BRT Insights - WW Kayaking & Hiking

JimH & I drove out to Fremont Weir Wildlife Area (6 miles north-east of Woodland, CA) to explore by mountain biking. Sacramento River was at a level of 17.5 feet which is 16 feet below the top of the weir.

Fremont Weir Wildlife Area Maps.

• Download map: Fremont Weir Wildlife Area Map PDF. Driving Map PDF.
• Map book: California Maps - Atlas & Gazetteer by Delorme, 2008.

• Online map user instructions. Click and drag to reposition this interactive map.
• The tool on the left zooms in and out. Point on the red markers to see the names.
• Map=roads. Satellite=satellite map. Terrain=3D shaded topo map. Topo=topographic map.
• Full-Screen online driving map - Fremont Weir Wildlife Area.




Geographic Coordinates - Landmarks (Marker)
N 38.75897 W 121.66785 - trailhead and parking (A)
N 38.75906 W 121.66546 - Fremont Weir west end (B)
N 38.76470 W 121.63552 - Fremont Weir east end (C)


Click on the photos to see the larger view. Use the back button to return.

Biking at Fremont Weir Wildlife Area

The road along the west side of the wildlife area is private. We made a cross-country loop through the north-west corner of the wildlife area. When some lakes blocked our progress we went north to the weir and proceeded east on the 2-track dirt road on the north side of the weir. Biking along the weir provided easy biking, great views of the landscape to the south and occasional views of the Sacramento River to the north. We stopped to eat some homemade cranberry walnut granola bars and have some of my PowerT Energy Drink recipe.

Once we got to the east end of the weir we got on the dirt road on the top of the levee. We explored about a mile to the north on Rd 107. This part of the levee road provides scenic views of the river on the left and farmland on the right. There are many more miles of scenic levee road that we can explore maybe next time. Then we went south on County Rd 16 on top of the levee to see the east side of the wildlife area. Cross-country travel into the center of the wildlife area was blocked by a long narrow lake paralleling the levee, but the scenery from the top of the levee was fine. On the way back north we took a path down at lake level. Then we retraced our path along the weir to get back to Jim's truck at the entrance.

Despite the small size of the wildlife area we saw quite a bit of wildlife. We saw 3 different groups of deer, lots of small birds, a few raptors, a flock of quail, a great blue heron and some small ducks. The first few wildflowers of spring were blooming.






More photos:
• JimH photos at Fremont Weir Wildlife Area
• BRT photos at Fremont Weir Wildlife Area


Slideshow:

Coming Home

On the way home we stopped for an excellent lunch at Black Dragon Brewery in Woodland, CA. See the BlackDragon Brewery trip report.


Additional information:
• Hiking Trails in California - Davis Wiki.
• Hiking, Biking & Camping Trip Reports & Photos - BRT Insights.
• Digital Camera: Canon PowerShot A490. Photos edited with IrfanView and Windows Live Movie Maker.

Tags: mountain biking, trail, Fremont Weir Wildlife Area, Sutter County, Yolo County, California.

Labels: biking, map, wildflowers

Driving to Palomarin Trailhead at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Point Reyes National Seashore is a great place to hike for coastal scenery and brisk coastal fresh air. (Map, driving directions, driving time.) (Hiking map.) Bolinas, CA is hiding in plain sight in a vortex of the time-space continuum. Its a hard place to find unless you know exactly where to look. The nice lady's voice in the dashboard gps directed us unerringly through Bolinas, CA and on to the trailhead. Driving along Mesa Road we passed the trailhead for the Ridge Trail and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory on our way to the Palomarin Trailhead. Considering it was a Friday, I was quite surprised to see about a dozen cars parked at the trailhead when we got there.

Hiking & Driving Map - Point Reyes National Seashore.

• Click and drag to reposition this interactive map. Map user instructions.
• The tool on the left zooms in and out. Point on the red markers to see their names.
• Map=roads. Satellite=satellite map. Terrain=3D shaded topo map. Topo=topographic map.
• Full-Screen Road and Hiking Map: Palomarin Trailhead, Point Reyes National Seashore.



Geographic coordinates - landmark name.
N 37.93416 W 122.74727 - Palomarin Trailhead (A)
N 37.95259 W 122.76441 - Bass Lake (B)
N 37.95435 W 122.78372 - Alamere Falls (C)

N 37.92942 W 122.73330 - Ridge Trailhead
N 37.92998 W 122.73548 - Point Reyes Bird Observatory

Hiking the Coast Trail from the Palomarin Trailhead to see wildflowers and waterfalls.

Palomarin Trailhead is the starting point for hiking an excellent section of the Coast Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore. The trail starts along the coast, cuts inland and passes through the Lake Ranch area and beautiful Bass Lake. This trail goes through a delightful variety of terrain. There are sunny sections and long distant views of the scenery interspersed with many sections in deep dark forests of eucalyptus, conifers, etc. Along the trail we passed various people including some horseback riders and a nudist, possibly hiking out to skinny dip at Bass Lake. The trail is wide enough for 2 or 3 people to walk side-by-side most of the way. Beware of poison oak which is common all along the trail.

• Southerly view to Bolinas Point.

• More BRT photos from Point Reyes National Seashore, Coast Trail & Alamere Falls.

• Point Reyes Coast Trail to Alamere Falls - map, photos & trip report by ElRemaro.


Click on Statistics Mode to see our hiking speed, elevation and distance traveled.

We had ideal hiking weather that was brisk and breezy with temperatures in the 50s. See below for the current weather and forecast:

Alamere Falls is a beauty spot !!

Then we turned off the Coast Trail and followed the official sign pointing us to an "unmaintained trail" down to the coast at Alamere Falls. The final rocky scramble to get down to the beach has a couple of tricky spots. Good shoes and careful climbing technique will be sufficient to enable most people to reach the beach to get the best views of the waterfall. At high tide there will be little or no beach for walking below the falls. If possible plan your hike to arrive at Alamere Falls at or near a period of low tide. (Tides at Bolinas Lagoon.)

• Upper cascades on Alamere Creek.

• Alamere Falls.

Food & Drink.

To stay hydrated while hiking I drank my homemade sports drink recipe made with Northlands Superfruits juice. We tested competing brands of granola bars (FiberPlus vs. Fiber One) and found them both quite good.

On the way home we had some lowfat chocolate milk muscle recovery drink. What a fine excuse to drink something that tastes pretty great! We stopped at Betty Lou's, our favorite sports bar in Vacaville, CA. We got the daily special which was an excellent baked chicken with rosemary garlic potatoes. We also sampled some handcrafted microbrews and watched the basketball playoffs on the big screen HDTV.

For more information:
• Hiking trails in Marin County - Marin Wiki
• Waterfall Hiking Trails in California - websites.
• Hiking Trails in California - Statewide Information.
• Hiking Trails Trip Reports - BRT Insights.
• California Maps - Atlas & Gazetteer by Delorme, 2008.
• Join the Point Reyes 2012 Trails Challenge.

IceRocket Tags: Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, Bolinas CA, California, northern California, hiking, trail.
Tags: topographic map, wildflowers, waterfalls, photography, landscape photography.

Labels: hiking, waterfall, wildflowers

Multiuse trails near Auburn, CA for hiking, mountainbiking, horseback riding and dog walking.

Jim & I went hiking at Hidden Falls Regional Park to see what this little local park has to offer. (Map, driving directions, driving time.) (Hiking map.) The trails were well designed and well maintained except for a few mushy spots that need some regrading to drain water off the trail more efficiently. The trails are multiuse and on this weekday we saw one horse and a few dogs taking their owners out for walks, but no mountainbikers. The trail system winds and loops throughout the property with signs and maps posted at every junction. There are enough ups and downs to make the trails interesting, but nothing was more than moderately strenuous.

Hiking & Driving Map - Hidden Falls Regional Park.

• The map is interactive. Click and drag to reposition map. Map user FAQ.
• Use the tool on the left to zoom in and out. Point on the red markers to see their names.
• Map=roads. Satellite=satellite map. Terrain=3D shaded topo. Topo=topographic map.
• Full-Screen Road and Hiking Map: Hidden Falls Regional Park.



Geographic coordinates - landmark name.
N 38.95826 W 121.16620 - Trailhead (elevation 1080 ft)
N 38.96438 W 121.16871 - Dead Man Creek bridge (elevation 690 ft)
N 38.96602 W 121.17804 - Hidden Falls (elevation 580 ft)
N 38.96919 W 121.16549 - Seven Pools vista point (elevation 740 ft)

After a period of rain the plants were green with new growth, wildflowers were blooming and the creeks were flowing nicely. We found edible plants such as miner's lettuce and manzanita blossoms.

Doubleclick on the photos to see the large version; use the back button to return.


• Wildflowers along the trail.

Hidden Falls waterfall on Dead Man Creek is the main attraction !!

• Hiking along Coon Creek near the Seven Pools Area was also very nice.

More photos:
• 2011-03-29 Hidden Falls Regional Park photos by BRT & JH.
• GPS track, photos and trip report from Hidden Falls Regional Park by JH.

My new hiking boots were cheap on sale at Big 5 Sporting Goods. They passed the day 1 test, but only time will tell if they last long enough to make the cheap price really a bargain.

On the way home we stopped for some good food & drink at Auburn Alehouse in the old town section of Auburn, CA. We got glasses of Imperial IPA and Irish Dry Stout, both excellent and unique beers!


For more information:
• Waterfall Hiking Trails in California - websites.
• Hiking, Camping and Biking Trip Reports - BRT Insights.
• California Hiking Trails - Statewide Information.
• California Maps - Atlas & Gazetteer by Delorme, 2008.

IceRocket Tags: Hidden Falls Regional Park, Placer County, Auburn CA, California, northern California, hiking, mountainbiking, dog walking, horseback riding.
Tags: photography, landscape photography, wildflowers, waterfalls.

Labels: hiking, waterfall, wildflowers

Coal Canyon is gorgeous and the waterfall is breathtaking!!

(27feb2011) It was necessary to go right back! We were on a mission because our previous hike to Table Mountain was cut short by the shocking failure of my not-so-old hiking boots.

Hiking Map - North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, Butte County, near Oroville, California.

• Map user instructions. The map is interactive. Click and drag to reposition map.
• Point on the red markers to see their names. Use the tool on the left to zoom in and out.
• Map=roads. Satellite=satellite map. Terrain=3D shaded topo. Topo=topographic map.
• Full-Screen Map: North Table Mountain access road and hiking area.



Geographic coordinates - landmark name.
N 39.52409 W 121.55865 - Cherokee Rd, Oroville, California (elevation 342 ft) (A)
N 39.59555 W 121.54164 - DFG Public Parking (elevation 1320 ft) (B)
N 39.60379 W 121.55756 - Ravine Twin Falls (C)
N 39.61055 W 121.56067 - Coal Canyon Fall (D)
N 39.60870 W 121.56115 - Little Coal Canyon Falls (E)

N 39.20582 W 121.82057 - Sutter Buttes (elevation 2117 ft) (F)
N 39.38334 W 122.75213 - Snow Mountain (elevation 7056 ft) (G)
N 39.43447 W 122.69347 - St John Mountain (elevation 6746 ft) (H)
N 40.18611 W 121.37556 - Ruffa Ridge (elevation 7000 ft) (I)

There were noticeably more wildflowers blooming than we had seen at
Table Mountain the previous week.

• JimH at Coal Canyon. View of Snow Mountain and St John Mountain to the west.

Coal Canyon Falls is the star attraction !!

• To better appreciate the size of the waterfall notice the hikers on the rim to the right of the falls. (DoubleClick on the photo to see the large version - use the back button to return.)



More photos, map and video:
• Table Mountain 2 - Hiking trip - EveryTrail - ElRemaro 27feb2011.
• 2011-02-27 Table Mountain photos by BRT.
• Coal Canyon Falls, Table Mountain video.

The high-top gym shoes that I wore as temporary replacements for hiking boots felt fine at the start of the day, but my feet were suffering long before the end of our hike on this rocky, rugged terrain.

On the way home we stopped in Marysville, CA to eat. The dashboard navigation failed to hook us up with any good looking restaurants. We ended up making a quick stop at Jimboy's Tacos. The food there was pretty good, pretty fast and we got back on the road.

For more information:
• Wildflowers of Table Mountain, Butte County, California - book report.
• Waterfalls of North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, Butte County, CA.
• North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve hiking to see waterfalls and wildflowers 20feb2011.
• Waterfall Hiking Trails in California - websites.
• Hiking, Camping and Biking Trip Reports - BRT Insights.
• California Hiking Trails - Statewide Information.
• California Maps - Atlas & Gazetteer by Delorme, 2008.

IceRocket Tags: North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, hiking, Butte County, Oroville CA, California, northern California.
Tags: wildflowers, waterfalls, photography, landscape photography.

Labels: hiking, waterfall, wildflowers

Samantha Mackey and Albin Bills describe the wildflowers and waterfalls that make North Table Mountain such a special place!

"Table Mountain is a prominent landmark in Butte County, located on the eastern margin of the Sacramento Valley between the towns of Oroville to the south, and Chico to the north. Its distinctive form catches the eye - and elevated tabletop with steep cliffs, set against the rounded hills of the northern Sierra Nevada". "To the uninitiated, a flower walk on Table Mountain can be an overwhelming experience. There are so many flowers! We seek to ease the burden by profiling approximately 60 of the common, showy species in bloom during the popular springtime viewing season. To broaden your view, we also describe the mountain's geologic and cultural history, ecology, and wildlife you might encounter along the way."

Wildflowers of Table Mountain is a great little book to increase your enjoyment of any trip to North Table Mountain (near Oroville, CA). Brief descriptions of the geology and ecology help explain why North Table Mountain is so great for viewing waterfalls and wildflowers. The wildflower identification main section of the is divided by blossom color, but the illustrations are in black and white. This keeps down the cost of the book, but I'll have to see if the b-w drawings are sufficient for flower identification on my next trip there. The book shows locations of three main waterfalls at Table Mountain. Coal Canyon Falls is especially awesome, so be sure to see it!!

There are no trails, so bring your map, compass and cross-country hiking skills. The rolling hills and valleys that cut into the top of Table Mountain provide lots of opportunites to get temporarily lost and bewildered if you don't pay attention to where you are and where you are going.

• Wildflowers of Table Mountain book - csuchico.edu. Order the book directly from Herbarium, California State University, Chico or from local booksellers.

• North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve hiking to see waterfalls and wildflowers 23feb2011.
• Waterfalls of North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve 26feb2011.

See also:
• Return to North Table Mountain to see Coal Canyon Falls 27feb2011.
• Waterfalls of North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, Butte County, CA.
• North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve hiking to see waterfalls and wildflowers 20feb2011.
• Waterfall Hiking Trails in California - websites.
• Hiking to Waterfalls in California - books.
• Waterfall Trails in Northern California USA.
• Reviews - Books, Videos, and Websites - BRT Insights.

IceRocket Tags: North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, northern California, hiking, trail, wildflowers, waterfall, Oroville CA, Butte County, California.
Tags: travel, walking, hiking, photography, landscape photography.

Labels: book, waterfall, wildflowers

Cross-country hiking on not-so-flat Table Mountain in Butte County, California USA.

(20feb2011) North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is a great place for hiking to see waterfalls and wildflowers. We drove to Oroville, CA and drove north on Cherokee Rd to the Dept. Fish & Game public access parking. There are no official trails here. Jim's portable gps (Garmin GPSMap 76S) was a handy tool for this kind of cross-country hiking. The rolling hills and limited visual landmarks make it a tricky place to hike cross-country. If you wander around on top of Table Mountain you will eventually get where you are going and see lots of interesting things along the way. Under these conditions a portable gps is helpful to know where you are and to plot an efficient route to your desired hiking destinations.

Hiking Map - North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, near Oroville, California.

• The map is interactive. Click and drag to reposition map. Map user instructions.
• Use the tool on the left to zoom in and out. Point on the red markers to see their names.
• Map=roads. Satellite=satellite map. Terrain=3D shaded topo map. Topo=topographic map.
• Full-Screen Road and Hiking Map: North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve.



Geographic coordinates - landmark name.
N 39.52409 W 121.55865 - Cherokee Rd, Oroville, California (elevation 342 ft) (A)
N 39.59555 W 121.54164 - DFG Public Parking (elevation 1320 ft) (B)
N 39.59081 W 121.58136 - Beatson Falls (C)
N 39.60379 W 121.55756 - Ravine Twin Falls (D)

N 39.20582 W 121.82057 - Sutter Buttes (elevation 2117 ft) (E)
N 39.38334 W 122.75213 - Snow Mountain (elevation 7056 ft) (F)
N 39.43447 W 122.69347 - St John Mountain (elevation 6746 ft) (G)
N 40.18611 W 121.37556 - Ruffa Ridge (elevation 7000 ft) (H)

Beatson Falls and Twin Ravine Falls - Waterfalls at Table Mountain.

We hiked cross-country to Beatson Falls and Twin Ravine Falls. Along the way we got distant views of Sutter Buttes to the south-west, snowy mountaintops like Snow Mountain & St John Mountain to the west, and possibly Ruffa Ridge to the north.



More BRT videos:
• BRT hiking and kayaking videos.
• Video taken with Pentax Optio W10 waterproof camera, edited with Windows Movie Maker.

• Twin Ravine Falls.

More BRT & JH waterfall and wildflower photos from Table Mountain:
• BRT & JH Table Mountain photos 20feb2011.
• Olympus Stylus 720SW camera. Photos edited with IrfanView software.

• Table Mountain photos - ElRemaro 20feb2011. Linked to gps track and topo map.
• Pentax Optio W10 waterproof camera.

Wildflower season begins at Table Mountain.

We saw some of the first few wildflowers blooming at Table Mountain this year. Hopefully we can go back there later in the spring to see additional types of flowers that bloom later in the season.

• Owl's Clover and California Poppy wildflowers.

Unfortunately our hiking was interrupted by equipment malfunction. The rubber sole came off one of my hiking boots came off as we were hiking away from Beatson Falls. All of the spare rope and string we could find in our backpacks could not secure that rubber sole on my boot despite repeated attempts to retie and rearrange the strings. After Ravine Twin Falls I reluctantly agreed to hike out. This was a remarkably good decision because shortly after the rubber sole on the other boot started separating from the shoe. Fortunately we got back to the car before either of my boots completely disintegrated.

We stopped at Taco Bell in Oroville on the way home. I was disappointed that their Cantina Tacos have been rotated out of the menu. I really like their new Smoke Flavored Taco Sauce.

For more information:
• Return to North Table Mountain to see Coal Canyon Falls 27feb2011.
• Wildflowers of Table Mountain, Butte County, California - book report.
• Waterfalls of North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, Butte County, CA.
• Waterfall Hiking in California - websites.
• Hiking, Camping and Biking Trip Reports - BRT Insights.
• California Hiking Trails - Statewide Information.
• California Maps - Atlas & Gazetteer by Delorme, 2008.

IceRocket Tags: hiking, North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, Butte County, California, northern California, Oroville CA.
Tags: photography, landscape photography, wildflowers, waterfalls.

Labels: hiking, waterfall, wildflowers