3 Miles or Less

Our favorite hikes of 2011

January 4, 2012
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On December 30th, Jeff and I met (slightly surpassing) our goal to hike 200 miles in 2011. We have trekked through some pretty spectacular scenery this past year, all of varying difficulty, topography, climates and ecosystems. These stand out as our absolute favorites of 2011.

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Hiking the Seven Falls Trail in Santa Barbara

December 20, 2011
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Seven Falls is one of the most popular hikes in Santa Barbara, and for good reason–the series of falls and pools make it a scenic place to swim or relax on a sunny rock.

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Powder Canyon in Rowland Heights: A short, scenic hike in the middle of everywhere!

December 2, 2011
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Powder Canyon in the hills between Whittier, Puente, and Brea, is a short and scenic hike in an urban setting with a wilderness feel that is great on a cool, crisp day.

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Exploring the Smokies: Newfound Gap Road to the Appalachian Trail and Clingman’s Dome

November 20, 2011
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If you are visiting Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingman’s Dome and the Appalachian Trail are two must-see day hikes along Newfound Gap Road.

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Laurel Falls: A short scenic family-friendly hike in the Smokies

November 14, 2011
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Although one of the most popular and crowded hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this short 2.6 mile scenic hike is worth the crowds.

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Exploring Mammoth: A short hike to Inyo Craters

July 31, 2011
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An easy short scenic 1.25 mile hike to two volcanic craters and lakes located just outside of Mammoth Lakes.

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Exploring Mammoth: Inyo National Forest Earthquake Fault walking trail

July 30, 2011
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This super short easy scenic walking trail just outside of Mammoth provides a close up look at a deep growing fissure being cut into the earth through tectonic activity.

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Pictograph Trail to Smuggler’s Canyon — a Cool and Easy Anza Borrego Hike

May 11, 2011
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The trail to Pictographs and Smuggler’s Canyon is one of the shorter hikes in Anza Borrego State Park, but if you tie it together with the Morteros and/or Yaqui Well Nature Trail, it is well worth the side trip. Interesting prehistoric Indian Pictographs and a great viewpoint over Smuggler’s Canyon and one of Anza Borrego’s scenic valleys.

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Palm Canyon Trail in Anza Borrego — So Good We’ve Done it Twice!

May 2, 2011
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The lower part of Palm Canyon Trail is the most popular hike in Anza Borrego State Park, and features a path that goes from dry desert terrain to a lush, palm and fern oasis, with waterfalls and pools running right past it. Beyond the “tourist turnaround” at the 1.5 mile point, is a much more strenuous, but much more scenic and less crowded hike up the creek to more palms and falls.

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A super short scenic hike to the Morteros in Anza Borrego Desert State Park

April 30, 2011
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A super short (1/2 mile round-trip), but scenic historic hike to an old Native American site located within Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

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Yaqui Well Nature Trail in Anza Borrego Desert State Park

April 18, 2011
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A short, easy, scenic 1.6 mile loop hike through a desert nature trail to a historic watering hole in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Easily accessible from Highway 78, this is a quick little hike you can hit on your way in or out of the park.

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A very short (but not necessarily easy) hike to Ortega Falls

March 20, 2011
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A very short, but not really easy, hike off the Ortega Highway in the Cleveland National Forest to some great waterfalls and pools.

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Bonita Falls in Lytle Creek–Yosemite’ish falls in SoCal?

February 26, 2011
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Bonita Falls on the South Fork of Lytle Creek: A short, but deceivingly difficult, 2.8 mile hike to the 2nd highest waterfall in Southern California. Lots of boulder hopping and some stream crossing leads to a beautiful waterfall less than a mile off the road in the San Bernardino National Forest.

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