California Through My Lens

Blythe Intaglios: Native American Geoglyphs in the California Desert

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 15:44:18 GMT

The Blythe Intaglios are a series of massive figures etched into the ground centuries ago by the Native Americans living in the area. The drawings are called geoglyphs, and the largest of them is over 170 feet in length. While you can experience them from the ground, they are best seen from the air. Here is all the information on this incredibly unique part of California’s history.

Details

Free to visit
Please be respectful
There are five figures to see
Location coordinates – 33.80138511796373, -114.53439384749461

Getting There

The Blythe Intaglios are located about 4 hours from Los Angeles in the city of Blythe (right on the Arizona border). To get there, you will take the 10 Freeway all the way to Blythe and then get off on exit 241 for Intake Blvd.

Turn left and follow this road for around 15 miles. Eventually, you will see a small sign for “giant desert figures.” You will then turn left on the dirt road past the sign. The dirt road was pretty rough, but it is short and would have been passable in a two-wheel-drive car when we went.

The Figures

The first two of the five figures can be seen on your right when you drive in.

There is a parking area for it and a trail that takes you out to the gate that blocks the figures’ entrance.

The gate is there because people used to drive their cars through this area.

There are two figures here, one of a person and another of an animal.

They do not know what the figures actually represent, but they have some theories, and you can read about them on the plaques next to each of the fenced-in areas.

After exploring these two figures, you will want to get in your car and drive a little more to the third figure. Here there is another parking lot and another trail to walk out to it.

This is also the figure of a human as well.

Lastly, there are two more figures south of here that you can walk to but don’t have any roads to drive.

These two figures are another animal and another human. The human is the largest of the human figures.

I was blown away by the spot when I visited. It is such a unique thing to experience in the California desert and well worth the visit if you are in the area. It is best experienced from the air, though, so bring a drone if you have one. Check it out and let me know what you think.

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Indio Hills Badlands Hike in the Coachella Valley

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 20:34:59 GMT

The Coachella Valley has some amazing hikes that offer you a glimpse of the otherworldly desert landscape. The hike through the Indio Hills Badlands is one of those as it takes you through a sandy wash and a few slot canyons as you make your way up to an awesome summit with vast views of the surrounding topography. Here is all the information on this hike if you want to do it.

Details

5 miles round trip (loop)
650 feet of elevation gain
Free parking in the small lot
Location: Golf Center Pkwy, Indio, CA 92203

Getting There

From most of Southern California, you will head east on the 10 Freeway out past Palm Springs to Indio. From there, you will get off at exit 144 for Golf Center Parkway and turn left. Take the road until it makes a sharp left, and you will see the small parking area in front of you before you turn. The lot can hold about a dozen cars and read the signs as some spots say no parking.

The Trail

The trail leaves from the parking lot and heads over a canal alongside a golf course. This is the first trail I have ever seen that had a sign that said hikers should yield to golfers.

As you leave the golf course, you will start a small uphill section along a loose dirt ridge.

This will take you over the first hill and see back into the badlands area you are heading.

This first mile or so till you get to the badlands is relatively uneventful and a little boring.

Plus, you will be walking in the sand, which is never enjoyable to hike in. Believe me, though, it is worth pushing on to explore the badlands area.

Eventually, the trail will get up close to the mountains and will split, with each path being part of the loop you do going through this canyon.

We headed to the left first, and I would recommend you follow the signs and do this as it is the most impressive section.

The trail to the left starts to head uphill again, but now you are surrounded by wind caves and a narrowing canyon.

It is a fun area to explore, and it continues to get better as you head on.

The trailhead up the first of two pushes in this section, with each push allowing you a better vantage point of the area.

After the first push, the trail descends into some of the most narrow slot canyons. It was a blast going through this section, and it reminded me of the slot in Anza Borrego.

This area is easily the trail’s highlight, with large canyon walls and new rock formations to see at each bend.

The trail continues to head back until the canyon widest, and you make your way around the backside of the mountain.

This area is not as fun as the part you went through, but it is still a unique landscape.

The trail then heads up one last time as you leave the canyon on a series of switchbacks.

When you make it to the ridgeline and the high point, you will have a fantastic 360-degree view of the Coachella Valley.

It was amazing in both directions, but especially to the south, where you can see down through the badlands you just explored.

Since this is a loop trail, you don’t have to go back the way you came.

You will want to walk along the ridgeline and then begin the downhill walk back into the canyon on the other side.

This part of the trail is a little steep going down, but it has some great views.

Eventually, it will flatten out, and you will be walking in another large canyon as you make your way back.

There are lots of fun rock formations to see and some wind caves that have made little holes in the rocks along the way.

The trail will connect with the long sandy walk you came in on, and you can take that all the way back to where you started. All in all, this is a great hike in Southern California with a beautiful landscape you can explore. Just don’t do it when it is hot. Let me know what you think in the comments.

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11 Things to in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 15:36:34 GMT

Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in Northern California, east of the town of Redding. The national park is home to multiples geothermal features, dozens of beautiful lakes, and countless miles of hiking. I have been coming to Lassen for years, but I still have so much to explore throughout the park. I wanted to make this post to introduce you to Lassen Volcanic National Park, since it sees much fewer visitors than other parks in California. Here are some of my favorite spots; let me know what I left off in the comments, and note that I have not done Brokeoff Mountain or the Cinder Cone hike, but both would probably be on this list if I had done them.

Quick stops if you want to drive through the park

The main area of Lassen Volcanic National Park is off Highway 89. If you are only spending a half-day in the park, then the best option is probably to drive Highway 89 through the park and stop at the quick stops. Here are some of the best:

Sulphur Works

Sulpher Works is right near the south entrance, and it is the easiest of the park’s geothermal areas to access. You can park about a tenth of a mile from the main bubbling pools and walk to see them. There isn’t a lot to see here, but it is a great introduction to the geothermal areas if you have only a little bit of time.

Emerald Lake

Emerald lake is the first of a few amazing lakes you will get to when driving through the park. It is not as popular as Helen Lake, but it is stunning to see, especially in the early morning when the park is quiet, and the water is reflecting the surrounding mountains.

Helen Lake

Helen Lake is only a few minutes’ drive from Emerald Lake, and it is my favorite spot in the park. This lake reflects Lassen Peak, and I have spent hours just sitting here and soaking it in. You don’t want to skip this area on a drive through the park.

Upper Meadow

This area has minimal parking, but it also has great views of the surrounding terrain and Lassen Peak. You can walk along the creek, and you may even see some animals in the meadow.

Devastated Area Trail

Heading on from Upper Meadow, you can stop at this short trail that is wheelchair accessible and is great for those interested in the park’s history. The trail talks about the volcanic eruption from the early 1900s that changed the landscape of the park. It’s a quick stop but an interesting one with lots of parking.

Manzanita Lake

My last quick road trip stop is Manzanita Lake. I would recommend that you take more time here if you can as there is a great trail that goes all the way around the lake and gives you stunning views. If you can’t do that though, you can stop along the shore and spend 5-10 minutes walking a little bit and experiencing the beautiful lake before continuing on.

Longer stops if you have more time

These last five recommendations are for longer stops in the park if you have more time to explore.

Bumpass Hell

First up, Bumpass Hell is the most well know hike in Lassen National Park. It takes you along a hillside and over to a huge hydrothermal area. Bumpass Hell has a boardwalk that takes you up close to boiling mud pots, steam vents, and other hydrothermal features. It is one of the most unique short hikes you can do in any of California’s national parks.

Lassen Peak

Lassen Peak is the volcanic mountain that the park is named after. It erupted in the early 1900s, changing the park’s landscape forever, and is a dominant presence in the park. You can hike to the top of the 10,000 foot peak on a 5 mile round trip hike. Don’t underestimate it though, as it goes uphill the entire way. The view from the top is worth the effort.

King’s Creek Falls / Sifford Lake

Kings Creek Falls is one of a few waterfalls in the park. It is a very popular day hike for visitors as the waterfall is impressive and the hike through the Upper Cascades is as well. Many people hike both Kings Creek and Bumpass Hell during their one day in the park.

Devils Kitchen

The last two recommendations are not on the main park road and require you to drive about 40 minutes from the park’s southern entrance. The first is the Devil’s Kitchen, which is another geothermal area that you can hike to. It is not as impressive as Bumpass Hell, but it is still a pretty interesting place to visit in Lassen National Park.

Boiling Springs Lake

Lastly, Boiling Springs Lake is in the same area as Devil’s Kitchen and is a great short hike. This lake has many steam vents underneath it that keep the water a unique light green color and the water temperature at around 125 degrees. The red colors around the lake and boiling mud pots make this an interesting spot to explore in the park.

There you have it, my list of things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Be sure to look up the Cinder Cone and Brokeoff Mountain if you are looking to explore more. What else did I leave off this list? Let me know in the comments.

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Giant Rock in Landers: A Massive Boulder with a Unique History

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 23:16:06 GMT

Traveling California has been a fun way for me to connect with all of the crazy and unique history this state has to offer. Places like Salvation Mountain, the center of the world, the Cabazon Dinosaurs, and the tower at Victoria Beach all are a part of what makes California what it is today. I can now add the Giant Rock in Landers to that list as well. While it is not man-made, it has been an essential site for Native Americans, home to an eccentric German who lived under it, and the location of a UFO conference. Today it is basically just a giant boulder that people offroad to, and here is all the information on the rock and its history if you want to check it out.

Details

4WD highly recommended
The rock is 7 stories tall
Please pack out what you bring with you

Getting There

Believe it or not, there is a Google Map location for Giant Rock in Landers that I used to drive out to it. Once you pass the Integratron, you will be on an unmaintained dirt road. While it is passable without 4WD it is very sandy and had some huge bumps when I went; be careful if you choose to drive out there.

Giant Rock’s History

According to Wikipedia, here are some nuggets of history.

Giant Rock was considered sacred to Native Americans who lived in the area for most of its history.
Frank Critzer dug out the underside of Giant Rock in the 1930s and lived under it until a dynamite explosion killed him in 1942. He was also thought to be a German spy during WWII, but that turned out to be false.
In the 1950s, the rock became a meeting place for UFO conferences and was thought to be a place to commune with aliens.
In the early 2000s, a piece split off the rock, making it what it is today.

Giant Rock

Driving out to Giant Rock was an adventure itself. We had to go through the town of Landers, past the Integratron and over a rough dirt road for a few miles. Eventually, as we rounded an extensive collection of boulders, Giant Rock came into view.

There is no information plaques or anything here to tell you about the rock, so do your research beforehand. It is also not visited very often during the day so you will probably be by yourself if you come on a weekday.

At the rock, you can walk all around it, climb some of the nearby hills to see it from above, and look at the filled in hole that once was Frank Critzer’s home.

There were anchors on the rock, so I guess people do some rock climbing here.

That’s basically it for this spot. It is undoubtedly a massive rock, and the history makes it a fun place to explore. Check it out if you are on the way to Joshua Tree, and let me know what you think in the comments.

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A Cabazon Dinosaurs Christmas in Lights: Santa T-Rex, Christmas Lights & More

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 01:29:58 GMT

Ever since I started doing road trips and exploring California, the Cabazon Dinosaurs have been a roadside attraction I always look forward to seeing. This year is the first that they are doing a Christmas themed event, and since most of the normal Christmas events are canceled this year, Amie and I brought the twins and set out to have a fun night getting in the Christmas spirit with a bunch of dinosaurs. Here is all the information on this event.

Details

Cost: $13 for adults, $11 for kids, extra $10 for the Santa Claus photo
More information and current hours here
Location: 50770 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, CA 92230

Getting There

The Cabazon Dinosaurs are located right along the 10 Freeway, after the Morongo Casino, on the way to Palm Springs. The official exit is exit 106 for Main St, and you can’t miss them as you can see them from the freeway. After getting off, you will go past the gas station and drive into the parking area next to the dinosaurs and Dino Park.

A Dinosaur Christmas

Most people’s main attraction is the T-Rex, which is 4 stories tall and has been painted like Santa Claus for the Christmas season. You can see the T-Rex from this area without paying anything, so if you want just a quick stop, this is it.

However, if you drove all the way out here, you might as well go into the dinosaur park.

The Dino Park has a quarter of a mile trail that takes you past many different dinosaurs that they showcase normally, but with Christmas lights all strewn around them.

The trail is colorful and festive, and it is fun to see the dinosaurs and the lights.

About halfway through the trail, you can veer off and go into the T-Rex. From the base, you can climb three flights of stairs and get up into the head.

This is a little hard with the crowds at the event, since the interior is pretty small, but we waited our turn and eventually made it up into the T-Rex head.

After exploring a little more, we headed over to the photo with Santa area. Since this is a pandemic year, Santa stands in the corner, and you can sit in his sleigh with your family for the photo. A velociraptor with Rudolph’s nose pulls the sleigh, so it makes for a pretty great Christmas car photo.

There is an extra charge of $10 for this, but we thought it was worth it for the photo. I think it may have to be our Christmas card photo!

After that, we left the dinosaur park and made our way over to the In-N-Out by Morongo before heading home.

This is an enjoyable Christmas attraction that my wife and I both enjoyed. Check it out if you are willing to make the drive to the desert and have a fun adventure. Let me know what you think in the comments.

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3DAR Trick Art Museum in Santa Monica

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 20:19:34 GMT

Disclosure: Tickets were provided for me, all opinions are my own.

3DAR Trick Art Museum in Santa Monica is an awesome blend of art, social media, and technology. The museum is a collection of 43 different paintings that look like optical illusions to the naked eye and that come alive when you point your phone and special app at them. A visit to the museum allows you to interact with and explore these digital art pieces, and it was a total blast for my family and me. If you are in the Santa Monica area, check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.

Details

Pricing information here
Location: 1254 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Getting There

The museum is a part of the Third St Promenade in Santa Monica. This is a collection of shops and restaurants that you can walk along. There are many parking structures all around the area where you can park and walk to the museum.

The Museum

Upon entering, you will be shown a QR code that allows you to download the museum app. From there, you can explore the different art pieces and “wake the paint.”

The way the museum operates is changing because of the pandemic, so I am not sure how the lines and such will work when they open to the public, but I imagine there will be lines for some of the most popular pieces.

I can honestly say that we spent time with every piece in the museum. It is so fun to just take out your phone and see how the app interacts with the art and then insert yourself into it.

Some of my favorite ones were the dragon, the tree climb, and the King Kong painting.

There is also an area with Halloween pieces which was a fun addition since it was October when we went. I went with my newborn twins and with my parents and all ages had fun (twins mostly slept though haha).

We spent about an hour and a half here just trying all the different art pieces and exploring. If you are looking for a fun family adventure or even a unique date night, this is a great spot to visit in Santa Monica. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.

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Boyden Cavern in Kings Canyon National Park

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:24:22 GMT

Boyden Cavern is one of two publicly accessible caves in Kings Canyon / Sequoia National Park. It was closed for many years, which stopped me from visiting, but it finally opened again in 2019, and I got to experience it in 2020. I can easily say it was worth the wait and the drive, and one of the most fun caves I have been to in California. Here is all the information if you want to check it out.

Details

Book tickets here
Usually open May – October
Read about all my favorite Kings Canyon spots here

Getting There

Boyden Cavern is located down at the bottom of Kings Canyon, and it is a good drive to get all the way to the cave itself. I would recommend adding a few other things to your trip, like a visit to Grizzly Falls and Roaring River Falls since the drive down is a long one. That being said, it is one of my favorite drives in California, and it is beautiful. Once you get down into the canyon, you will see signs for Boyden Cavern almost immediately. There is a good size parking lot near where you check in.

The Tour

We arrived 15 minutes before our tour and checked in at the small store.

From there, we started the steep walk up 125 feet to where the cave entrance is.

This walk is beautiful as it rises above the Kings River and gives you some great views.

Eventually, you will reach the cave entrance and meet your guide. We went in 2020, and they were observing pandemic rules, so the cave tour was private with just your own family. This was pretty amazing, as it was just my mom and me with the guide. The tours are normally 20-30 people, but you can book private tours during normal years as well.

The tour began with a short history of the cavern as we headed inside.

We took our time walking through all the different rooms and learned a lot from our guide, Jeff. Here are some of the highlights.

The upside down city

The wedding cake

The flowstone

The Christmas tree

The cave here is actually pretty adventurous, and there are lots of areas where you will really need to bend over not to hit your head.

The tour takes you back 750 feet into the cave, and it is an out and back and not a loop.

It’s an awe-inspiring cave with lots of fun formations and an overall adventurous feel to the tour instead of just the normal cave experience.

The best part, though, is the way you exit the cave. If you want, you can take the “wild exit,” which allows you to walk along the creek that is running through the cave and move around different formations as you make your way out.

This was such a cool experience and something I will never forget. The water was at least a foot deep in some sections (we brought Crocs just for this part of the tour).

This would be fun on its own, but there are some tight spots you have to maneuver as well, which makes it a total blast.

Both my mom and I loved this part of the tour, and you got to go at your own pace.

Eventually, the exit comes into view, and you will have to leave the cave back to the real world. I think we were spoiled with the private tour, but it was an incredible experience that both my mom and I have been talking about for weeks.

I love exploring caves, and I loved my time at Boyden Cavern. Check it out if you get the chance, and let me know what you think in the comments.

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Painted Cave: One of the Largest Sea Caves in the World

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 23:19:27 GMT

Painted Cave is a sea cave on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. This sea cave is gigantic, making it the twelfth largest sea cave in the world and the second-largest in the USA. It is 1227 feet in length and has an entrance over 130 feet high. While it is not easy to visit, most trips with Island Packers to Santa Rosa Island stop on the way back for you to see it (assuming the weather cooperates). Here is all the information.

Details

No place to land, only accessible via the water
Here is a map of the cave profile

Getting There

The only way to get to the cave is via boat. There are boat trips from Island Packers that just go to Painted Cave and Santa Cruz Island that you can book, or you can book a trip to Santa Rosa Island, and they often try to stop by on the way back to the harbor if they can. I was able to go on the way back to the harbor.

The Cave

We were in a pretty large boat, but the cave entrance is so wide that the boat could easily go in about 75 feet or so.

It was pretty crazy to see the opening of the cave and then make our way inside it.

The cave is covered in many different colors all over the cave walls, and during the rainy season, I was told there is a waterfall that falls over the mouth of the cave. We went as far back as we could and then got to sit and just soak it all in for about 5 minutes.

From here, you would need a smaller boat or kayak to get back further into the cave. I hope to return and kayak into it one day, but that is an adventure for another day.

I wanted to write this to share the amazing natural wonder that is the Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island. Being able to see one of the largest sea caves in the world is pretty hard to beat. Check it out if you get the chance, and let me know what you think in the comments.

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Cherry Canyon to the Coastal Trail Hike on Santa Rosa Island

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 15:57:41 GMT

The Cherry Canyon Trail is one of the easiest trails to access on the island of Santa Rosa in Channel Islands National Park. This 3.5 mile round trip trail takes you through a small canyon with lots of unique plants and up to a vista point that gives you fantastic views of the Santa Cruz Island in the distance and the Santa Rosa Island shoreline. On the way back you can combine it with the Coastal Trail and loop back to the pier. Here is all the information on this trail, and you can read about my entire trip to the island here.

Details

3.5 miles round trip
100 feet of elevation
3 hour boat ride each way to the island
I hiked this in October 2020

Getting There

To get to Santa Rosa Island, you must book a boat trip with Island Packers that leaves from the Ventura Harbor. From there, it is a 3 hour ride over to the island of Santa Rosa, where the trail begins.

The Trail

The trail leaves from the pier where the boat docks, and it heads along the ruins of the old ranch fencing.

After a tenth of a mile, you will make it to some more ranch buildings and the bathrooms before taking a right to continue along the road towards the canyon.

After passing a small bridge, keep your eyes peeled for the spur trail that leaves the main road and heads into Cherry Canyon.

From here, you will be walking through the canyon and passing many of the island’s unique plants.

The trail followed a dry seasonal stream when I went as it bends up and down a few small hills.

Eventually, the trail begins to head up as the canyon widens out.

This part of the trail is not too steep, but there is no shade, and it can be hot.

As the trail continues up, it will reach a series of switchbacks that bring you the rest of the way out of the canyon.

When you crest the small hill, you will be greeted by two picnic benches and amazing views out towards Santa Cruz Island.

This is a great place to relax before heading on.

The trail from here goes along the ridgeline, keeping with the amazing views as you head up a little more.

It then breaks with the trail to Black Mountain, a high point on the island, before beginning the descent down to the campground.

This part of the trail was my favorite, as the views were incredible along the Santa Rosa Island shoreline.

The descent is a little steep here but watch your footing, and you will be good.

When you reach the bottom, you can head right to go to the campground or left across the airstrip to go to the beach.

I recommend going to the beach if you have the time, but once you are done with that, you will follow the road next to the airstrip as you make your way back towards the pier.

Be sure to watch for a sign that says coastal trail off to the right. This is where you will cross the runway and start the coastal trail back to the pier.

This trail is easily my favorite on the island as it walks along the cliffs with stunning views of the beach and off towards Santa Cruz Island.

There are many amazing views here, and you will want to take your time.

It is interesting to see the ranch history in play here as well, with old fence and equipment strewn around the island.

Eventually, at the 3.5 mile mark, you will make it back to the pier.

There are great views of the pier here before you head down, and I recommend soaking it all in.

I hope you enjoyed this fun island hike, and let me know what you think in the comments. You can read about the other Channel Islands here.

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Santa Rosa Island Day Trip: Channel Island National Park

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 19:37:27 GMT

Channel Islands National Park is a series of islands off the coast of California that you can only reach via boat or plane. Santa Rosa is the third closest island to shore, and after visiting the other two close ones (Anacapa and Santa Cruz), I decided to make the trip out to Santa Rosa for the day. If you can, I would recommend a camping trip as the island is massive and you can’t see a lot in one day but if a day is all you got, here is how you can make the most of it.

Details

Must book the ticket online from Island Packers
The cost was around $85 when I went.
Takes 3 hours each way on the boat to get there.

Getting There

To get to any of the Channel Islands, you must take a private plane or book a trip with Island Packers, the official boat service to the islands. The trips leave out of Oxnard and Ventura, but for Santa Rosa, it was only Ventura. Once you get to the harbor, there is a lot of parking, and you simply need to check-in and wait for boarding instructions.

The Boat Ride

The boat ride to Santa Rosa is not for the faint of heart. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to get over to the island, and the water can be really choppy.

View this post on Instagram

Highlights from my day trip to Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park last Monday. It was so fun to explore another island and I will have a full YouTube video soon. Have you been to Channel Islands? What’s your favorite of the islands?

A post shared by California Through My Lens (@californiathroughmylens) on Oct 14, 2020 at 5:08pm PDT

I went on a bad day, and we had 7-10 foot waves. I saw at least 6 people throw up when I was there, so bring your Dramamine if you get seasick. You can see a clip of the waves in the above Instagram video.

The boat ride is fun though, as they stop for any wildlife, and we saw dolphins and whales. They also have a galley with food and drinks that you can partake in on the journey.

After you round Santa Cruz Island, you will see Santa Rosa in front of you.

The boat takes you right up to the pier, and from there, you will climb steps off the boat to get onto the pier itself.

Santa Rosa Island

If you are taking a day trip, you probably have about 4 hours to explore the island before getting back to the boat. If you have the time to camp, that is probably better as it gives you more time on the island, but here is what I did with the time I had.

Historic Ranch Buildings

The first stop for me was to walk to the end of the pier and see the Santa Rosa Island sign.

From here, you can explore the one-room schoolhouse and ranch from when the island was used for farming.

After that, you will walk along the fence to where the bathrooms are, and that is where you can start your journey.

Here is the map of the island if you want to see what hikes are available. I headed out on the Cherry Canyon Trail though.

Cherry Canyon

Here is a small recap of the trail, and you can read my full post on this trail here.

This trail leaves from near the bathrooms and follows the NPS road till it breaks off on a small single-track trail.

The trail then goes through a canyon with many different types of plants all around you.

It then heads up till it eventually gives you a fantastic view of the shoreline and Santa Cruz Island in the distance.

This is one of the best views I have seen in Channel Islands National Park and I soaked it in.

The trail then descends past the campground towards the beach with stunning views the entire way.

It is about 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the split for the beach.

Water Canyon Beach

After finishing the Cherry Canyon Trail, I made my way down to the beach.

This was the highlight of the trip as it was a stunning beach with pristine sand and views, and there were less than ten people there with me.

I sat here for a while, ate my lunch, and put my feet in the water. I wish I would have camped so that I could spend more time at the beach.

With about an hour left before I needed to be back for the boat, I left the beach.

On the way back, I decided to take the coastal trail, which splits off the main road near the middle of the airstrip.

I highly recommend this trail as it goes along the bluffs and has amazing views every 15 feet or so. I took a lot of time soaking in all the views.

You can see some remnants of the ranching that took place on the island, like old fencing along the trail.

Eventually, the coastal trail takes you back to where the original trail connects with the pier.

If you have more time, you can go down to the beach below the pier and hang out in the water, or you can just sit at the end of the pier and wait for the boat to come in.

All in all, I loved my time on this island, and it definitely made me want to come back for more. Every time I visit the Channel Islands, I fall in love with this unique part of California. If you haven’t been, then make sure to add it to your list.

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Hiking to Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite National Park

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 21:56:14 GMT

Yosemite National Park is home to many beautiful Giant Sequoia groves throughout the park’s boundaries. The Mariposa Grove is the most well-known, with some truly impressive trees, but Tuolumne Grove is also a great spot to visit if you want to see big trees and not have all the crowds. I snowshoed to the grove a few years ago, and I finally got a chance to check out the grove during the summer in 2020. Here is all the information.

Details

2 miles round trip
500 feet of elevation gain
Parking can fill in the summer
Read about all my favorite Yosemite spots here

Getting There

Tuolumne Grove is located at the beginning of Tioga Road, which goes through Tioga Pass. If you are coming from Yosemite Valley and planning to drive Tioga Road, this is a great first stop about 45 minutes from the valley. You can see more of my recommendations for Tioga Road here.

Video

Here is a video I made from my trip in 2020.

The Trail

This hike is 2 miles round trip with 500 feet of elevation gain and loss. Parking is in the lot near the trailhead but it can be busy in the summer.

It is a reverse hike so save your energy for the way back up. Also, bring water as there is no water at the grove.

The trail is easy on the way down as it is paved and relatively shaded, plus there are lots of signs along the way. On the way up, though, you will feel the steeper grade that you don’t notice on the way down.

The trail is relatively straightforward and not super exciting on the way down, but the grove at the bottom makes up for it.

Eventually, at around the one mile mark, you will reach the grove and finally begin to see some of the massive trees.

The grove features over two dozen Giant Sequoias, and there is a small loop trail that takes you around to the different trees.

The most impressive tree is the one you see right at the beginning of the grove loop trail. Make sure to do the whole loop though, so you don’t miss any.

The fallen tree is another popular stop on this trail. It is a great way to see how massive these trees are as you walk alongside them.

Along the upper portion of the grove, you will reach the other famous tree, which is the dead giant.

This tree has a tunnel carved through it that is almost big enough for a car to fit through. It is a unique way to see the interior of these massive trees and is a popular photo spot on the trail.

From here, you simply have to start the one mile walk uphill back to the car to finish your hike.

One other note, this is actually a great trail for snowshoeing in the winter, if you have your own snowshoes and want to check it out.

I love this trail in Yosemite since it is family-friendly and has some great trees to see. I will say that the Mariposa Grove Trail is the most impressive if you want to see large trees though. However, if you are looking for something different to do when you are in the park, then check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.

The post Hiking to Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite National Park appeared first on California Through My Lens.

Urban Legends Halloween Haunt at OC Fairgrounds

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 18:03:27 GMT

This year (2020) has been one of the craziest years I have ever experienced. With the global pandemic changing the way we travel and even the way we celebrate holidays, it has been interesting to see the new businesses have popped up during that time. Urban Legends Haunt is one of those experiences, born out of social distancing, that has attempted to fill the void in a year where haunted houses and scary farms are nowhere to be found. I got a chance to check it out opening night, and while it was not the Halloween fun of the past, it at least gave us a Halloween experience on a cold October night. Here is all the information.

Details

Cost: $59 – $89 per car depending on the day of the week
Dates: Every day in October (other than Monday and Tuesday)
Location: OC Fair Grounds and Event Center

Getting There

The drive-through experience is located at the OC Fair Grounds. As you get close, you will see signs that direct you to the correct gate to begin the haunt.

The Drive Through Haunt

After driving into the event area, we were allowed to use a bathroom and pick up merch before making our way to the line that led into the drive-through haunt. If you want to be surprised, then I would stop reading here, if not then read on.

The experience is basically 4 small “show zones” where you pull up your car and park, see the show and then move on.

The whole experience is based on urban legends found in Orange County, and the introduction video talks a little about each of these urban legends.

From there, the first show is related to the miners from Black Star Canyon (I believe this is what they were, but they didn’t say anything about it, so I am not 100% sure).

The miners walked around in between the cars and acted scary.

The second show was my favorite, and this one had campers trying to survive an experience with Bigfoot, who was haunting them.

The final experience was an old abandoned carnival, and there were dancers here and some pyrotechnics that you experienced, culminating in a reveal of “Bloody Mary” at the end.

From there, you will see signs for the exit and make your way out of the event. The whole thing took about 30 minutes for us once we entered the first show zone.

For me, I have mixed feelings about the experience. For one, I was excited to have a night out doing something Halloween related during the pandemic, and my friend and I enjoyed just taking it all in. That being said, it was not really scary, and the story was pretty hard to follow after the initial video. When it ended with the dance number, we were pretty confused as to what we had experienced. Overall, it is not a bad way to spend an October night, but you will have to decide for yourself whether or not it seems worth the price for your family. Here is a video someone made on the whole experience as well. Thanks for reading this post and let me know what you think in the comments.

The post Urban Legends Halloween Haunt at OC Fairgrounds appeared first on California Through My Lens.

Hiking to Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite National Park

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 21:56:14 GMT

Details

2 miles round trip
500 feet of elevation gain
Parking can fill in the summer
Read about all my favorite Yosemite spots here