Absolutely breathtakingly, beautiful day hike in Graeagle Lakes Basin Area that is not quite 2…read morehours from the Carson City area. Easy directions that has signs that will guide you right to the trailhead with as the other reviewers noted very limited parking but this hike is WELL worth it. With your choice of going to fish at Long Lake or hiking on several different hiking options from the Bear Lakes & Long Lake Loop Trail or take in a more moderate to difficult hike up to Mt. Elwell or Pacific Crest Trail you will not be disappointed by the beautiful nature views plus the four alpine lakes that on this trip in November we weren't brave enough to take a dip in but our Hobey doggy thoroughly enjoyed and we found to be of temperature similar to Lake Tahoe. Big Bear, Little Bear, Cub and Long Lake were exactly what we needed to put us back in touch with the serene vibes of the peacefulness of being outside with nature. Weather, views were stunningly gorgeous, we and our furry companions HIGHLY recommend getting out here to enjoy this easy to moderate hike/loop trail. Enjoy and #moveyourbody !!

I feel like nothing I write will adequately describe the beauty of this place, so I'll let the…read morepictures do the talking for that part. The trailhead is easy to find and off the main road. The road to get to the trailhead is doable in a small car, but take it slow as there are potholes and lots of blind corners. There's a well-maintained bathroom at the start of the trail and good signage. Parking is pretty good, there were plenty of spaces when I went but i could see it getting crowded during the summer months. The trail to long lake is relatively easy, but I wouldn't suggest it for someone with limited mobility. It's also a short hike with almost immediate payoff once you get to long lake, which is BEAUTIFUL. My dog and I elected to keep going past long lake toward the dam, and passed several small pretty lakes and streams on the way there. The trail was a little icy when I went in early December, but nothing too crazy.

Eureka lake is located within the Plumas-Eureka State Park. We initially did not know what to…read moreexpect when we saw the sign for it and had not planned anything around it. The directional sign at the beginning of the gravel road states it is 1.3 miles to the lake and my wife said let's go for it and check it out, so off we went! The rock and dirt one lane road to the lake is narrow and rough. There a few turnouts but it gets narrower as you approach the lake. We would recommend 4wd but smaller vehicles would also be better because of the width of the road. We made it easily with a 2015 Toyota Tundra but had to do some rearranging with other vehicles we encountered going the opposite direction. At the top, the parking lot is big enough for about 15 cars and the views are amazing!!! There were several people wading and swimming in the lake and we also saw a small kayak. We personally thought to ourselves "wow that water must be cold this early in the summer!". There is also a trailhead which begins just off the parking area with a directional sign indicating information about hiking to Eureka Peak but we were not prepared and when my wife saw the sign explaining what wildlife was in the area and saw a rubber boa on the list there was no way she was going to proceed any further. We are very glad we decided to explore the area!

Be prepared for a rough dirt road going up. Some may feel they need to be in 4 wheel drive, but…read more hubby felt it not necessary. When you get to the top you experience... what did I hear? SERENITY. Peace! Great place to just experience some outdoor clean air. You can park and go for a hike, or throw a pole in the lake to see what you can catch. Unlike a couple years ago there were only some smaller trout at this lake. If not fishing, you can certainly let the dog(s) play in the water.

The trail if coming from I-80, take the turnoff for Hwy 20. Then the turnoff to the Sierra…read moreDiscovery trail is off to the right approx 4.5 miles from I-80. Once at turnoff, follow the road for a bit, you will find a maintenance area and additional parking areas, then alittle farther down is the main parking lot. In the main parking lot there is a building with 2 clean vault toilets. There is a picnic area off to the right of the main parking lot. It took us about 45 mins to go along the entire trail, we made lots of stops along the trail. It's a fun and informative little walk the whole family can enjoy. We took our granddaughter who is 6 years old and she had fun she said on the trail. Her favorite sign along the trail was the information on the bobcat her favorite animal. We loved reading the informational signs along the way about the animals, plants and trees found in the area. While on your walk you can hear the rustling of the trees and the trickling water from the Bear river along the trail. There a few spots by the river to sit and just enjoy the sounds of nature all around you. Be sure to keep an eye out after passing the bridge for the small waterfall behind the bushes. Dogs are welcome on the trail and must be on a leash. Please be sure to clean up after your pet. Have a wonderful walk!

1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Midtown Sacramento…read more Easy nature trail. I even came across a sign that pointed to the "Easier Way" and after taking the other route, I can only think it's easier because my route had slight inclines thus making that easier route easier because instead of going up, you'd be going downhill. Right? It's mostly a flat trail. There's a small waterfall but you don't have a great view from the trail. You would have to go a little ways off trail for a nice photo.. (if you choose to) but it's there. I like the informative signs throughout the trail pointing out what kind of tree you're looking at or interesting blurbs relating to it. There are two restrooms in the parking area. They're like permanent portapotties.. you know, the kind that has a permanent fixture but the toilet opens up to a hole in the ground. No sink, no soap.

I'm fully in my hiking/camping era at this point, so we decided to take a short drive and check out…read moreFrazier Falls. And honestly? This is my kind of hike. It's about a mile, easy, and paved, so you're not out there fighting for your life...but still has a high payoff at the end, which is really all I'm asking for these days When we got there, the waterfall was actually flowing, which always feels like a win. And on the way back, we cut through some rocks and were able to see where the waterfall starts, which made it even cooler. If you're nearby in early spring, I highly recommend checking out Frazier Falls. Easy, quick, and worth it...basically the perfect low-effort, high-reward hike.

Frazier Falls Trail was absolutely beautiful and perfect for families. The trail is easy to follow…read morewith very few inclines, making it enjoyable for hikers of all ages and skill levels. The scenery along the way is gorgeous, and the highlight is the stunning waterfall waiting at the end of the trail. The park is well-maintained, with clean bathrooms conveniently located near the parking lot and picnic tables available for enjoying lunch before or after your hike. Overall, it's a relaxing and rewarding outdoor experience that I would highly recommend for anyone looking for an easy, family-friendly adventure.

A family-owned business with beautiful, well-trained horses and gorgeous trails right in the fun…read morelittle town of Graeagle California! Could not be any better than this! Make sure to bring the whole family for this unforgettable experience!

Visited Portola for the first time last fall and walked this river trail every single morning while…read moreI was in town. It's quiet, scenic, and peaceful. Not strenuous, and it's paved so folks of all abilities could probably enjoy it. If you like exploring the flora and fauna of new places like I do, there's a lot of 'splorin you can do just in this small area. There's an abundance of mountain bird specialities including Clark's Nutcrackers, Steller's Jays, Pygmy Nuthatches, Hairy Woodpeckers, and more! Wildflowers and interesting insects can be found all around too. And keep an eye out for evidence of bears!

Coming back from a day in the Lakes Basin, we stopped in the town of Portola. We thought we would…read morecheck out the Riverwalk and enjoy the river. As we drove into town we saw signs directing us to it, or at least we thought that would happen. Instead, the signs ended but instead of being near the river we were in the middle of what seemed an industrial part of town. My wife flagged down a local citizen, who knew exactly what we wanted, and directed us back over a bridge and a few turns to finally get there. You would think after investing a decent amount in a Riverwalk, you could find a sign or two identifying it. But no, as the helpful local citizen pointed out, there are no signs! But we did find it, and parked on the street along Riverside Avenue. To find it more easily than we did, point your GPS to Riverside Avenue and Beckwith Street where it officially begins. The walk is paved and follows the Middle Fork of the Feather River. A very pleasant way to stretch your legs and get some exercise. Unfortunately for us, it was in the 90s when we stopped by, the reflecting pavement amplifying the heat, and we had to stop partway through. The path goes on until the Forest Service picnic stop off Hwy 70, and then on to Rocky Point Rd where you can go even further along the river. The Riverwalk is a nice feature of Portola - albeit one that would benefit from some additional signage for visitors.

Best part of this trip! Please wear shoes as the rocks and…read moregravel can be slippery. Must take your time getting to this area but worth it. There's a rope section to get up/down to the waterfall. Kids had a blast jumping off the rocks. Water was cold but the kids had too much fun. Plenty of parking Not crowded which is always a plus.

To get there: You can turn from CA-89 onto Johnsville Rd. and it is approximately 4.6 miles to…read moreJamison Mine Rd on the left. The trailhead parking area is 1.3 miles from the turnoff. The trail: From the parking area you'll see the trail and you'll go up to an old mine building and the trail goes to the left. The climb is moderate but partially shaded. If you go to Jamison and Rock Lakes you'll have an elevation gain of about 1100' to 1400' depending if you make it a loop and check out Wades Lake. We ended up exploring different areas and clocked 9.15 miles. This trail is extremely rewarding with a good workout, beautiful views, excellent cool lakes to swim in, and friendly people.

Gorgeous hiking trail with the best view from the top! Lots of wildflowers on the trail in July…read more The elevation gain will kick your butt but the view is worth it!!!

.....I definitely underestimated the hike, lol…read more The hike to the fire lookout is about 2.5 miles one way, BUT the incline throughout most of the trail makes the hike a bit of a calves-burner. I'm not a seasoned hiker and I had to take multiple breaks, so much that I took like a 2 min break at each switcheroo point on the switchbacks right before the fire lookout lol (yeah there's even a set of unfriendly switchbacks here on top of the steady incline, hooray). Took me about 2 hours to arrive at the lookout lol but man oh man are the views gorgeous up there. I went on a windy day and I still felt safe climbing the stairs up to the actual lookout; the whole structure is pretty sturdy. Overall I would classify this hike as moderate-hard for people who don't hike often. Wouldn't say that this hike is very dangerous; just wear good shoes as there is a lot of loose gravel on the switchbacks and a couple of times I slipped when going back down towards the parking area. Would I ever do this hike again? Eh, to be honest probably not lol not because the hike itself but because of the long winding highway getting here. Very pretty trees throughout the 49 highway especially during autumn, but 1.5+ hours of driving on this highway (drove through Auburn) was a little too much for me. I definitely don't regret doing this whole adventure though. Google Maps "Sierra Buttes Trailhead" and the directions shown will lead you straight to the parking area/hiking trail entrance.