I backpacked the Manzana Creek Trail many many years ago. I remember the creek crossings, the well-maintained trail, and all of the cute little backcountry campsites that are available for backpackers. I do not remember there being an issue with ticks, but I was just a beginner backpacker then with little to no knowledge of ticks.
I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been to Yosemite, but I always find myself hiking the same trails. This solo trip to the national park would be different.
Embarking on a solo journey to Yosemite National Park is a journey you will never forget. From camp reservations to hiking trails, in this guide, we’ll dive into everything that you need to successfully plan and execute an ultimate solo trip to Yosemite.
The Califiornia central coast is a place I like to roam when there’s too much snow for my enjoyment in the Sierra. I try to take an annual trip to Big Sur for backpacking in the spring when the creeks are flowing and the weather is nice. I was looking forward to a new trail, one I hadn’t hiked before since I was use to returning to the same few trails year after year.
Lake Dorothy, a high alpine lake in the Eastern Sierra, is accessible via a 5.8-mile trail starting at Convict Lake. Located in Inyo National Forest, the lake is best visited between May and October. However, a major creek crossing before Mildred Lake is not recommended as of December 2023. Wilderness permits are required for backpacking.
This post provides a checklist for a successful night of backpacking, covering equipment, clothing, food, water, toiletries, and other essentials. It emphasizes the importance of tailored choices based on location, duration, and weather.
In late December, I embarked on a solo backpacking trip in Joshua Tree National Park, tackling the 12-mile Stubbe Springs Loop trail. Although carrying a heavy pack with limited water, the well-maintained trail offered diverse desert views. The detour to Fan Canyon was a highlight not to be missed. The experience was a fitting end to the year.
Vetter Mountain, located in Angeles National Forest, CA, is a trail that offers a 3.8-mile round-trip hike to an active fire lookout, named after a dedicated forest ranger, Victor P. Vetter. The hike is moderate and requires at least 2 liters of water due to no water access on the trail. The trail is best navigated by taking the fire road to the top from Charlton Flat Picnic Area, offering rest stops and picnic areas along the way.
The Lamarck Lakes trail is a 4.6-mile round-trip located near Bishop, CA in the Eastern Sierra. Starting from North Lake Campground, it gains 1,564ft in elevation and crosses Lamarck Creek twice. The hike to Upper Lamarck Lake from Lower Lamarck Lake is just over half a mile. A backpacking wilderness permit is required.
The Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park offers amazing views of three amazing alpine lakes: Heather, Emerald and Pear Lakes. The trail is popular for day-hiking, but I would always recommend an overnight trip whenever possible.
The creeks are flowing, and the waterfalls are raging. Here are two local waterfalls to visit in the Angeles National Forest!
As someone who’s not a big fan of snow, when winter rolls around you’ll most likely find me road-tripping rather than on the trail, but this year I decided to go backpacking in Big Sur!
You know all of those places you have saved on your maps? Maybe you too have a list titled, “BRB”? How about those IG friends you’ve never met?
It’s Memorial Day weekend. Winter is gone, and for the past 4 months, I have successfully gone on one solo trip every month this year.
“One, and done, and never again,” I said as I completed the Trans-Catalina Trail 5-years ago. The year was 2016, and I had only gone backpacking a handful of times within the two years of discovering my passion for backpacking.
