PEAK EVENTS
THIS IS A OVERVIEW OF HIKES, RETREATS, AND OUTDOOR YOGA SPOTS THAT PEAKFOOTHILLS MEMBERS WILL BE GUIDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
Peak Foothills CALIFORNIA TRAILS
Auburn Recreation Area (Auburn, CA)
Training Hill- Milage 3.8 miles LOOP Elevation Gain- 890ft (ALL YEAR HIKE)
MAY/JUNE Difficulty Moderate/Hard for beginners, Moderate for avid hikers
What is there challenges- first mile is a bit challenging with steep hill 900ft gain; however, it become steadily downhill from there, 4 different ecosystems, includes little waterfalls in spring, wildflowers.
Confluence Trail- Milage 3.5 miles IN&OUT Elevation Gain- 479ft (ALL YEAR HIKE)
Difficulty- Easy, slight hill but nothing to challenging
Not to challenging but it starts upward if you start from the bottom of confluence near 49. IN&OUT trail makes it so once you reach confluence waterfall and lake clementine it is downwards back. Nice area to dip in the American River, take lunch break probably a 2 hour hike at most can be done ALL-YEAR around. Beginners welcome. May need parking fee.
American Canyon Loop-
Milage- 6.6 miles LOOP Elevation Gain-1391feet Difficulty-Hard for beginners, Moderate for Avid Hikers
This hike could take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. In general, start from the secluded parking counter clockwise from the split-off trailhead which is about .3 miles down. It starts going downhill until you get to the base where there are streams, hidden waterfalls and swimming holes (summer), wildflowers (spring=May/June), rest area before you come up to DeadtruckTrail (about 3 miles thru the trail) steep 1 miles upwards (nice challenge) with rocks/granite making it easy on the feet (good place to take a rest stops for water), once at the top turn left upwards which is another incline (not as bad) and then flattens with wildflowers, summit scenery of the forest, the rest of the way. Not a traffic trail!!! Good trail to have a snack break and meditation near waterfall. Easy Access Parking!!!
Hidden Falls Regional Park (Auburn, CA) (ALL-YEAR)
7587 Mears Place, Auburn, CA 95602
The 1,200-acre Hidden Falls Regional Park is located between the communities of Auburn and Lincoln, north of the Ophir/Newcastle area. The park is situated along the Coon Creek and Deadman Creek watersheds, located south of the Bear River.
Hidden Falls Trail Loop 14.9 miles ELEVATION GAIN 1640 feet LOOP Difficulty Moderate
Hidden Falls Trail- Milage 3.2 miles LOOP Elevation Gain- 488 feet Difficulty Moderate
dog friendly, rivers, views, waterfalls, open range sheep, goats and cattle, wild flowers (weekends need reservations FRI-Sunday) , shaded with oak trees. Auburn/Lincoln region. Typically, best seen in early summer because of a 30+/- foot waterfall; throughout the summer, good area to go swimming. The hike starts from the parking lot inward and becomes shady and scenic, picnic areas. It could take anywhere for 1 and half hours to 3 hours. (there is dot to dot trails throughout the park) Most challenging part is walking back up the hill.
Colfax, CA (spring/EARLY SUMMER)
Stevens Trail East- Milage 6.4 miles Elevation Gain 1830 feet Difficulty Hard
BLM land right off 80. No Parking Fee. It tends to go downhill most of way and you must hike upwards back making it a great challenge (lots of water on warmer days) . About a mile and half down there is a waterfall (May/June) to take pictures and a break, lots of wild flowers, bushes, scenic views of american river as cliff hike, (a lot of sun so good to bring sunscreen) not the best trail for a beginner, ponds, ect. (Not suggested when its super hot in summer days unless want to go swimming) Moderate hiker could do this! Could take up to 2 1/2-3 1/2 hours depending on activity level. Best prepared with a snack break, water breaks (2-3) lunch at the bottom near the pond also can do a guided meditation. A little steep but about 3 1/2 miles are uphill with some intervals.
+Yankees Jim-Indian Creek Milage 2.8 miles Difficulty Easy
Must take a 4WD vehicle best to be a truck to get to this swimming hole the road is a bit unkept. Swimming hole adventure in later Summer.
Emigrant Gap
Locks Leven Lake Trail- Milage 7.3 miles Elevation Gain 1535 feet Difficulty Hard
Parking Access easy to find near 80 at Big Bend turn out down a short road. (Locks Leven Trail is behind the parking area)
Avid Hike+. Good place to do backpacking trip lots of places at the top to camp or take a dip in lakes. Most challenging is the climb up to the 3 lakes definitely not a good option for a beginner can be steep, mostly walking up large rocks and some pathways can become a little confusing but beautiful view of Emigrant Wilderness/Northern Tahoe. Definitely a great high throughout summer because it is higher elevation making it cooler. (Advise 3 waters and multiple snacks) There is a few streams, greenery, trees throughout the trail as ecosystem changes (maybe highly trafficked with other hiking groups in summer), also a good place to boulder, Most downhill on the way back down a little rocky. Hike could take ALL-DAY start early, do to different endurance levels (longer day season) 3-5 hours.
All-YEAR but SUMMER/FALL (best time)
+Precautions: HIKING BOOTS for traction, extra water.
Desolation Wilderness
Pyramid Peak (Twin Bridges)
Milage 6.3 miles Elevation Gain 4028 feet Route Type Out and Back Difficulty-Hard
(Class2Bouldering)
Not for the faint hearted has up to 62% grade uphill. You literally climb a steep 4000+ ft in 3 miles must be use to climbing mountains it is HARD and Steep for a reason. Many rest breaks on this trail do to incline, and downhill steep so slowly back! There is bouldering the last .5 miles (15-30 minutes) ALL-DAY hike. This is the highest peak of Desolation Wilderness above 10000ft at the top. Very rocky, waterfalls, trees, streams, Parking access is right off the freeway of 50 past Strawberry, CA. MUST bring lots of water, snacks, ect.
SUMMER
Advisory: Hiking Boots
HORSETAIL FALLS TRAIL (TWIN BRDIGES)
MILAGE 3.3 Elevation Gain 649 feet Difficulty Moderate
Perfect challenge for a beginner. Hike can take 3 hours-7hours (depending if you want to extend the trail to the top). Intervals of climbing large granite, and paths thru redwoods and bushes (green), huge waterfall and area to rest and meditation, most climbing is up near waterfall (a little bouldering). Probably best Spring thru Fall but can be all year depending on snow season.
ALL-YEAR for waterfall (June)
Advisory: Hiking Boots, extra water
Mt Tallac Trail (Tahoe)
Milage 10.2 miles Elevation Gain 3290 feet Difficulty Hard/Avid Hiker
Great challenge for avid hiker and experienced hiker. It is all uphill until you reach the peak, lots of breaks thru Desolation Wilderness, you will experience streams, mini waterfalls, multiple lakes, layers of granite, steeper the closer to peak, wildflowers at higher elevation, bouldering 2 near the peak!!! Probably best in summer!!! Either way, challenging ALL-DAY heavy parking load so get there 7-8am!!!!
Advisory: Hiking Boots, Avid Hiker (done longer hikes), 10000ft at the peak
Lake Aloha Tail
Milage 14.7 miles Elevation Gain 1765 feet Difficulty Moderate/Hard
+Start at Echo Lake/Desolation Wilderness parking, you will start from lower Echo Lake to Lake Aloha Trail-All DAY!!! 7am hike!!! Most people will backpack this trail but you can hike parts or all the trail it ends at PCT sign. Lots of scenery it is progressively uphill not to steep at the beginning gets steeper the further up you go but there is sights of Lower/Upper Echo Lake, granite rocks, bushes; further, you will get a leveled incline where there is lots of wildflowers, bushes, redwood trees. Once reaching Lake Aloha (emerald color) it flattens out completely (various lakes to take breaks) it is rich a large lake with lots of trees, mountain scenery, lots of spots to campout. (there is a lot of people even kids and dogs). I advise water and hiking boots for this trail!!! Beautiful and challenging. (Avid Hiker) SPRING/SUMMER/FALL