Trail Report- Smuggler’s Cove, Santa Cruz Island

The Quick and Dirty:
Location –Smuggler’s Cove, Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park
Distance – 7.5 mile round trip
Terrain Type –  Coastal, the hike ends up at a secluded beach called Smuggler’s Cove
Difficulty – Moderate with some hill climbs

Duration– 3 hours at a leisure paceIMG_0414.JPG Continue reading

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Trail Report-Potato Harbor, Santa Cruz Island

The Quick and Dirty:
Location – Potato Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park
Distance – 5 mile round trip
Terrain Type – Slight ascend at the beginning of the hike to the top of the sea cliff and then the hike levels out
Difficulty – Easy
Best Time – Spring with the wild flowers makes this a magificient hike but the trail is accessible year-round

Duration– 2 hours at a leisure pace

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View of the harbor from the top of the sea cliff

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Overview of Santa Cruz Island- Channel Islands National Park

IMG_0400.JPGChannel Islands National Park has long been on our list of places to visit. Since Louis’s birthday fell on a Friday this year, I made an executive decision to celebrate his birthday by visiting Santa Cruz Island within Channel Islands National Park. Out of the five islands within the National Parks jurisdiction, Santa Cruz island is the most frequently visited island. Ferries to and from the island are available at least once a day.

This post will be followed by a series of other posts detailing the hikes and kayaking activities during our stay at Santa Cruz island. Continue reading

Utah National Park Road Trip

In 2010, Louis and I took my tiny Mazda Protege on an epic road trip to Zion, Bryce and Arches National Park. Even though the Protege lost its transmission in the middle of a highway somewhere between Bryce and Zion National Park, it was a memorable trip that started our passion with hiking, traveling and fascination with the beauty of the national parks of Utah.

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The beloved Mazda Protege at the beginning of the road trip arriving to Zion National Park in the midst of a snow storm.

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Death Valley NP- Titus Canyon to Dante’s View

The Quick and Dirty:
Location:
 Death Valley National Park
Itinerary: Rhyolite (ghost town), Titus Road/Titus Canyon, LeadField (ghost town), Zebriski’s Point and Dante’s View  
Hiking Distance: about 5 miles
Driving Distance: 150 miles roundtrip to Texas Springs campground
Good to know: Check the weather before driving into Titus Road, a high clearance vehicle is recommended for driving through Titus Road.

View from the drive on Titus Road

View from the drive on Titus Road

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