Category Archives: Day Hikes

Adventures, Day Hikes, Hiking - General, National Parks

YExplore to Offer Discounted and Complimentary Guided Hikes in Yosemite to Veterans November 9-10

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Leading Adventure Company in Yosemite National Park honors veterans by sharing outdoor adventures during holiday weekend.

To honor veterans of the United States Armed Forces, YExplore Yosemite Adventures will offer special incentives to active and retired military members and their families to enjoy guided hiking tours in Yosemite National Park on November 9th and 10th. “In the spirit of the national parks waiving entrance fees for veterans this weekend, we would like to offer special discounts for service members who plan to visit Yosemite,” announced YExplore Founder John P. DeGrazio.

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Activities, Day Hikes, Hiking - General

US Forest Service Waives Fees During Veterans Day Weekend

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The U.S. Forest Service is waiving fees at most of its day-use recreation sites over the Veterans Day holiday weekend, Nov. 9-11. The fee waivers – the fourth this year – are offered in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Day-use fees will be waived at all standard amenity fee sites operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Concessionaire operated day-use sites may be included in the waiver if the permit holder wishes to participate.

“We wholeheartedly salute the men and women who represent the nearly 22 million American veterans who have served their country in the military,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “As we do throughout the year, we encourage veterans and their families to take advantage of their national forests and grasslands to enjoy all the benefits the outdoors provide.”

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Activities, Adventures, Day Hikes

Skyline: eight miles of pure backcountry splendor

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

InsideHook is the free daily email that inspires driven men.  They recently recommended the Big Bear Valley Trail Foundation’s Skyline Trail.  You can sign up to receive updates from InsideHook HERE.

Here’s their recommendation:

For a long time, if you wanted to hike the pine-topped ridge of Big Bear (up in the Los Angeles forest; it’s a beaut), you’d find yourself on a fireroad staring at trucks. No view. Just trucks.

That time has passed. Say hello to Skyline: eight miles of pure backcountry splendor, now open to the public.

Excavated and compacted by the Big Bear Valley Trail Foundation, a nonprofit run by sap-happy outdoorsmen, the Skyline Trail was a fire-break created during the Old Fire of 2003.

It’s now hikeable and bikeable. And pretty damn breathtaking.

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Day Hikes

Day Hike – Carbon Canyon Regional Park Loop

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Redwood trees in Southern California?  I had heard that there was a grove of Sequoia sempervirens somewhere in Orange County, but had never been able to figure out where.

As it turns out, the trees are located near Brea, California off State Route 142 near Carbon Canyon Dam inside Carbon Canyon Regional Park.  The park itself offers visitors activities including fishing, hiking, volleyball, picnic areas, tennis, ball fields, and playgrounds in a idyllic setting, and virtually every review is positive.  From my hike through the park, to get to the trailhead, I could see it was well-maintained, had plenty of grass areas and shade trees, and is certainly worth a visit.  It’s a very family-friendly park. Parking costs weekdays is $3, and I believe I read that it’s $5 on weekends, or you can save the entry fee and park on residential streets nearby.

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