and a free trail map and nature guide.

This wide, gentle trail meanders along the north side of the lagoon. There are a few stands of eucalyptus and palm trees along the way.

In spite of being so close to well-developed Carlsbad, the trail along the lagoon has retained much of it’s natural beauty.

If you follow the trail to the end, you’ll see a gravel road on a berm with a locked gate to a protected bird nesting area, including the Least Tern. If you are watchful, you may see them from May to August when they migrate here to nest.

Take a moment to take in the views of the lagoon. It’s not hard to imagine what this area looked a hundred years ago — at least, until you turn around toward the hills developed with homes.

This is the turnaround point. Retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Trail Map and Elevation Profile

Photo Gallery

Click a thumbnail to view the larger images.

In Southern California, there’s a tight-knit community of hiking bloggers. Many of you from the area may know Kolby Kirk as The Hike Guy, who committed to 100 hikes in a year. This past April, Kolby was planning to meetup with 100Peaks, ADKinLA and myself for a day of hiking with fellow SoCal hiking bloggers. A couple weeks before our hike, Kolby had a change of plans. Laid off due to the poor economy, he decided that now was as good as ever to fulfill his dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. A few weeks later, he was at the Mexican border, taking his first steps in a long, twisting journey.

Over 100 lbs. lighter, 1600 miles further and 159 days later, Condor (his PCT trail name) has landed, just shy of the Oregon border.

I’ve been following Condor’s updates on his Facebook page, where he wrote Thursday night:

“Well, my friends, I have found my northern terminus. After hiking for hours through 18 inches of snow in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, I came to the realization that I have found my limits.”

Kolby has inspired many to take up hiking and live life adventurously. Congratulations on your adventure, Condor! I can’t wait to hear and see more about your five month adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Learn more about the Pacific Crest Trail at PCT.org.

If the video is any indication, this is going to be a great project. Having hiked the JMT twice before–most recently over the summer of 2010–I can’t wait to see the finished exhibit and documentary.

Stop by their site to read more about this very cool project: The Muir Project.

Last December, my grandmother passed away at the age of 95. Up to the end, she walked several times a week, lived in a regular neighborhood home which she kept up herself.

As we were going through the books, artwork, photos and other memories at her place, I came across a well-worn 1986 copy of Jerry Schad’s Afoot and Afield in San Diego County (the first edition). Being an avid hiker, this struck a sentimental chord with me, but what I really liked were the faded strips of paper used to bookmark their favorite hikes.

In honor of their memory, I’m hiking my grandma and grandpa’s favorite trails in San Diego County.

In contrast to many of the LA area mountain hikes, these are easier and more family-friendly, which manageable distance and elevation gains.

Which hiking trails in San Diego County were their favorites?

Here’s the list:

• La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines Beach – 5 miles
• Lake Poway Loop – 2.5 miles
• Lopez Canyon – 4 miles
• Doane Valley Nature Trail
• Cedar Creek Falls – 4.5 miles
• Azalea Glen Trail – 3 miles
• Rock Tanks Loop – 7.5 miles
• Bow Willow Canyon – 7.5 miles

This mixture of trails provides a great tour of San Diego hiking, from the stunning coastline to the serenity of the desert. There are waterfalls, views and forest. And as I hike along these trails, I’ll be walking with the memory of my grandparents close to my heart.

One of the challenges of winter is that during the week, it’s already dark outside when I leave the office. I don’t mind hiking in the dark, but many people aren’t comfortable hiking in the wilderness at night, and most of the regional trails are officially closed from sundown to sunrise.

The trail begins at the end of the sports park parking lot on Chapparosa. You follow the paved trail as it parallels Salt Creek. Keep your eyes open for rabbits and the occasional snake, and listen for the croaking frogs.

There are three major arteries that the trail passes under, Niguel Road, Camino del Avion and Pacific Coast Highway. There are tunnels under all three, and the trails can get a little confusing as you get intersecting paths from those streets joining the main trail. Remember to head down and through the tunnel, then keep paralleling the creek through the valley.

When you pass under Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll see the golf course and homes for a short distance before you reach the beach. As you can see in this photo, there are several paths that seem to merge together. The main trail is marked with a dashed yellow divider line — a reminder to keep to the right as this trail is shared by road bikers.

Once you reach the beach, you can stop and enjoy the views, or extend your hike with a beach walk. Your best bet is to head south, and you can walk all the way to the Dana Point.

When you’re ready to head back, retrace your steps back to your car.

Even though this trail is suburban and paved, it has beautiful scenery and doesn’t feel like you’re walking through a park. The creek is left in a natural state to support the native wildlife.

Trailhead

Parking is at the end of Chapparosa off Golden Lantern. Follow Chaparossa all the way to the sports park at the end, and park as far into the park as you can. The trail begins at the far southwest end of the parking lot.

Trail Map and Elevation Profile

Photo Gallery

Additional Salt Creek Trail Resources and Tips

• City of Laguna Niguel’s trail description
• There is ample free parking at trailhead, but avoid parking near the baseball field in season, or risk a dent from a stray fly ball!
• There are restroom facilities both at the trailhead and Salt Creek beach.
• Keep to the right. This paved trail is wide, but shared by road bikers and runners.
• This is a family-friendly hike. You can easily bring a stroller (with big wheels, hopefully) or modify the length to suit your child’s endurance.

When you think of hiking in Orange County, you don’t usually envision dramatic waterfalls. But during the spring, there are a number of wonderful seasonal waterfalls that are just a hike away. One of my personal favorites is Chiquito Falls.

The trailhead parking is across the street from The Candy Store on Ortega Highway (Route 74). Being in the Cleveland National Forest, you’ll need to display an Adventure Pass to park. If you don’t have a pass, you can purchase one at The Candy Store. They also have a few free parking spaces behind the store.

At the northeast corner of the parking lot, you’ll see this sign marking the San Juan Loop trailhead.

There’s a map of the trails in the area as well as the usual warnings about rattlesnakes and wildlife. Note that dogs are permitted, but must be kept on a leash.

The trail climbs for a short distance, then bends around the ridge taking you by the San Juan Falls. These falls see a lot of visitors due to their close proximity to the parking lot. There are a lot of people who aren’t serious hikers. It’s also a great place to take kids to give them a taste of the wilderness.

The multi-tiered San Juan Falls seen from the trail

I prefer to take a look from above, then leave the crowds behind and continue on to the more secluded and beautiful Chiquito Falls.

While you’re in the canyon, enjoy the shade of the oak trees. Most of the hike has full sun exposure.

Watch for the turn off to your right at about the 1.1 mile marker. Note that there is an unofficial turnoff before the official trail. Both cross the creek — an easy boulder hop usually — but only the second turn off has the official trail marker.

If you miss the turn and find yourself connecting back to Ortega Highway, you’ve gone too far.

Once you cross San Juan Creek, the trail parallels another tributary with good shade and a gentle climb. You’ll cross this tributary at about mile 2, and begin your ascent up the ridge.

The remaining 2+ miles to Chiquito Falls is exposed to the sun. As you climb up the ridge, you’ll be treated with some awesome panoramic views to the southeast, including Sitton Peak.

At 3.7 miles, you’ll reach the highest point on the trail — just shy of 2,700′ above sea level. Once you round the second bend, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Chiquito Falls.

As you near the falls, watch for the spur trail to the left. The main trail continues on connecting with the San Juan Trail.

The spur leads to the top of the falls, There are some great places to sit, enjoy the views and share lunch.

You can easily climb down to the base of the falls for a view from below. See the photo gallery below for more pics.

Trail Map and Elevation Profile

Getting to the Trailhead

The trailhead parking lot is directly across the street from The Candy Store on Ortega Highway 74, about 15 miles east of the 5 Freeway and San Juan Capistrano.

Chiquito Falls Trail Tips

• Remember you’ll need an National Forest Adventure Pass for parking
• Watch for rattlesnakes, particularly when the weather gets warmer
• Be sure to bring The Ten Essentials. This isn’t a walk through the ‘burbs!
• Watch for mountain bikers. This is a popular downhill route. If you see one, there are probably more following. Ask how many are behind them, and let them know how many hikers are behind you!
• The Candy Store now has a grill going on the weekends for a post-hike burger in addition to homemade fudge and cold drinks. Check their website for hours and details.
• Do you use the EveryTrail app on your smart phone? Download this guide and take it with you on the trail!

Photo Gallery

Special thanks to my girlfriend Joan for joining me on this hike, and for John from Hiking OC for introducing me to this trail.

I was honored to be one of a dozen EveryTrail members asked to help put together a few of the guides, including Crystal Cove State Park, Huntington State Beach, Doheny State Beach, San Onofre State Beach, and South Carlsbad State Beach. Do you see a theme here? After spending much of 2010 tackling increasingly tougher trails, I thought I’d balance things out with some easier ones.

The great thing about the app? It gives you detailed info on each of the parks, with guides to some of the best hikes, walks and other activities. It also lets you see hikes shared by others from the EveryTrail community, as well as track and share your own hike! And then of course, there’s the price — free! Definitely worth a download.

Get the free CalParks iPhone App

Currently, the following parks are closed

• Crystal Cove State Park (backcountry only)
• Santiago Oaks
• Aliso-Woods
• Laguna Coast
• Whiting Ranch
• Caspers Park

All of these closures are subject to change, so before you hit the trails, check the OC Parks Newsroom and the Crystal Cove State Park website for the latest updates. If you have updates, please post a comment below.

Great Hikes for Rainy Days

In the meantime, there are some great hikes you can do even when it’s raining outside. Here’s a few of my favorites:

• San Clemente Beach Trail – Yeah, it’s level, but it stays pretty hike-able even when wet.
• Ridgeline Trail – This is a paved trail on a ridge line near Avenida Pico in San Clemente. Great 360 degree views!
• Salt Creek Trail – A paved, multi-use trail that parallels Salt Creek, you can start at Golden Lantern and head all the way to Salt Creek Beach.
• Huntington Beach Walk – Not a hike, per se, but a great path that rain won’t spoil.

What’s your rainy day favorite?

The Red Route is one of my favorite hiking trails in Crystal Cove State Park. At 5.5 miles and over 800′ of vertical gain, this loop makes for a great workout. The length is about right to make it worth the trip, but won’t take all day. And the scenery is fantastic. The hike down Moro Ridge gives you some of the best coastal views in the park.

The trail begins at the bottom of the parking lot. Take a left and follow the dirt trail that parallels the fenceline. Currently you’ll see construction underway on the new drive-in campsites being built at Crystal Cove that should be opening later in 2011.

As the dusty trail winds down to the bottom of the hill, and you’ll turn left and cross the bridge. This is the El Moro Canyon trail.

At this point you have to chose which way to hike the loop. You can take the first right and hike up the trail known affectionately as “BFI“. Polite hikers will insist that this stands for Big “Fat” Incline, although I’ve heard more colorful options, and tend to agree with the latter.

I prefer to take this loop clockwise, continuing up El Moro Canyon and “I Think I Can“, then descending via El Moro Ridge and BFI. The choice is yours.

Continue up El Morro Canyon until you reach the second trail to the right. This is called East Cutoff Trail, or “I Think I Can.” It’s a long, uphill slog. Don’t be surprised if you encounter a few mountain bikers climbing slow-and-steady up this hill.

When you reach the top of the hill, bear right to head down El Moro Ridge back towards the coastline. During the spring, the hills are dotted with wildflowers. In the summer, keep your eyes peeled for rattlesnakes! I’ve also seen rabbits and deer (yes, there are deer back here!).

El Moro Ridge meanders toward the coast, eventually descending back down. You’ll get great views up and down the coastline from Laguna Beach to Newport Coast. As you see Pacific Coast Highway, watch for the trail marker on your right. This trail becomes BFI and leads you back down to El Moro Canyon just east of the bridge you crossed earlier.

From here, retrace your steps back to the visitor center.

Crystal Cove Red Route Trail Map and Elevation Profile

Photo Gallery

Essential Crystal Cove State Park Resources

• 3D view of Crystal Cove Red Route in Google Earth
• GPS user? Download the Crystal Cove Red Route GPX file
• Crystal Cove Interpretive Association
• I’ve seen rabbits, rattlesnakes and deer here. There are supposedly coyotes and bobcats, but I haven’t seen them. If you’re interested in learning more about the wildlife at Crystal Cove, stop by the visitor center. They have some great displays and free brochures to the plants, birds and wildlife of the park.