Just found Annie's Trail & man is it a butt kicker! It's a 2.5 mile loop that's connected to the Ridge Loop just past the stair climb up (Homestead Trail). It's a very steep climb compared to the loop but the views are so much better! Once you get to the top take a snack break on Annie's Rock & enjoy the best view of Lake Berryessa. To get there: once you finish the hike up the staircase you'll come to a fork in the road. Most people head right & take the Blue Ridge Trail but head straight to the Tulyome Trail (It's marked with a metal sign). After you hike up you'll find the Annie's Trail sign & the beginning of the loop. After finishing the loop & heading down you have the option of going back down the stairs you came from or take the Blue Ridge Trail to finish the loop. If you complete both loops like we did it's a great workout & 7.5 mile hike! read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - View from Annie's Rock is amazing! - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

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What a butt kicker! Those darn switchbacks! They are steep, good for thundering thighs! It's a love/hate relationship. If you are looking for a workout this is a must do. Start on the side where the porter potty sits (it's stinks btw). I would rate this as a moderate to strenuous hike. I love that it's so close to Sacramento. It's about a 45 mins drive; super easy to find. As you approach the trailhead you will see a makeshift parking lot to the right. Good luck on finding a spot, although I have been here a total of 4 times (in the past two months) and I have never had a problem finding a spot either in the dirt lot of or on either sides of the road. My favorite trail is the Blue Ridge to Annie's Rock and taking the loop back down. The Blue Ridge Loop is about 5 miles roundtrip; Blue Ridge to Annie's Rock and back is approximately 7.5 miles. Once you are at the peak, the views are pretty awesome, a bit sad since we are in the midst of a drought. Furbabies are allowed but only for the first three miles of the trail (starting at the far gate). Things I recommend you bring/do: Lots of cold water, especially important when it's HOT! Sunscreen Bug Spray Snacks Ice Cold Sports drink Be careful if you are taking pictures Good hiking shoes Fun/Motivating hiking buds Put on deordrant Be careful of poison oak, there are tons out there Have fun Take breaks as needed Bring flip flops or shoes to change into (you're welcome) Post your pictures to Instagram and hashtag appropriately :) I can't think of anything else, get out there and have an awesome workout! Get in shape. read more

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By far one of my favorite hikes. The drive there was not bad at all. Don't have to go through so many curved roads. It was easy to find. First parking lot you see is where you want to park. The tunnels were exciting to go through (there was water in it this time.) we did blue ridge trail loop- 5miles. (Strenuous) and it was difficult and fun- you will have to climb rocks and go through lots of stairs but it was well worth it and worth the exercise. The view was spectacular. Especially since we're out of drought. The trees and high water made it so gorgeous. Definitely go early morning. It gets very hot and bring lots of water. Would I do it again? YES!! read more

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Visited: April 9th, 2017 Holy Cow! I used to run a hiking/adventure group for about 2.5 years. (Young & Active on Meetup). I sorta fell off the hiking train for a couple years when I moved to Midtown because I was busy galavanting to all the places I'd never been before. I posted this in my FB hiking group I started a tad earlier this year. (Nor Cal Hikers: Mostly Young & Sorta Active) I must have done this hike when I was in much better shape because I listed it as Beginner to Intermediate. IT ISN"T! haha. It's more intermediate to advanced. It was absolutely beautiful. The hike included beautiful flowers, some enclosed areas with a lot of greenery and trees, and some space where you're fully hit by the sunshine and weather. We couldn't have asked for better weather. I wouldn't recommend doing this hike on a day that's hot. The sun will get you in a bad way. We ended up nicknaming this hike "SNEAKY PEAK" because every time you think you've made it to the top, there is another drop and another incline to get to the final peak. It was so worth it though. Definitely had a feeling of accomplishment by the end of the hike. read more

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This hike is strenuous in many parts! Not like you can barely hike up the trail, but it can be a hard one for you newbies! The views of Lake Berryessa are amazing if you know where to go. If you go to the entrance, you'll see two trails, the Homestead Trail and the Pleasants Ridge Trail. The Homestead Trail runs along the valley (go to this one if you want to loop the hike). The Pleasants Ridge trail is a one way hike and back. I have never hiked through that trail, so I don't know if you can see any great views from there. Anyway, if you want to see the views of the lake first, go to the Blue Ridge Loop Trail. The entrance to that is a little past the little parking area at the entrance. You'll do the hard trail up the mountain, but oh man! You'll see the most amazing views of Lake Berryessa! But, if you want to view them at the end, go through the Homestead Trail, and it will turn into the Blue Ridge Loop Trail. The entire loop took my friends and I a couple of hours, but it was so worth it! We got to climb over rocks and boulders on the Blue Ridge Loop Trail. The Homestead Trail mainly has the steps. Going up wasn't the problem for me. Going down was death to my knees because of the steps and downward slopes. I have knee problems and after finishing the hike, I was so happy to sit back in the car. But, I really loved the hike and would love to come back again soon! Come early! Parking may be a little hard to find. You get absolutely ZERO reception in the area. Good for you technology addicts. And, of course, definitely bring water and snacks. You'll get thirsty and hungry! Now, go on and explore! Stop once in a while and enjoy the scenery. You won't regret it. :) read more

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Haven't been since the fires. There is a new trailhead below the main parking lot, which lead you to new tunnels. Pretty cool, but they've been covered in graffiti. There is also better signage for those first time hikers. The fires definitely changed the landscape...not as shaded but still a beautiful hike! Such beautiful weather! Can't wait to hike it again! I went with a group of 20...many first timers at various fitness skill levels. This is definitely a strenuous hike with 1500ft of elevation gain (rolling hills). Once you get to the ridges, you'll have to climb over rocks so watch your footing. Some people in our group had difficulty, but they persevered and completed the 5 mile loop. With all the stops, it took our group 3-5 hours. Again, we had people who hiked for the first time and do not work out. But they were pretty proud of themselves since they passed some people who changed their minds and barely did a mile or two. Also, you can start on either side of the loop. One has a bunch of switchbacks, and the other has a bunch of stairs. read more

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Fun moderate to advanced loop depending on your fitness level. Run it fast in an hour or a chill hike, scramble, crawl with the kids. There are a few spots where you may want to keep the little ones close, a few open areas on the ridge could result in a bad fall. I prefer taking the Blueridge Trail up and the hairy switchback steps of the Homestead Trail on the way down. Bring water always, just in case, when it hits 70 degrees and sunny it gets toasty. The ridges are fully exposed, as well as the Blueridge trail. The Homestead trail had nice cover for the way down or up, whichever you prefer. Nice enough to picnic up top with a view of the lower part of Lake Berryessa. · As always... Pack out, what you pack in! And if you have space...I usually bring an extra trash bag for picking up other peoples trash. · Respect the trail, keep it clean! · Respect other users as well, if you prefer to listen to music, keep it to yourself and wear headphones. And most of all, breath in the fresh air and enjoy! read more

Went on the Blue Ridge Trail loop today and it was challenging at times but the view from the top was well worth it. You can see what the fire did to the flora but it also allows for more of a view. The vegetation is growing back so it wasn't as brown and dry as I expected it to be. I definitely recommend this hike! read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - View from the top! - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

It's a pretty tough hike to get to the top but so worth it. All those stairs! I have to admit I went for the hike but mainly just to take this picture read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

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I've been hiking this trail since I was a little girl. It's kind of crazy to see how popular it has become over the years, although not surprising. Despite all the people on the weekends it seems everyone is fairly respectful. The vegetation has been altered some time the massive Wragg fire that came through this area a couple years ago. However, some seeds need fire to germinate and it seems the trail was exploding with wild flowers this season, more than I've ever experienced here. Despite the shade trees being drastically reduced it is still as beautiful as ever. I recommend going early in the morning to beat the heat! In the dead of summer I don't recommend starting any later that 7am, especially if you're a baby when it comes to dry summer heat. I know I am! Obviously, respect the trail. Pack out what you pack in and enjoy your hike! read more

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Great 5 mile loop with plenty of signs on the trail. Limited shade And no water stations on the trail so plan accordingly. Definitely a good hike with rewarding views from the top read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

The short version: A secluded area for hiking close to Sactown where there are difficult trails and no cell service to speak of. My new fall back hiking location. The basics: In my search for a new local or semi local hiking spot I stumbled on this secluded spot and decided to check it out. It fit my needs which were within an hour from home and gains in elevation with some challenge involved. There are two parking areas and street side overflow for people coming to enjoy the nature. It should be noted that after about 11am the parking is overflowing and you may have to search a bit. I also heard rumors about people breaking into cars here so don't leave valuables visible. That being said I found the trail head easy enough and once inside there was plenty of signage telling you where to go and what to expect. Dogs are allowed on some parts of the trails and in the parts they aren't I still ran across quite a few. Personally I wouldn't take my dogs here because it is drowning in ticks and I don't want the headache. The first mile of the trail is pretty simple and straight forward and it leads to the second section of the trail which is where you are going to feel the burn. For another 2-3 miles you will climb stairs and boulders and just basically go up and up. There are some really nice views when you reach the top and you will go over about 4 other peaks on the trail if you take the entire loop. The last section on the trail down is pretty much switchback after switchback and nothing too special. This is definitely more of a workout hike than a relax in quiet nature hike since there are a lot of college students hiking out here and they are just loud. Also there are a lot of rocky areas where you should watch your step. It would be a bad day if you were to get hurt way out in the middle of nowhere. What works: Easy access parking and clearly marked trails What to improve: Not much of anything I can think of. read more

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This is one of my favorite hikes! The Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail is a 4-5 mile loop trail that is very diverse. If you start at the beginning (where you see a porta potty and sign in/donation area), you come across a lot of shrubbery, a small creek (which you cross via rocks), and a whole lot of steep stairs/incline . The stairs are the devil. If you're like me, you may find yourself periodically stopping to catch your breath between flights of stairs (there are about 20 flights), but your butt will thank you later. Once you have completed the forest-like/shady part of the hike, you continue to incline (not as steep) and you will be surrounded by beautiful tree-filled hills. The views are seriously breathtaking. My favorite part of the hike is the portion in which you have views of the lake. You will quickly forget how tiring those stairs were. You begin and end only a few feet away from a small parking area right off the country road (just a little bit past the dam wall and an RV camping site). The small dirt parking lot tends to fill up by 11 am, mostly because it gets warmer the later you start. I strongly recommend wearing sunscreen, bringing 1 liter of water, and a camera. You can also pack some snacks or a lunch and sit and enjoy the views at the top. read more

It's been a while since I've went on a hike so when Veteran's Day (no school) came around, I thought, WHY NOT?! We got here at about 7:45AM and finished at 10:02AM. - PARKING: Dirt lot in the front of the trailhead and another dirt parking lot across the street of the trailhead. - TRAIL: Blue Ridge Loop - DIFFICULTY: Relatively easy. However, the stairs might get you! - DURATION: Roughly 2 hours - MAP: http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/stebbins/maps/Stebbins%20topo.pdf - MORE INFO: http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/stebbins/visitor/hiking.html At the beginning of the trail, there's a sign-in booklet and a stand to slip in donations. This was my first time seeing this concept on an actual trail. There does not seem to be an office or restrooms nearby the trailheads. Yes, there are a ton of stairs. The real-life-Stairmaster-amounts-of-stairs, haha. They're not so bad, we powered through it! The hike is not bad in difficulty, especially with the rewarding views you get at the peak. Stunning overlook of Lake Berryessa with hills that vastly surround the lake. There are large boulders you have to walk through at the peak, it eventually leads to a paved trail as you continue through this looped trail. We had thought we were lost, but nope, we were on the right track through the loop! Overall, this is a hike I can imagine doing again and again! TIP #1: Make sure to have tons of water!! Especially on the hot days! #teamhydrated TIP #2: COME EARLIER in the mornings! Maybe consider a sunrise hike :) it's incredibly hot during the Summer, but chilly during Fall. Dress appropriately! read more

On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd rank this hike (Blue Ridge Trail) as a 3.5. It took myself and 2 friends 2 hours 20 minutes to complete the 5 mile loop, so time wise it was the perfect length for a Sunday morning hike. We're all in our early 20's and exercise regularly. There is a section of steep stairs, but it's fairly brief, probably 15 minutes in total. What makes this hike slightly more rigorous than others is that the trial is not always flat or clear. There are somesections where you have to climb over rocks and use your hands. I would say this is comparable in difficulty to Mt Woodsen Trail (The "potato chip hike") in San Diego. Nothing like half dome, as another reviewer mentioned. People mentioned that there are 3 peaks, but there's pretty much just one major ascent, and you stay atop the hills until you descend. The views are nice at the top of Lake Berryessa, and the hike itself has some cool trees and plants. I personally prefer hiked with more water and huge trees though. We brought sandwiches, but the hike was short enough that we didn't eat them in the middle; however they were exactly what we needed on the car ride home. Bring a large bottle of water, sunblock, and a snack for after and you're good to go! read more

one of my favorite hikes in the sacramento area, about a 45 minute drive for downtown sacramento. the drive is easy and scenic through the town of winters. once you park in the rough rock parking lot or on the road (preferred if you don't have 4 wheel drive), you can start the trail from 1 of 2 directions. the trail starting from the left is a more steep climb to the top of the mountain and the trail starting from the right is less steep going up and more covered going up but uncovered coming down and much steeper coming down. so left if you want to have a steep ascent with a gradual descent and the opposite if you want the right trail head. both are fine but if you have bad knees or don't want to do down a steep hill, I prefer the left trail. The trail is less than 50% shaded so I recommend wearing a hat or some kind of head cover. the hike is never too crowded. lots of uc davis students go on this hike. bring at least 2 liters of water on a warm day because you will need it. also bring some food/snacks for eating at the top of the mountain. you will get a nice breeze and enjoy the beautiful views of lake berryessa while there is still water. it takes about 2 hours if going a constant pace but if you take breaks and eat lunch obviously it will take longer. recommend leaving for this trail by 9am to avoid the crowds and also the unrelenting sun. this is the only trail that is within a hour of sacramento that offers great lake views. on the way back, stop at Berryessa Brewing Company for some good beer or wine and mexican taco food truck. read more

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This is such an amazing hike! It was a lot harder than I had originally thought it would be (definitely should have done more researching before going) but was good nontheless. You start by going through a drain pipe that has a stream of water flowing through it. Very interesting path. You can either take the Homestead trail or the Blue Ridge Loop to the same viewpoint. I took the Homestead route (which is marked as moderate) but still got a good workout. You will walk a muddy path most of the way. You can then cross through a creek and get to a well defined path. As you walk you can see the beautiful mountains around you and you will be walking through the deep trees soon. The path is relatively easy until the end where there are multiple sets of small steps to ascend. Its definitely a good workout for your legs. At the very top, the lake is beautiful and is a great reward for the workout. Parking is available at the entrance. When I went the lot was all full but there was ample parking just outside of the actual parking lot. There is a porta potty in the parking lot also. Tips: - Wear hiking shoes! I did the hike in flyknits and it is doable, however much safer and more comfortable with proper hiking shoes. - Bring water, sunscreen, and food- its a long trip up - Wear long sleeves/pants- there are a lot of plants along the path that you will inevitably end up touching - Be careful if you're bringing cameras/equipment- passing through the creek isnt terribly hard but is not a breeze. Be cautious of your belongings - Wear layers- it gets cold at times (because you're in the shadows) but it gets warm after you walk a long time. read more

About this hike... - Go in the morning hours if you don't want to die (my friends and I went in the heat of the day... rookie mistake... and we were so dehydrated) -The parking is free and limited. If you have never been here before you may pass the little turnout so be aware when you are driving up. -The hike starts off not to shabby but then you will start to feel the burn in your calves. -The trail goes from dirt, rocky, steep steps, dirt, and finally climbing up some big ol rocks. -Make sure to look around your surroundings because it's quite beautiful :) -Be careful with the poison ivy along the way and we didn't encounter any rattlesnakes but apparently they appear on this trail. -Not a dog friendly hike or kid friendly. -A good challenge with a beautiful view as a reward at the end. -Overall about 2 and a half hours for my friends and I and we aren't crazy hikers just moderately active people haha. I definitely recommend checking out this trail!!!! Bring plenty of water for during the trail and after!!! read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - The view - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

Great hike during a dry winter! It was tough but well worth it for the views & serenity. The trail markings were perfect. At the top, the trail continues along the ridgeline so you get to enjoy the view for a good while. Lightly trafficked on 12/28. My favorite hike thus far! read more

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one of my favorite hikes in the area... been 3x [February was great, the stream was in full force. July kinda sucked!!!! way too hot. November was perfect]. FANTASTIC views!!!! great for an adventure with the girls or romantic sweat down with your dude. stable shoes & water are a MUST!!! 2nd mile is the hardest [stairway to thigh burn], felt accomplished at the first peak then looked on to see the trail carry over 3 additional peaks [oh my]. last mile is smooth sailing. 5miles... average burn 850CALS. read more

Have you ever traveled along I-80 towards SF and saw mountain regions in the background and wondered what was out there?!!??!!? About a 45 minute drive from Davis, this is a fun, challenging hike for anyone! Anyone that 's not going to mind 5 miles of walking/climbing/stair-mastering... But totally worth it because when you reach the top, you'll see hills on hills on hills of greenness (just straight up natural-ness!) & Lake Berryessa (of course!) If you aren't tooooo afraid of heights, spend some time on the rocks above, dangle your feel off the edge, and take in the serene view. =) As with all hiking trips, bring water, snacks, shades, hat, camera, sunblock, etc & enjoy MOTHER NATURE. read more

Whenever the bustle of bikes and bros at the ARC get too much for me, I head to Stebbins Cold canyon with a bunch of friends to lose myself in the beautiful Mediterranean-climate shrubbery. I've done this hike like 14 times. Once for each quarter to experience the changing of the seasons. To get here from Davis, just drive straight on Covell for about 16 miles. Once you pass an RV park, look for a pull out on the right. park there. Then, cross the street and walk until you find a trail marker. Head LEFT to do the extremely strenuous Pheasant Ridge trail. BEWARE, each person I have brought on this hike has fallen on the way down, so be very careful. The view at the top is worth it. On a good day, you can see UC Davis and Sacramento if you go straight or right, then you will do the loop trail, which is a 5 mile, 4 hour excursion... unless you run it of course. It is not too hard, I have had 50 year old unfit moms do it just fine. However, as another review on here says, 1. Bring sunscreen (if you are white or have a fair complexion) 2. Don't frolic in formidable looking plants, 3. carry a water bottle. 4. If doing the loop, dont rush the stairs. I have had many people fall off the unseemingly steep stairs read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve offers three main hiking routes and is one of my favorite places to hike. In less than an hour from the heart of Sacramento, you will find spectacular views at this reserve in Winters. I will only review the Blue Ridge Loop Trail, as that is the only one I've completed. The Blue Ridge Trail is 5 miles total and is strenuous and steep. Stairs were inserted to make the hike more manageable, but let me warn you--they are very steep! In my opinion, the trail was challenging, but I'd rather much hike this thing than go on the Stair Master any day! When you reach higher elevation, you will have to maneuver through rocks and boulders. Your hamstrings will burn, your glutes will be sore, and you'll be exhausted, but no pain, no gain! The view of Lake Berryessa from the top is so worth it. Tips: 1. Avoid hiking in hot weather. 2. No water on site! Bring lots of water; leave water in a cooler for your return to the car. 3. There is an abundance of poison oak along the trail and there are deer ticks in the foliage. Don't stray away from the trail and wear long socks and pants. read more

Great hike for the moderately athletic. A bit hard to find at first, but after asking a couple for directions, we finally came upon it. LOTS of poison oak, but easy to avoid if you stay on the trail. Beautiful views and the weather was perfect when we went in the beginning of May. Better than any trails I have hiked in Fairfield or Vacaville. read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - Watch out for the poison oak! - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

Awesome Hike!!! Did it twice, the whole ten miles, twice. My friends loved it! I love this place too! Cannot wait to go again! You can get so many different views of Lake Berryessa. I have ridden my bike around lake berryessa, boated & wakeboarded out in berryessa, and now hiked lake berryessa and the views you get are effin awesome! It's the best. My fave place to hike yet. =) read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - Great hike! - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

No dogs allowed anymore!!! So disappointing. I would never feel safe hiking this again without my furry friend. Have hiked this trail for years with my pups then we would cool down in the lake. Always a great day. We even donated money to help restore the trail so we could enjoy it again. Apparently we are not welcome there anymore. No wonder someone got robbed there- wouldn't happen if there were dogs with the humans. read more

First, you need to do this trail early in the morning during the summer or fall (anytime the daily high is above 90). We saw that warning in other reviews and thought we could start at 10:30am. It was a mistake. There is a large portion of the trail that has no cover and you just bake in the heat. The high was 104F the day we went and some hikers behind us had to be medi-vac'ed off the trail. Definitely bring enough water. We had friends visiting from out of town who are avid hikers and they loved this trail. We did the blue ridge loop (approx 5 miles). There are several parts where the gain is altitude is steep, but the vistas are beautiful and the trail is well maintained. There are even some areas with rocks for scrabbling (very limited though). Other helpful hints mentioned in other reviews. Parking can be limited. There are 3-4 spots at the trailhead gate and a lot across the street. I missed the trailhead the first time, because you just don't see it until you are there. If you can see the lake, you have gone too far. read more

Pleasantly surprised. i wasn't expecting this trail to be so beautiful and shady with some peak of sun once you hit the hilltop. Overall I really like this hike and would recommend this trail to friends and families. Its not too hard with a slight inclined and stairs that are slightly slanted. My favorite part of the hike would probably be hoping over the big rocks. Fun time!!! read more

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This loop, also known as the Blue Ridge trail, is listed as "moderate" on most trail sites, however, I would definitely call this a "difficult" hike. It is difficult, especially of you're doing the entire 5 mile loop. I started on the Blue Ridge Loop trail head. This access point will lead you to a mostly uphill climb for the first 3.75 miles. The climb is steep, so being plenty of water, and pack a lunch! Once you get to the highest peaks of this hike, the trail becomes more difficult to follow, as you have to maneuver through several large rocks. You'll almost question as to why this is a hike and not a rock climb, but it is not impossible! Slow and steady is the key. read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

Great trail but NO DOGS ALLOWED and you should not be on the trail when it is hot. Limit your time to early morning hours in the summertime. Check out the new app which can be found at the iphone app store under Stebbins Cold Canyon. UC Davis Manages the trail. We advise people to go counter clockwise so you hit the Homestead parts in the heat of the day, and that you do not go after 10 am when temps are over 80. Please bring about 1 gallon of water per person. More at https://naturalreserves.ucdavis.edu/stebbins-cold-canyon read more

I only wish the maps would have been a bit better. They didn't give a great description as to where you are/where to go but other that that it was great. I wish I had brought more water and a snack so I didn't feel like I was gonna die lol but the view from the top was worth it. And I guess we didn't have to turn around and come back the way we went up, there's a loop back down but I didn't know that so we backtracked. Either way it was a super pretty hike and it definitely gets your blood pumping at certain spots. read more

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It was my first time today and well just letting you guys know if you afraid of snake you better not go.... while hiking the trail we ran into 3 rattlesnakes and 1 garden snake so watch out guys but it was very long and took us 3 hours but the good part we meet new people read more

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Much as I hated this hike, I highly recommend you try it at least once. Unless you're afraid of heights like I am. Then reconsider. We did the Blue Ridge loop & let me tell ya, I said things that frightened children & made grown men blush. I'm an avid day hiker, but moderate to strenuous isn't my strong suit. My legs were burning, the narrow parts fed my fear of heights & it was hot. Ok like 75°, I think. But when I wasn't focused on the negatives, Wow. Almost worth it. You should really take reviewers' recommendations about starting in the morning & packing plenty of water. If you aren't afraid of heights and in fairly good shape you should be fine. Trail was popular with college aged kids (some prancing like mtn goats, others lookin' like they needed oxygen) to families & a few cool, old guys that seemed happy to still be alive. This isn't for the faint of heart but it sure is breathtaking. Do it. read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

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Ok, let me start by saying this is a great hike, it's strenuous and there's an amazing view at the top! But there are signs / warnings and let me tell you if you're going on a hot day don't skimp on the water. I packed and carried two liters for the two of us but that was long gone before we were half way. I had a gut feeling to carry more and damn I wish I would've. Bring plenty of water!..and hydrate before! We saw another hiker who was out of water, carrying two empty bottles with a ways to still, too. They also mention something about little shade and sure enough when you hit a certain spot, there are no more trees and I was glad to have grabbed a hat last minute - and don't forget sunscreen! We hiked the big loop (5 miles?) and stopped for a bite which all took us about 4 hours? And on our way back where we thought we turned but later realized we somehow missed it - we saw the red flags marking the one trail through the creek, easy to miss on your way! read more

Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Trail - From the top! - Hiking Near Me - Winters, California

One of my favorite hikes that I've ever taken! Definitely re-hiking this trail as much as I can. The trail is challenging at points (you may have to use both hands and feet at some points), but overall the trail is pretty manageable. It didn't leave me sore at all, whereas less challenging trails (e.g. Mission Peak in the Bay) have left me reasonably sore the next day. The hike offers a great view of the lake as well as quite a feeling of "I did this cool thing!!" as you are hiking along the peaks. Bring water and wear your sun protection because there is no shade on a majority of the trail. read more

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A nice, moderate 5 mile trail located about 40 minutes from Davis. I regret not discovering this place earlier on in my academic career at UCD. Otherwise, I definitely would have visited this place more often. The view from up top is gorgeous! Tips: 1.) WEAR SUNBLOCK/HIKE EARLY: A good portion of this trail is unfortunately unknown to shade. The sun will embrace you..and hug you..and you will burn a terrible and nasty sunburn if you decide to hike in the middle of the day without any sunblock. 2.) DON'T TOUCH ANY PLANTS: Stupid amounts of poison oak grow all along the trails. You're better off just not touching anything with your hands. Admire with your eyes. 3.) BRING WATER: Keep hydrated. Especially when you get near the top, it gets really hot so you should continuously have some water/gatorade as you're trekkin along. Heat stroke is no bueno. 4.) BRING A BUDDY/BUDDIES: Never a good idea to go hiking alone. Bring a buddy, share some stories, maybe high five each other when you get to the top.. There's free parking in a little lot by the entrance of the trail! Good, cheap fun! For more info: http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/Stebbins/visitor/hiking.html read more

I was in Davis this week and recommended this hike by a couple friends. They warned me that there was limited shade since the fire of 2015 so thankfully I was prepared. I parked in the free lot right next to the bridge and there were tons of signs to guide you from the parking lot to the trailhead. In the beginning I thought there would just be signs throughout because I saw no trail map in the parking lot! But from the parking lot there are multiple signs that take you to a tunnel and once you pass through the tunnel you should reach a trail map, take a picture of it! I opted for going up the blue ridge trail first and then looping around to the homestead trail. Let me just say whew! That was a good workout on the legs! Fairly strenuous and cannot recommend bringing extra water enough! Also recommend liberal use of sunscreen! The view of lake Berryessa at the top is very worth it! There is a little more shade on the homestead side so coming down that side later in the day when it was hotter was a blessing. If you didn't stop to eat lunch at the top then you can definitely find a nice shady spot in the old homestead the trail is named after. There a signs to the old homestead where the blue ridge and homestead trails meet. It's a very idyllic spot with a bubbling little creek and someone set up a makeshift swing, it's really just an extra wide, red canvas rope that was able to hold up my weight so !! I would definitely come back to try the reportedly harder Annie's trail loop! read more

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This is an absolutely gorgeous 5 mile loop trail. Google it for directions cuz I'm directionally challenged. The trail is quiet challenging, with lots of stairs, elevation change, and rock scrambling. Hikers are rewarded with beautiful views of Lake Barryessa and also the Sacramento skyline in the distance. It's about an hour from Sacramento. Parking is free and there is no day use fee. Signs say no dogs but we saw several dogs. There are no porta potties so bring your ziplock baggie with TP and pack it back out with you. Also bring your camera and water and snacks or lunch. read more

Beautiful hike. Views of hills and the lake. A decent outdoor workout. Free parking. Bring at least 33 oz of water for the 5 mile blue ridge trail. Most of the trail is very sunny and warm. read more

This hike is unlike anything I have ever hiked before. (I usually am deep in the forest). It is true that this hike is mostly all in the sun, and there is a significant climb, but the view and feeling of accomplishment is worth the sweat. I am a moderate to very active person and this still was a very good workout. Decent amount of scrambling over rocks but hiking sticks also helpful in other parts. read more