Are You That Woman

California waterfalls

The adjectives:  awe-inspiring; breathtaking; spectacular; mesmerizing.  The verbs:  plunging; plummeting; crashing.  The metaphors:  like a thundering curtain or the roar of a hurricane; or like the sound of  bells or murmuring voices. 

Waterfalls. They are mystical and magical. Their size and strength are often times terrifying; their beauty: tranquilizing and hypnotic.  Who hasn't dreamed of showering in their chilling spray or swimming in an emerald pool; or longed to track the water's ancient origins in search of a quiet resting place?  In California, there are memorable waterfalls to match any you have imagined.

Abundant winter rains and a melting snow pack have California waterfalls exploding with water. Springtime is generally the best time to view these natural wonders as many  falls dry-up in the summer heat due to decreased water flows. But during the right winters, waterfalls come crashing back to life. The Native Americans called them "laughing waters."  This year, California waterfalls are giggling, chortling, screaming, and lifting their voices in tumultuous laughter. 

In Siskiyou County McCloud Falls (upper, middle and lower) are 5.9 miles east of the town of McCloud and can be reached by following the signs to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Fowlers Campground located on the Uppler McCloud River.  The three falls are within two miles of each other and Upper McCloud Falls is accessible by car.  There is fishing and a natural swimming hole on Hwy. 89. Near Mount Shasta city, Ney Springs Canyon Trail and Faery Falls are easily accessed. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike to Faery Falls passes through the 19th-century ruins of Ney Springs Resort. Located near Dunsmuir are Hedge Creek Falls and Mossbrae Falls. Hedge Creek is well marked and has a picnic area near the base of the falls. The trail leads visitors beneath the falls and, a short distance away, to views of the Sacramento River. Mossbrae is fed by melting water from the glaciers on Mount Shasta. Considered one of the most scenic waterfalls in California, hiking to the falls is trespassing with fines as much as $300. 

Burney Falls, once called "the eighth wonder of the world" by Teddy Roosevelt, is fed by spring flows of  200 million gallons daily.  Much of the water from these underground streams actually spouts from the rock.  The divided falls rumble down a 129-foot cliff into an emerald pool before flowing into Lake Britton.  Trails that almost anyone can manage lead down to the pool on both sides.  For the best view, hike the 1/2-mile trail that traverses the hillside.  You can cross the top of the falls most of the year, but waters run heaviest in the Spring.  McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is located mid-way between Lassen National Volcanic Park and Mt. Shasta.

Approximately 41 miles east of Redding, Potem Creek Falls empties into the Pit River.  A gentle, winding trail makes the falls accessible to hikers. 

Located 25 miles east of Oroville in Butte County, the Feather Falls National Recreation Trail will lead you to 640-feet high Feather Falls.  The trail, located within the 15,000-acre Feather Falls Scenic Area, winds through the foothills 3.8 miles to Feather Falls.  Water flows at Feather Falls are heaviest during the spring months.  

Yosemite Falls, the tallest falls in North America (and fifth tallest in the world), drops 2,425 feet to the valley floor.  The Upper Fall plunges 1,430, feet, connecting with the 320-foot  Lower Fall by a 675-foot cascade.  Follow a 3.6-mile trail, which includes a 270-foot gain in elevation, to reach the top of Yosemite Falls.  Start at Lower Yosemite Falls for a 1/2- day hike with excellent views of Half Dome.  The best views are about two thirds of the way up, so don't feel as if you're missing out if you don't make it to the top.  Impressive views of the falls are seen on the path to the base.

The Merced River flows from the snow fields in the Sierra Nevada, spills over the 594-foot Nevada Falls and then plummets another 317 feet over Vernal Falls.  Known as The Mist Trail, the hike starts uphill through the mist sprayed by Vernal Falls.  When the light is right, hikers are rewarded with rainbows in the mist of Vernal Falls.  The climb to the top of Nevada Falls is difficult; the last 900 feet of elevation gain are up steep polished granite.  The half-day round-trip up the falls is 3.4 miles one way.

Yosemite Indians called the 620-foot  Bridalveil Fall, Pohono, or "spirit of the puffing winds."  Strong winds often lift the thundering water and blow it sideways.  Bridalveil is visible from the road, but an easy 10-minute walk will take you to its foaming base.

On a strenuous 9-1/2 mile walk from the Tuolumne Meadows area, you can view the exuberant Tuolumne Falls.  Other falls such as the spectacular Waterwheel Falls, are a short distance beyond, near Glen Aulin Camp in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.

Other lesser known falls include:  Cascade Falls, Chilnualna Cascades,  Wapama and Tueeulala Falls.  After the winter snow melt, Yosemite is easily accessible by Hwy. 120 and 140 from the west and Hwy. 120 from the east (Mono Lake Area). 

Just five miles from the south entrance to Yosemite, along the 3.7-mile Lewis Creek Recreational Trail, lies a hidden treasure -- Corlieu Falls.  The trail follows the route of the historical Madera Sugar Pine lumber flume past the 80-foot waterfall, and the smaller Red Rock Falls.  With  no signs to publicize their existence, Corlieu Falls can be enjoyed in a kind of quiet solitude not possible at some of the better known falls. For additional information, contact: Yosemite Experience.

On the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada is Rainbow Falls, located in the Inyo National Forest south of Devils Postpile National Monument.  Along a 1.3-mile trail the San Joaquin River plunges 101 feet over volcanic rock into a box canyon.  Multi-colored rainbows are clearly visible in the mist of the mighty falls.  Devils Postpile is a brief walk from parking lots and shuttle stops.  The trail to Rainbow Falls is a short 1-1/4-mile hike from Devils Postpile.

Drive around the Mammoth Lakes Basin -- Lake Mary, Twin Lakes, Mamie, George and Horseshoe (there is no Mammoth Lake).  Spilling down from Lake Mamie west of the town of Mammoth Lakes is Twin Falls, which cascades 300-feet along a granite bed into Twin Lakes.  It can be viewed from the overview at Twin Lakes.  For additional information, contact:  Visit Mammoth.

The diminutive Indian Falls in the Plumas National Forest is just 20 feet high, but creates a dramatic affect falling on Indian Creek. Large sun-bathed rocks, swimming holes, and sandy shores beckon. The 0.5-mile round-trip hike is easy but can be icy in winter months. Well-placed interpretive panels provide insight into the lives of the Maidu tribes who inhabited the region. Ten miles west of Quincy, the falls are two miles north of the intersection of Highways 70 and 89. 

The Bay Area has been blessed with a number of beautiful water falls.  At a height of 70 feet, Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, may be the Bay Area's most impressive waterfall.  A fairly comfortable hike, take the Skyline to the Sea Trail to the falls and back for an 8-mile round-trip. 

Twenty-five miles from Foresthill in Placer County is Grouse Falls, one of California's most scenic waterfalls.  Cascading down several hundred feet, the falls are hidden at the head of an isolated box canyon.  The falls were largely inaccessible until 1992, when a trail constructed to a deck perched along the canyon wall allowed the falls to be seen.  The trail is an easy, 1/3-mile walk.  The best time for viewing the falls is in the spring when water flows are high. 

Truly an oasis in the desert is Darwin Falls, with its sparkling stream and year-round 30-foot cascading waterfalls.  Just off Hwy. 190, leading into Death Valley National Park it's an easy half-mile hike to lower Darwin Falls.  Another short hike ends at the rushing waters of the upper falls. In sharp contrast to this water wonderland is Fossil Falls, located 45-minutes north of Ridgecrest.  The trail is a short 1-1/2 mile, round-trip hike and leads to a sculptured and polished 40-foot dry waterfall.  Black lava cliffs were smoothed and shaped over thousands of years by the now-dry Owens River.  The graded dirt access road to Fossil Falls is accessible with a two-wheel drive vehicle. 

If my Subaru can't get me there, 
that's a good reason not to go!

Social distancing in Lassen National Forest

Another day of isolation and lock-down during Covid-19, Hardly! We have been so blessed to live in rural Butte County. Close to back roads and beautiful escapes. Heading north from Chico on Highway 32, we are quickly above the valley floor surrounded by forests. Some burn areas are being logged, but in other places we look out into deep canyons and over tree-lined ridge tops. More than once we pull over to allow others to pass. They are driving at breakneck speeds to get - well, to get somewhere. We are in no hurry and happy to be a speck in their rearview mirrors.

Locating the perfect stream-side picnic spot requires diligence. And, in these days of social distancing, passing more than one possibility because others beat us to the finish line.

Perseverance pays off and we find our oasis in Tehama County's Lassen National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service's Elam Campground is gated and all amenities are locked. Other vehicles parked outside and occupants proceeded onto trails. We parked in a roadside lot and followed a short trail outside of the campground to our alfresco lunch spot along Elam Creek.

Flashes of black as Raven swooping above and beyond greets us graciously - the welcome mat is out! The gentle flow of water riffling just above our vantage point. A giant bumblebee falls headfirst into our basket exploring the contents. Perhaps the smell of fresh apple and pistachio butter was too much to resist. We delight in the butterflies dancing on the sand and a breeze so delicious and sweet imagining the bumblebee was tasting that too.

Feet at rest on a river rock ottoman. The heart and rhythm of the planet beating around us. Wild lilacs. Forget-me-nots. Surely, we won't.

Bike your cares away in Plumas County

Mountain biking is big business. Fun business! In Plumas County, it’s really big and fun. So much so, that they have six amazing biking events. For the brave among you, the annual Lost and Found bike ride tests your cowabunga downhill dudeness! Canceled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus, hopes are the race will be bigger and better in 2021.  In addition, there are four “century” rides throughout the county with picturesque, mountain and lake views accessible to all skill levels. Trails beginning at the base of Indian Valley take advanced riders to mountain ridges overlooking the valley. A free Plumas Mountain Biking Trail Guide, available at visitor centers and online, details rides in eastern and central Plumas County and the Lake Almanor Basin.  If mountain biking isn’t your obsession, downshift and bike Plumas County backcountry roads – they’re traffic- and stress-free.

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship has been instrumental in developing trails throughout Plumas and Sierra counties. In 2011, they developed the Mills Peak Trail and, later, completed work on the Mt. Hough/South Park trail system near Quincy. Their proposal for a new trail system, the Beckwourth Peak Recreation Project, was approved in 2019.

An evening of bat magic on the Yuba River

Evening on the Yuba

They flit and float
   Wings aflutter.
In gathering darkness
   Their bodies quiver.
 They kiss the water
   In an elusive dance.
   And we watch the bats boogie
   Above the river.

Barbara L. Steinberg
June 2, 2004
Rainbow Lodge
Soda Springs, CA 

 

Sharing a ray of hope from Mono Lake Commitee Executive Director

Dear Mono Lake friends,

I'm writing to you from my desk at home, and due to the COVID-19 virus it's likely you are reading this at home too.

I'd like to provide three important updates from the Mono Lake Committee.

First, we are doing our part to flatten the curve and following all state and local orders. We have suspended our public programs, closed the Information Center & Bookstore, and canceled our field education programs through April.

Second, I am proud to say that thanks to strong member support we are keeping all of our staff employed at this challenging time. We are all working from home, learning new tools for digital connectivity, and continuing the essential work of the Committee. For example, water exports are underway today in the Los Angeles Aqueduct and we know you count on us to make sure that the export rules are followed so that Mono Lake and its tributary streams stay protected.

Lastly, we are making extra efforts to share Mono Lake, the arriving birds, springtime flowers, and scenic views with all of you. We are fortunate to be sheltering in this remarkable place where the ancient rhythms of life continue in plain sight. When Committee staff are safely and appropriately outside, we will capture experiences to share with you through a new series of online Mono Lake Moments. A snowy boardwalk visit is already available with new live and recorded events happening every Wednesday and Friday at 2:00pm PDT.

This crisis is urgent. This is a time to support each other and nurture our communities. It challenges us to come together and sheds new light on our core values—indeed they are more meaningful than ever. Stay well, and thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey McQuilkin
Executive Director

Nation's 40th National Park celebrates 40 years

From the National Park Service:

Forty years ago, on March 5, 1980, Channel Islands National Park was established by Congress as our nation’s 40^th national park. This act expanded the former national monument to include five islands— Santa Barbara, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands and the waters within one nautical mile of each island.

Critically important to the biological diversity of southern California, these islands and their encircling waters are home to thousands of species of plants and animal—nearly 150 of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley will deliver two lectures on the state of the park and future management actions on Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 pm and on Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 pm.

The public is invited to celebrate the park’s 40^th anniversary at an event on March 7, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center. The free event features scientific lectures, Chumash storytelling, film showings, kids crafts and interactive programs, dock tours, and a native plant sale.

The event starts at 9:00 am with a California native plant sale plant sponsored by the Channel Islands Park Foundation and supported by volunteers from the Ventura County Master Gardeners. The sale is from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and proceeds support the park’s native plant garden.

At 11:00 am, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Paleontologist Dr. Jonathan Hoffman will provide a lecture on the recently-discovered sea cow fossil on Santa Rosa Island. At 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, Channel Islands descendent Julie Tumamait-Stenslie will share Chumash storytelling.

Throughout the day, segments from the 2016 documentary, West of the West: Tales from California’s Channel Islands, will be shown. Produced by Sam Tyler and written and directed by Peter Seaman and Brent Sumner, the documentary provides an in-depth look into intriguing stories of island inhabitants and history.

Dock tours will be available for the public to have an up-close look at the National Park Service vessels. Biologists with the park’s kelp forest monitoring team will demonstrate the long-term monitoring techniques they use to better understand the health of the marine environment.

During the event, biologists and rangers will provide opportunities for children to learn about different careers in the National Park Service. Children’s activities will be available throughout the day, including a button-maker station and fish prints. A junior ranger station will allow children to complete activity booklets and earn junior ranger badges.

Channel Islands National Park preserves San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Islands and one mile of ocean around each island. Established by Congress in 1980, the park protects a rich array of natural and cultural resources. Often called the North American Galapagos, the islands are home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, including the diminutive island fox, the rare Santa Cruz Island scrub jay, and the island poppy. The park is essential in the lives of 99% of the sea birds of California and over 100,000 seals and sea lions. The largest animal ever to live on the earth, the blue whale, is a summer resident in the cold waters of the park. For more information, visit nps.gov/chis.

Channel Islands Park Foundation is the only nonprofit, philanthropic partner of Channel Islands National Park. In cooperation with the national park, the Foundation funds education, protection, and preservation efforts. For more information, visit ciparkfoundation.

Alerts in affect! Please check online.

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International Sportsmen's Expo Sacramento is 5-stars

The clock is ticking. Less than two days until you can experience hours of outdoor recreation, sporting, hunting, fishing, boating, eating, walking, talking and just a darn good time at the International Sportsmen's Exposition, Sacramento! Check the schedules, arrive early, and stay to the last minute!

All the right people are at the International Sportsmen's Exposition. With thousands of attendees, it's amazing to see so many familiar faces. Remember, the show is H-U-G-E! Despite the Expo map and exhibitor listings, it can be challenging locating certain vendors or displays. But wandering the aisles and buildings is half the fun.

Always a pleasure to spend time with friends Jillene and Jonathan Roldan, Tailhunter International Sportfishing, for hugs and smiles. An endless stream of interested anglers stop by to hear the latest and greatest about Baja California Sur sportfishing with J&J! Of course, they aren't the only Baja offering but they are my #1!

Time to enjoy fly-tying demonstrations, pricing a kayak, make a few new friends, enjoy some lunch and then more exploring. Honestly, you'll barely scratched the surface.

The All-Theater Schedules and Demonstrations offer a wide-range of educational opportunities. From the bleachers at the Ultimate Bass Demo Tank, learn the latest techniques, talk fish, and ask questions. The Expo includes off-roading test tracks where you can test ride ATV and UTV models from Yamaha, Polaris, Kawasaki, Can Am and Honda!

Yes, it's true, you'll run out of time before you ran out of fun at the International Sportsmen's Exposition, Sacramento.

International Sportsmen's Exposition, Sacramento
Cal Expo, State Fairgrounds
1600 Exposition Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95815
No pets, firearms or outside food or drink allowed.
Friday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Adults: $15.00
Youth under 16 FREE
CASH ONLY
Buy tickets online or at the door
Parking: Cal Expo Parking: $10 per car

Wild Rivers Coast: There’s a reason why on the Smith and Klamath rivers

The sun was barely breaking through when fog began rolling in across the mouth of the Smith River. Where river and ocean unite feels holy. Harbor seals – almost ghostly – gaze out across the shallow. A community of cormorants Zen(ly) attempt drying their wings. Brown pelicans and gulls share the sandspit. A lone angler casts again and again. He confides it’s been rumored salmon are running better on the Rogue and Klamath rivers. Still, he’s content. I watch with quiet respect and retreat once my camera is satiated.

Some 30 miles away, we strolled a considerable spit separating the Klamath River from the Pacific Ocean. One more peaceful world, the lone inhabitants walking or sitting quietly we reverently contemplate this sacred space. The tide is returning and waves crash to the shore. A swift undertow – the cold water just licks my naked feet as I scramble away.  The Klamath has journeyed far – 263 miles from Southern Oregon – to wed itself to the churning ocean.

These are the reasons why along the Wild Rivers Coast.

 

Yosemite's winter hush

Names of iconic landmarks remain as they were, now and forever. Links redirect to current names.

In winter, a hush and holy stillness settles over Yosemite National Park. It is, by any standards, a most magical and enchanting time to visit. On peaceful walks, you can easily imagine John Muir's first sighting of these granite domes and thundering waterfalls. In the chill of the day, under sapphire skies, the howls of coyotes drift across the Valley and mingle with mist floating above the meadows. 

During this season, Yosemite’s waterfalls come roaring back to life courtesy of winter snow and rain. Any visit should include a hike to Yosemite Falls. Stream-fed, the voice of Yosemite Falls is a constant this time of year. The reality that this is the highest waterfall in North America is drowned out by the crashing din, “it’s overwhelming – dizzying,” says one couple. The word ‘awesome’ simply isn’t enough.” In the morning chill, early risers are treated to snow showers created by the fall’s spray.

During warmer months, visitors from around the world flock to Yosemite. Post-summer and autumn, the visitor tide ebbs, heralding an unhurried transition into a frosty hibernation. Following major holidays, Yosemite settles down for a winter nap. Less traffic in, out and around the Park is a bonus, not to mention that accommodations are more attainable.

Opened in 1927, the majestic lady of Yosemite is The Ahwahnee hotel. This celebrated Four-Diamond resort perches grandly amid the pines and by the granite Royal Arches. The Ahwahnee’s regal architectural details combine the best of the Art Deco and Arts and Crafts movements with a splash of Native American and Middle Eastern influences. Spacious common areas, 99 elegantly appointed rooms and 24 cottages offer exceptional romantic appeal and stunning views of Half Dome, Glacier Point and Yosemite Falls – three of Yosemite’s most famous natural landmarks.

Sun-drenched days in Yosemite Valley can be warm, but anytime is optimal for snuggling in front of a roaring fire. The Ahwahnee’s massive stone fireplaces and comfortable lounges offer reprieves from the cold.  Guests Linda and Brad retreat to the Great Lounge to relax and read. “They wait on you hand and foot,” say Linda and Brad. Celebrating their anniversary, they both agree that, “If we could only go to one place, it would be Yosemite.”

Yosemite Village is an easy walk or shuttle ride from The Ahwahnee and other valley lodgings. Leave your vehicle parked during your stay and take advantage of environmentally-friendly transit. Snow doesn’t stay long on the valley floor, so walks and hikes are always possible. You don’t have to be a rugged outdoors person to enjoy Yosemite. Walk outside and you’ll see things you won’t find anywhere else on earth – relish the peace and quiet. There’s plenty of that in winter.

Besides the usual seasonal pursuits, indulge in some retail therapy at the hotel gift shop and world-famous Ansel Adams Gallery. Interpretive displays at the Yosemite Museum depict the rich heritage of the Valley and its native people the Ahwahneechee. An exhibit of Native American basketry by Lucy and Julia Parker is renowned. 

Food, Glorious Food! Extraordinary celebrations are a given in Yosemite. The Ahwahnee dining room is a gourmet experience, with the heart of the menu steeped in California cuisine. Whenever possible, dishes feature both organic and sustainably-harvested, locally-grown ingredients. Heavenly combinations, just for starters, include an Artisan Cheese Board featuring California’s delectable Humboldt Fog, Fiscalini and Golden Valley cheeses and Membrillo, a luscious quince jelly. Or a new twist on an old favorite, El Capitan Deviled Eggs with pesto, arugula, and bourbon-cured bacon. Like days of old, this grand dame requests dinner attire – fitting accompaniment beside so much grandeur.

The Grand Grape Celebration is the ultimate for couples visiting Yosemite early November and December. Wine enthusiasts can avail themselves of six sessions and multi-night packages at The Ahwahnee or Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.  Wine tasting seminars, private “Meet the Vintners” reception and a five-course gala dinner leave  devotees delightfully giddy.  Visitors are welcome, free of charge, at all seminars and panel discussions, and may also purchase gala dinner tickets.

A legendary gala, adapted from Washington Irving's "Sketch Book," Bracebridge Dinner marks its 91st year this winter. Trumpets announce the arrival of Squire Bracebridge and presentations of an elaborate seven-course feast are made on cue by the sounding of chimes during the performance. The main dining room of The Ahwahnee is transformed into an Elizabethan Yuletide pageant. Elaborate props, costumed characters, and period entertainment bring this 17th-century fête to life. You will, quite literally, be left speechless by this most sensory of celebrations. The experience of a lifetime, the always coveted Bracebridge tickets – eight December performances – are available online.

January would be Yosemite’s quietest month of the year were it not for the influx of food-and wine-minded guests who visit specifically to attend Taste of Yosemite, a gourmet treasure. Over the course of six weeks, acclaimed chefs from around the country come to The Ahwahnee to practice their culinary arts. Each session features a “Meet the Chefs” reception, cooking classes and demonstrations, and kitchen tours where you can visit The Ahwahnee’s pantry and see some of the original kitchen tools. The astonishing Gala Dinner is certain to send you into a gastronomic coma as five courses, paired with complementing wines, are crafted and prepared by each session’s guest chef. Bejeweled by tapered candlelight, there couldn’t be a more exquisite setting then The Ahwahnee’s regal dining room.

Ultimate Escapes: Yearning to unwind and avoid the last vestiges of winter crowds in Yosemite Valley, but still want endless distractions? Head to the Wawona Hotel. It’s an escape to days of old: No TV. No phones. And limited Wi-Fi – what madness! Whether romance or family time is on the agenda, the Victorian-era Wawona Hotel provides the best of all possibilities. Located on the southern end of the Park, the oldest Yosemite accommodations (a National Historic Landmark) is reminiscent of a gentle southern belle, offering the epitome of hospitality. Known for its exceptional fare, the winter menu highlights local organic and seasonal foods, and breakfast is included with all rooms. Some rooms are European-style so, if you prefer, specify en-suite.

Outside Yosemite’s boundaries, elegant and historic lodging comes in many guises. Two miles from the Park’s southern entrance, the Four-Diamond rated Tenaya Lodge offers superb accommodations – nothing less than luxurious. Native American and western-style décor honors the hotel’s legendary namesake, Chief Tenaya, roaring fires, five seasonal restaurants, and heart-stopping scenery. Elegant lodge rooms and suites and cottages were recently remodeled. But wait, there is more!

After a day exploring, hiking, or snowshoeing unwind and indulge at Ascent the Spa. Inquire about kid activities and personalized babysitting services. While you wine and dine or soak up some sun, off-spring can unwind at the expanded arcade or indoor heated pool. When the snow flies, an open-air ice-skating rink provides miles of chilly smiles. Incidentally, pet friendly, yes! Indulge your loving pooch with a Pampered Pet Package.

Evergreen Lodge, off historic Highway 120, offers couples and families a rare opportunity to enjoy the little visited and secluded northwest corner of Yosemite National Park. Down Evergreen Road, Hetch Hetchy Valley is waiting. In the early 1920s, damming of the Tuolumne River created the 8-mile-long Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. While surrounding landscapes may be winter white, Hetch Hetchy is frequently spring-like and otherworldly. You’ll delight in fern grottoes, sunlit granite, crashing waterfalls and tree-frog wetlands. The bonus is that you can hike for hours undisturbed by other day-trippers. 

Built in 1921, the main lodge houses a historic tavern and restaurant. After a day of hiking or skiing, a steaming bowl of apple and butternut squash soup with candied pecans or bacon-wrapped elk meatloaf with sweet potato puree, roasted Brussels sprouts and an oyster mushroom jus will fill that hunger void. Menus change seasonally to incorporate the finest local, organic and sustainable ingredients.  Retire to the Great Room for roaring fires, s’mores, and classic films. Honeymooners, Kahdijah and Alistair, enjoyed five nights at Evergreen, “It’s amazing,” says Kahdijah, “we love it! Evergreen has a faraway feeling and we can still spend time in the Park.” A variety of fully furnished cabins and cottages accommodate up to six guests.

Scenic Highway 120 passes through the Gold Rush-era town of Groveland and provides year-round access to the Park. If you choose to stay outside the Park, this small town offers big hospitality. Embrace the warm welcome of the Three-Diamond Groveland Hotel. Seventeen uniquely decorated rooms provide outstanding lodging for adventures both in and out of Yosemite. Greeting guests since 1849, the hotel’s Cellar Door is known for its extraordinary cuisine and wines and boasts a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Rush Creek Lodge sits just half a mile from the Yosemite’s Highway 120 west entrance, providing an ideal launching point for exploration into all parts of Yosemite. 

As temperatures drop and snow flies, nothing is quite as special as ice skating at Curry Village beneath the splendor of Half Dome and Glacier Point, the warmth of an outdoor fire ring and scrumptious winter s’mores…is a winter dream. Yosemite Valley lodges provide shuttle service to Badger Pass Ski Area. If there’s significant snow at Wawona, people cross-country ski on the golf course across the road. Built in 1878, the 130-foot Wawona Covered Bridge crosses the south fork of the Merced River and leads to the 1880s Pioneer History Center. 

The road is closed to the Mariposa Grove, but you can still hike, cross-country ski or snowshoe to visit the giant sequoias – the largest living things on earth. YExplore Global Adventures offers Yosemite guided snowshoe treks to both the Mariposa and Tuolumne sequoia groves. Beginner or extended hikes to Dewey Point on the south rim of Yosemite Valley and photography workshops capture landscape views and the natural “firefall”, one of Yosemite’s most amazing spectacles.

Get Your Badger Pass On! Like an old friend, Badger Pass Ski Area is quaint and welcoming. Generations of parents and children have cut their skiing teeth at Badger Pass, California’s oldest downhill ski area. With more than 85 percent of the slopes devoted to beginner and intermediate levels, this is understandable. There’s no friendlier place for the little ones than the Badger Pups program that offers customized instruction, ages four to six. The sundeck at Badger Pass answers all your wintertime prayers. After time on the slopes or trails, you’ll be ready to enjoy lunch with a full view of downhill daredevils. After refueling and relaxing, embrace your sillier side with a little snow tubing. There are also daily ranger-led snowshoe walks.

Cross-country skiing, snowboarding and showshoeing experiences in and around Badger Pass are both scenic and serene. Miles of groomed trails and fresh powder are unsurpassed even for first-timers. For those with true gusto, the 10-plus mile trek to Glacier Point Ski Hut will reward you with stellar views of Yosemite Valley. Excursions to the rustic stone and log lodge include lodging, meals and layover activities. Experiencing Yosemite’s wintry-white back county and starlit skies? Simply priceless.

In snow season, access to Yosemite is via highways 140 (west) 41 (south), and 120 (north). These scenic byways pass by historic towns and untold scenic wonders. Enjoy the sights and an occasional stop along the way for sightseeing and shopping – antiques, art galleries, museums, state parks, trendy boutiques, and wineries – California’s past and present lives on in these Gold Rush-era gems. Even in sunny California, winter weather is unpredictable. It’s best to check ahead for road conditions and always travel with snow chains!Millions throng to see the splendor of Yosemite’s granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, giant sequoias, and the magnificence made famous by the likes of John Muir and Ansel Adams. Retreat urban environs by way of traffic-laden highways. Soon, slow rolling valleys, wide-open spaces, neatly hemmed by fences, and carefully rowed orchards and vineyards lead to snow-capped peaks, the promise of winter, and Yosemite!

 

 

Wildside of Explore Elk Grove

Not far from the confluence of the Sacramento, Cosumnes and Mokelumne rivers and the California Delta, Explore Elk Grove’s welcome mat greets millions of migratory birds each fall and winter.

Along the Pacific Flyway, winged visitors make their way to nature preserves, parks and refuges. Breathtaking fly-ins of ducks, sandhill cranes, Canada geese, snow geese and tundra swans are the showstoppers, but wildlife viewing is a year-round attraction. Throughout the region, a wide array of feathered friends, mammals and fish are full-time residents. Parks, neighborhoods and rivers are habitat for red-tailed hawks, Swainson’s hawks, falcons, river otters, raccoons, owls, and, yes, Mexican free-tailed bats! Whether you walk, paddle or observe from your car, it’s easy to get up close and personal with nature.

Keep your binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras close. Much of Elk Grove’s wildside is easily accessible just along Franklin Boulevard. Within its borders, there are 90-plus city parks in excess of 700 acres and more than 28 miles of hiking, biking and walking trails. Get out and Explore Elk Grove!


Bufferlands – Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District
In the 1970s, the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District looked deep into their crystal ball and saw that communities needed a “buffer” from the wastewater treatment plant. To safeguard growing populations and preserve much needed open space, they purchased 2,150 acres to minimize the potential for odor and other nuisances that could impact the surrounding neighborhoods. The results were nothing short of remarkable. Hidden away along Franklin Boulevard, this important nature area provides hundreds of acres of high-quality wildlife habitat, farmland and open space in a rapidly urbanizing area of California.

Restoration of historic properties and preservation of riparian habitat make the Bufferlands a must-see for locals and visitors. The Bufferlands supports more than 230 species of birds, 25 species of native mammals and several native fish, amphibians, and reptiles. The Bufferlands is also home to more than 20 species of rare plants and animals, including several threatened and endangered species such as Swainson’s hawk, vernal pool fairy shrimp and giant garter snakes. Opportunities to see this wildlife and nature tourism gem are available through public tours and events, including the annual Walk on the Wildside festival.

Laguna Creek Trail – City of Elk Grove
With numerous access points and ample parking, this popular trail features two miles of paved, off-street trails for biking, hiking, walking, running and horseback riding. Traversing the lengths of Laguna Creek, treetops and waterways are home to song- and shorebirds. Locals and visitors share the right-of-way with feathered friends and mammals including river otters, raccoons and beaver.

Cosumnes River Preserve – California Department of Fish & Wildlife
A one-mile universally accessible trail and three-mile round-trip levee trail and boardwalk provide up-close views of sandhill cranes, shorebirds, riparian forests and wetlands. Bring your own boat for guided kayak and canoeing trips on the last free-flowing river from the Sierra Nevada to the Central Valley. Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center includes interpretive displays and covered deck great for picnicking.  All ages will love the weekly “Ducks in Scopes”, where preserve docents provide free scopes and binoculars and expert wildlife identification.  Scopes are also set for children. Check the website for dates and times.  

Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge – US Fish & Wildlife Service Pacific Region
The refuge is home to more than 200 wildlife and fish species. Seasonal Pacific Flyway migrations of Greater Sandhill Cranes, shorebirds and wading birds rest and feed on mudflats, wetlands and lakes. The recently restored Blue Heron Trails is located at the Hood-Franklin Road headquarters. Open from sunrise to sunset, free of charge, the accessible paved trail includes a mile of loops around managed wetlands hosting various migrants such as hawks, shorebirds and interpretive panels. Best viewing is during the migratory season October-May. School groups are welcome. Check online for dates and details about docent-led tours.

Woodbridge Ecological Reserve – California Department of Fish & Wildlife
The wildlife international airport – squadrons of Greater Sandhill Cranes descend during nightly fly-ins September to March. More than 30 other species of birds including ducks, geese, hawks, owls, swans, avocets, coots and stilts join the evening revelry. Managed by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, parking and viewing mound are located on Woodbridge Road. The north site of the reserve, which includes the crane viewing shelter, can only be visited on a docent-led tour. Be sure to check online for dates and times as tours fill quickly.  

Galt Winter Bird Festival
Festival headquarters is the starting point for free educational presentations, wildlife shows, hands-on activities and art displays. Fees vary for group tours to Cosumnes River Preserve, Heritage Oak Winery, and Staten Island. Keynote speakers are world-renown birders and authors. Wonderfully kid-friendly!

Walk on the Wildside
This one-day festival features hands-on activities, live animal shows, entertainment and guided tours of Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and the 2,150-acre Bufferlands a unique opportunity to see a rare heron and egret rookery—one of only four in Sacramento County. Special twilight tours are offered during the summer and fall.

Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival
For more than 20 years, this three-day festival has celebrated the return of the Greater Sandhill Cranes to the Central Valley. Listed as endangered, the cranes are one the largest migrating North American cranes. Sometimes called B52s, their wingspan can reach almost seven feet wide and they can be up to four feet tall. Leaping with wings extended, their mating dance is marvelous! Guest speakers, art show, entertainment, guided tours and dozens of exhibitors!

Remember to Leave No Trace – pack it in and pack it out. Follow the brown and white binocular signs to wildlife viewing sites and festivals and online at www.CAWatchableWildlife.org