Muir Woods National Monument is filled with glorious Coastal Redwoods and is perfect for exploring. I published a post last May titled California Dreaming, which highlighted multiple national parks on our trip. This post is an expansion of that to highlight Muir Woods specifically. Through this more detailed post, I hope to give you all the info you’ll need to make a trip of your own to Muir Woods.
We visited Muir Woods in December 2019 as part of our larger California adventure. The goal of the trip was to see as many national parks or protected areas as possible, so it felt essential to see Muir Woods while we were in Northern California. This protected area is an easy day trip from many locations around the Bay Area.
Muir Woods Basics
The old growth coastal redwoods in Muir Woods will easily enchant you. The park is located in the middle of the redwood range from the California-Oregon border all the way down to Big Sur. There are many different types of plants, animals and birds within it that are all worth exploring. However, the giant coastal redwoods found throughout really steal the show. The climate in the coastal redwood forest is usually cool and dry during the summer and wet in winter months.
Walking the trails at Muir Woods National Monument.
Muir Woods requires you to purchase a parking permit prior to arrival. I booked our parking pass a few months out to be safe. When reserving, you chose a 30 minute window to arrive. I would recommend getting your parking pass as soon as possible once you know your trip dates. Additionally, you can book shuttle passes and your entrance ticket to the park through the same company.
To enter you will need to pay the entrance fee, which is separate from parking. You can also enter using your America the Beautiful pass. This is what we did.
Breathtaking views around the trails of the park.
Getting There and Away
Muir Woods is located in the San Francisco Bay Area in the city of Mill Valley. The parkcan be accessed via car from most areas, as well as by shuttle bus from Sausalito, Marin City and the Pohono Park and Ride. Due to it’s popularity, you will need to book your shuttle and parking reservation ahead of time at gomuirwoods.com.
What to Do
Go on a Hike!
Trails around Muir Woods National Monument.
The most obvious and fun thing to do in Muir Woods is to walk around the trails and view the beautiful coastal redwoods. There are a few easy trails from the park entrance that range in time and distance. According to the park page, there are three loops, each one a half hour longer than the next for a total of 6 miles and one and a half hours.
Trails within the park are well marked and follow along the redwood giants. If you would like to hike for longer, there are options to break out to adjoining trails that offer a birds eye views of the area. Plan to bring some snacks and spend half a day hiking around and breathing in the fresh air.
Yosemite National Park is a wonderful place for hiking, exploring and camping. I published a post last May titled California Dreaming, which highlighted multiple national parks on our trip. This post is an expansion of that to highlight Yosemite specifically. Through this more detailed series, I hope to give you all the info you’ll need to make a trip of your own.
We visited Yosemite National Park in December 2019 and loved seeing the park in winter. Yosemite is one of those places that lives up to all the hype that you hear about it. While we only got to spend three days and two nights in Yosemite, I could have easily spent weeks there. It is truly mesmerizing. I recommend at least one visit, but hopefully many.
Views of Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite National Park Basics
The 1,200 square mile park is California’s most popular national park and there is no question as to why. It is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in central California and sits 195 miles from San Francisco, 176 miles from Sacramento and 313 miles from Los Angeles.
Yosemite is well known for the ancient and majestic sequoia trees that populate the park. Not to mention the dome rocks that tower over you as you enter the valley floor alongside the many waterfalls and meadows found throughout. Elevation in the park ranges from about 2,000 feet to 13,000 feet. Yosemite experiences large amounts of precipitation from October to May, with snow covering the park throughout winter.
There is an entry fee to visit the park, or you can use your America the Beautiful parks pass for covered entry. During the 2021 season you will need a reservation to enter. Make your reservation on Recreation.gov well in advance as the time slots are likely to be booked up quickly.
You can drive to Yosemite via the south, west and north. The most common routes are from the San Francisco area, as well as from the Los Angeles area. It is advisable to use the park shuttle bus once you are inside the park due to all the traffic. Note that the shuttle is not running in 2021. There is also a YARTS bus that can also take you from Yosemite to the train station. YARTS travels east to Mammoth Lakes, west to Fresno and north to Sonora.
Crossing the Tejon Pass going north.
For our trip, we drove north to Yosemite from Los Angeles. There can be a lot of traffic, so we planned to leave by 5am to avoid it. Even though a 4am wake up call sounds rough, it is highly advisable if you are leaving from Southern California.
We drove out on the empty darkened LA freeways and hit the Tejon Pass by dawn. As we climbed the pass, daylight started to creep in, exposing the snow covered hillsides along the highway. We had lucked out, the pass was just a few days out of being shut down completely from a snow storm. The car crested the ridge and we rode into the valley below as the storied California farmlands fanned out on both sides. This eventually made way to a mountainous forested area that meandered into the national park.
Where to Stay
Our cabin in the Curry Village at Yosemite NP.
For our visit to Yosemite, we opted to stay inside the park in one of their lodges. While they are a bit more pricey, it was very much worth it to be able to reach the trails from your door. If you stay outside the park, you will have to queue up each day with a long line of cars. We stayed our first night in a cabin in Curry Village and our second night at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. Both were beautiful in their own way, with Curry Village more rustic and Yosemite Valley Lodge a step up in decor and price.
There are 13 campgrounds in the park, which you can review here. You will need to make a camping reservation on Recreation.gov well in advance of your stay. Those looking to splurge should check out Yosemite’s most famed lodge, the historic Ahwahnee.
What To Do
There is much to be said about Yosemite’s many opportunities for adventure that can’t all fit here. The most common activities are taking a hike, going on a wilderness tour and a whole range of active sports such as trail running, biking, fishing and horseback riding. I have highlighted what we did below.
Mirror Lake, Yosemite National Park
Go for a Hike
Prior to heading to Yosemite, I recommend looking up some of their trails and hikes. There is a great transit system that drops off visitors at most trailheads throughout the park, making everything more accessible without a car. The Yosemite Conservatory also offers tours that can take you to see some of the key highlights.
Since we were there for such a short time, we ended up doing trail runs on hiking trails to see more of the park. We checked out the Valley Loop Trail, Lower Falls Trail, and Mirror Lake Trail. Also, it was winter when we visited so a number of the trails were closed. Before you go, check out the park’s hiking page, which has a ton of information.
Go for a Run
Our first trail run was on the Mirror Lake Trail, which offered an enchanting setting around a lake and allowed us to leave from our doorstep in the Curry Village. We did an 8 mile trail run, but you can also do much shorter hikes from the trailhead. See our Strava outline below.
Mirror Lake Trail out and back run from Curry Village.
Yosemite trail running
On our second day, I ran solo around the Valley Loop Trail. This trail was mostly paved, with parts of the run in more remote areas of the valley. I was petrified the entire time that I would come across a bear, but thankfully that did not happen! Even still, it was a great way to check out the valley in the early, misty morning while most people were still sleeping. See the Strava route below.
Yosemite valley loop trail solo run.
On our last morning, we took a run around the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail. We got out early to avoid the tour buses and crowds at the falls. Because of this, we were completely alone. Such a treat in this often crowded park! It felt special to have the place all to ourselves with the valley dew in the air.
Take Some Photographs
Us posing awkwardly at Yosemite Valley Falls.
There are a lot of opportunities for beautiful photography in Yosemite. Ansel Adams Gallery offers photography classes and some of the other tours also offer chances for great photography. We took a lot of photos just walking around the Lower Yosemite Falls trail, which is a popular spot for visitors. But really, just get out there in the park and you will find so many inspiring views.
What Next?
Running the Mirror Lake Trail.
If you want ideas for outdoor places to visit, read my other posts to see what adventures await nearby. If you are in California, I highly recommend you making Joshua Tree National Park part of your trip. I recommend reading my posts about the beautiful state of New Mexico, the Grand Canyon or about Rocky Mountain National Park.
As we slowly start thinking about traveling closer to home, I have created a series that includes some outdoor places that are perfect for hiking, camping and exploring. Joshua Tree National Park is one of those places that hits all the boxes. I had originally wrote about Joshua Tree in a longer post that I published last May titled California Dreaming. I am expanding upon my earlier post to highlight this national park and give you all the info to make a visit.
When we visited Joshua Tree in December 2019, I hadn’t been in many years and I had forgotten just how magical it was. This park is a must see in California and you should definitely try to make a trip here. Not only is it beautiful, but visiting will change how you feel about the desert.
Exploring the trails of Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree National Park Basics
Joshua Tree National Park is an 800,000 acre park that is located just 140 miles east of Los Angeles in Southern California. The park sits where the Mohave Desert and the Colorado Desert meet. It is filled with cacti, trees, shrubs, lizards and other desert dwelling plants, birds and animals. More information about the history and make-up of Joshua Tree can be found here and here. There is a fee to enter the park or you can use your America the Beautiful parks pass for entry.
I recommend arriving early if you are visiting during the winter season. There are limited parking spots at the popular trail heads and you will want to beat the crowds. There are not many water facilities inside the park, so bring lots of water. It is essential to prepare yourself with all you will need in the park and pack layers of clothing. When we visited in December, the temperatures were quite cold and we wore our jackets the entire time.
Joshua Tree National Park is located about 140 miles east of Los Angeles, 175 miles from San Diego and 215 miles from Las Vegas. It is accessible via car and you can fly to one of the nearby cities and drive from there. There are three entrances to the park. The west entrance is at Joshua Tree Village and the north entrance is at Twentynine Palms. There is also a south entrance at Cottonwood Springs.
Joshua Tree National Park
Where to Stay
There are two small towns in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms where most of the lodging is located near the park entrances. I would recommend staying in the Joshua Tree area, as that was where most of the restaurants and amenities were. We stayed both nights at an Airbnb in a fairly remote location on the outskirts of Joshua Tree. You can also stay farther out, but it will make beating the crowds at the park entrances much harder.
Additionally, there are five campgrounds within the park that offer basic camping options and can be reserved in advance at Recreation.gov. There are also a number of camping options outside of the park.
What to Eat
I was surprised to see that there are a decent amount of food options in the area despite being in the middle of the desert. Some top restaurants are in Joshua Tree, as well as a few in Twentynine Palms. We ate at Pie for the People! and were surprised how much we loved it. You can also try some hot spots around the park. Since we visited over the holidays we had less options, but in general there are many yummy choices to choose from.
Sunset over the park.
Joshua Tree Hiking and exploring
Joshua Tree is huge and there are lots of things to do, including many great hikes for all activity levels. While we weren’t able to do any trail runs in Joshua Tree, we did a series of short and easy hikes on our visit. We went to the following places based on various recommendations.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail
We started at the Hidden Valley Nature Trail. This mile loop trail was an easy and beautiful hike. It is great for the whole family and didn’t take too long to complete.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail hike.
Miguel at the Hidden Valley Trail.
Barker Dam Trail
The Barker Dam Trail was another easy 1 mile loop hike. We took this hike easy and we got to see the historic Barker Dam. Overall it was a very relaxed hike with some cool views.
Joshua Tree National Park hiking on the Barker Dam Trail.
Ryan Mountain Trail
The Ryan Mountain Trail was a slightly more difficult three mile out and back hike up Ryan Mountain. It was was moderately strenuous with spectacular views and a must see if you are up for it.
Views from the Ryan Mountain Trail.
Skull Rock Trail
We stopped by the Skull Rock Trail, which is an easy loop directly off the park road. We did a quick pitstop here and we didn’t hike the full trail. It felt like more of a highly overrated IG hype location and not necessary to stop.
Skull Rock
Cholla Cactus Garden
The Cholla Cactus Garden is near the north entrance of the park. It offers an easy walk around the unique cacti and was one of my favorite areas that we visited. It was a bit of drive from the other hikes, but it was completely worth it. There is a partly paved path that follows a short trail around the garden. It is very popular, i.e. crowded, but for good reason.
Miguel in the Cholla Cactus Garden.
What Next?
If you are in the Southern California area, I highly recommend you making Joshua Tree National Park part of your trip. If you want ideas for outdoor places to visit, read my other posts to see what adventures await nearby. I recommend reading my posts about the beautiful state of New Mexico, the Grand Canyon or our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Standing near the Twentynine Palms entrance to the park.
This past summer, we were lucky enough to spend some time at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. This national park hadn’t been on my radar, but it was a perfect detour on our way back home. I’m so grateful we took the time to see such a stunning national park.
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is located in north central Colorado on 415 square miles of breathtaking wilderness. It is truly one of the most spectacular natural settings I have ever seen. I highly recommend visiting it to anyone in the area. Rocky Mountain National Park is located on Cheyenne and Ute land.
The mesmerizing views of RMNP.
Rocky Mountain National Park Basics
RMNP is one of the most popular national parks in the country. In 2020, it was the fourth most visited park with 3.3 million visitors. We felt those numbers while we were there, even amid the pandemic that kept many people at home. I recommend visiting during spring or fall when the crowds are slightly reduced. Summer was a little bonkers, but still really cool to visit!
To ensure our safety and the safety of others, we were very careful to maintain our distance and keep masked. All national parks are now requiring that visitors wear masks and maintain physical distance from others. Here is more info about the COVID-19 measures in place at RMNP.
Miguel posing at the Grand Lake entrance to the park.
To get into the park we had to make a reservation through a timed entry system. This system will be in place for the 2021 season as well. To enter, the park releases specific time intervals for reservation in two hour windows. The entry times are released each month prior for the following month. Since this is such a popular park, you will need to book your entry as far in advance as possible. In addition to an entry time, we used our yearlong America the Beautiful Pass for entrance to the park.
Getting There and Away
Beautiful mountains for days!
The park is located within 66 miles of Denver, making it very accessible by road and plane. There are two main entrances used for entry into the park, the town of Estes Park in the east and Grand Lake in the west. Estes Park is by far the more popular side of the park with various options for food and lodging.
Where to Stay
There are tons of hotels and Airbnbs in the area near Rocky Mountain National Park. The lodging options are mainly in Estes Park, as well as the smaller community of Grand Lake. There are also five campground options within RMNP, as well as the option to do wilderness camping with a permit.
Since I had booked our trip so late, we stayed at an Airbnb in Grand Lake and really enjoyed it. The Airbnbwas perfectly located near the Grand Lake entrance and was well situated with great views and comfortable amenities. We even had the option to add on delicious breakfast or dinner meals for a fee. Note that if you stay in Grand Lake, you might have longer drives to get to some of the more popular trailheads.
What to Bring
The weather in the park can be really variable. It is advisable to dress in layers and be prepared for colder temps as you go up in elevation. I learned this the hard way when we did the Mt. Ida hike. Rookie mistake that I won’t make again! In addition to bringing lots of layers, always make sure to pack lots of water for your hikes. This is something I can’t stress enough.
RMNP is also known for it’s lightning storms during summer. Practice extreme caution when planning an outing if a storm is in the forecast. Monitor the weather and make sure to not be on exposed trail if a storm does come in. Here are some guidelines from the park about safety.
I recommend staying somewhere that you can prepare your meals and pack food to bring with you into the park. We packed snacks and lunch each day to bring along with us on our hikes. It is better to have more than enough water and food with you than to underestimate your needs while hiking.
Trailhead near Bear Lake.
Things to Do
Take a Drive
The Trail Ridge Road bisects the park and gives you access to the various key trails within. Driving on this road was easily the most spellbinding and scary road that I have ever driven on in my life. The 48 mile road crests over 12,000 feet in elevation and connects the two park entrances of Estes Park and Grand Lake. The best part is that the road takes you from the forrest meadows at the base up to alpine tundra at the peak. It gets a little dicey on the windy roads near the top where there is little to no space between the road and the steep drop off down the mountain. Despite some harrowing moments, I’m happy that we got to take the famous drive.
Views from the top of the Trail Ridge Road.
Go on a Hike (or many)
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 355 miles of trails. Hiking is one of the most popular activities and there are trails for all ability levels. There are many lists you can turn to about the best hikes in the park. Here is a link to the various trail maps within RMNP. I’ve detailed below the different hikes that we took.
Emerald Lake/Nymph Lake/Dream Lake
Views of Emerald Lake.
Our first hike was to Emerald Lake, starting from the Bear Lake Trailhead. The 3.5 mile round trip hike passes by both Nymph Lake and Dream Lake, both beautiful lakes to behold. This heavily trafficked trail was an easier out and back hike.
Nymph lake views en route to Emerald Lake.
On our way to Emerald Lake.
Alberta Falls Hike
Alberta Falls.
We also took a hike to Alberta Falls, an easy out and back trail totaling a little over 2 miles. We added this on after our hike to Emerald Lake since it left from the same trailhead. Due to it’s location near Bear Lake, it was a very crowded hike filled with lots of hikers. I would recommend hitting this trail in the early morning or later afternoon when less people are present.
Mt Ida Hike
Miguel at the Mt. Ida peak.
On our second full day in the park we set out before sunrise to hike up to Mt. Ida. This 9.5 mile out and back hike was much more strenuous and crossed multiple terrains. In total, we gained around 2,300 feet of elevation, with the peak at 12,889 feet. We left from the Poudre Lake Trailhead in the early morning in order to beat the afternoon thunderstorms. The trail is very exposed when it reaches the subalpine tundra so you have to be careful not to get caught exposed if a storm passes through. For this reason, we started early and we still barely missed a storm on our way back down.
Sunrise coming up over the Poudre Lake Trailhead as we started our hike.
Views of the glacial lakes on the hike up to Mt. Ida.
Bouldering at the end of the hike. There were lots of loose rock.Views from near the top of Mt. Ida.
Strava stats from our Mt. Ida hike.
Check out the Wildlife
We did not see much wildlife, though we did get some great close-ups of marmots on the alpine tundra. Wildlife sightings can be quite common within RMNP and that is something to look forward to on your visit.
Marmot along the peak of the Trail Ridge Road.
Go Kayaking outside the Park
On our first day we took a kayak trip on Shadow Mountain Lake near our Airbnb. This ended up being a really amazing experience since we got to see osprey and other local birds. We rented our kayaks at Trail Ridge Marina, which provided us with directions to see the early morning tranquility of the lake. If you stay in the Grand Lake area, it is definitely worth it to take some kayaks out to see the local wildlife.
What Next?
After a trip to RMNP, you might be asking what next. Check out my other travel posts to see what other adventures await nearby. I recommend reading my posts aboutthe beautiful state of New Mexico, the Grand Canyon or our road trip in California.
Last summer we took a short camping trip to the Fire Island National Seashore. The island is fairly easy to access from NYC and it makes for a nice weekend escape. It is filled with diverse animal and plant life, and we had some great views from our campsite. It was all very idyllic until you added in the mosquitoes. There were a LOT of mosquitoes that we had to contend with and it made the camping slightly less than pleasurable. Either way, it is a beautiful island to visit and worth a quick trip.
The National Park Service established the Fire Island National Seashore in 1964. The park covers 26 miles of the 32 mile long island. There are also 17 commercial communities on the island, one of which is Davis Park, within walking distance to the campground. The protected area of 19,579 acres holds bay islands, sand flats and wetlands.
Trip Planning: Before
View from the Watch Hill Ferry to Fire Island.
Since the island is so popular, it is important to book your accommodation early. If you plan to camp, you’ll want to make a reservation at LoveFins. LoveFins has both camping and glamping options. The National Park Service also offers backcountry camping, which you will need an overnight permit for.
Aside from those options, you can also stay at a rented house in other parts of the island outside of the protected area.
Getting to Fire Island
There are a number of ways that you can get to Fire Island. We took the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station to the Patchogue Station. From there you can take a few block walk over to the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry, which is operated by the National Park Service. The ferry leaves regularly in summer months, but you should check the schedule before heading out. If you drive, there are parking spots available at the ferry terminal. You can also access the Davis Park Ferry nearby, which will require you to walk about 1 mile from the ferry dock to the campground.
Entering the Watch Hill Marina on the ferry.
After exiting the ferry on Fire Island, you will see wetlands and sand dunes spreading out before you. There is no fee to enter the national seashore and you will only need to pay for your camping fees. Please note that there are no paved roads within Fire Island National Seashore. This means once you get off the ferry, anywhere you visit will be by foot. During our stay we explored the wetland area on our run, but we mainly stayed close to the campsite and the beach.
Walking the boardwalks of Fire Island.
Camping On Fire Island
During our stay we camped at Watch Hill Campground, which is part of the Fire Island National Seashore. The campground is only a quarter mile from the ferry marina, making it easily accessible by foot. LovFins, an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, runs the campground, glamping and the marina. In total the campground has 23 campsites, 1 group site and 4 platform furnished tent glamping options. Check in was easy and we were able to go directly to our site.
For camping on the island, you’ll need a rain fly in case you get rain during your stay (we did). And since the sites are on soft sand, you’ll need long metal stakes for the tent. The weather can be a bit variable with cooler nights and hot days in summer. I’d recommend bringing both warm and cool weather clothing, as well as adequate mosquito repellant.
The campground is located close to the marina, so there are a decent amount of amenities nearby, albeit overpriced. There is a restaurant, bar and small convenience store. I recommend bringing food and gear with you instead of purchasing when you are on the island.
Our campsite on sand behind the dunes.
Animal Friends & Mosquitoes!
We saw quite a few animals while we were camping, such as lots of little bunnies in the tall grass beyond our campsite. They were skittish, but ever-present in the dunes nearby. Additionally, there were a number of deer seemingly unbothered by humans, which was a bit worrisome. One deer even sprawled out in various campsites and wandered around looking for food. This is definitely not ideal animal behavior, as it shows the dependency of the animals on humans as a food source.
One huge challenge we had while camping were the mosquitoes. Since the campground is located near the swampy wetlands, there are so many mosquitoes around. Yikes! It was especially bad in the mornings and evenings. Whenever we left our tent we were instantly swarmed by mosquitoes that landed on any area that was not covered in repellant or clothing.
This made our camping experience a bit less than ideal. We sprayed ourselves, but we weren’t prepared for such aggressive mosquitoes. In fact, the park service recommends visiting in spring or fall to avoid large amounts of mosquitoes or ticks. If you do go in summer, make sure to pack accordingly with light long sleeves, repellent and citronella.
Getting a Run in (with no roads available)
Miguel getting a hot, humid run in along the boardwalks of Fire Island.
Fire Island has no roads in the section of the island where we were staying. Everything is either soft sand trails or narrow wooden boardwalks. While this makes going on a run difficult, we found a way to get a run in and be creative.We did loops on the boardwalks and ran over to the nearby Davis Park community. Thankfully the wetlands area was fairly empty in the morning and it allowed us space for the run. One benefit of the run was that the mosquitoes didn’t bother us. See the Strava outline of our run below.
Beach Time at the Fire Island Seashore
Fire Island Seashore.
After finishing our run, we headed to the beach for some relaxation. The beach was just over the dune from where our campsite was, so it was an easy walk away. The beach had soft sand and grassy covered dunes as far as the eye could see. A plus was that there weren’t too many people there and we got to enjoy our books on the beach. And thankfully there weren’t any mosquitoes in the beach area.
Miguel enjoying the Fire Island Seashore.
All in all, it was a solid trip to Fire Island. While it was tough to camp with so many mosquitoes, I still enjoyed the views and seeing the island. I imagine it would be a great trip to take in the spring or fall when there are less mosquitoes. I hope to someday return, maybe next time in a rented house.
Check out some of my other travel and camping experiences on my destinations page. And if you are interested in running, check out my travel running page.
In August, we took a trip to the Grand Canyon National Park. We drove out from Albuquerque, New Mexico with my cousins and enjoyed the desert views along the way. This was not my first trip to the Grand Canyon, but I was reminded (again) just how magnificent it is. Everyone should try to go at least once.
Located in Arizona, the Grand Canyon is a mile deep canyon over the Colorado River with an average width of ten miles across. It is an extremely popular (read: touristy) location, with visitors from all over the world. In fact, the Grand Canyon was the second most visited national park in 2019, with almost 6 million visitors. Over 90% of visitors head to the South Rim of the canyon, which has more options for lodging and amenities. The South Rim averages about 7,000 feet elevation above sea level.
View from the Desert View Watchtower in the Grand Canyon National Park.
TRIP PLANNING: BEFORE
I started looking into this trip about nine months out as I knew that the Grand Canyon is a highly visited national park. In the beginning I researched how we would best get there and where we would stay. I coordinated to go with my cousins from New Mexico and looked up campgrounds within the park. I booked my campsite in March for our late August trip. Due to the park’s popularity and high volume of visitors, it is essential to book your reservation ahead of time.
I decided on Mather Campground because it is on the South Rim of the park and close to many amenities. If you’re not into camping, there are a number of beautiful lodges within the park as well. You also have the option of staying outside the park, but you will have to contend with daily traffic to enter the park.
For transportation, I figured out that I would be driving in with my family from Albuquerque. You can also fly in to nearby airports and drive, such as Flagstaff (1+ hour), Phoenix (3-4hr) or Las Vegas (4-5hr).
Roadtrip: ABQ to Grand Canyon
Us in the picnic area of the Hubbell Trading Post.
We left Albuquerque in the morning and made our first stop at the Hubbell Trading Post to break up the 6+ hour drive. The Hubbell Trading Post is a national historic site in Ganado, Arizona that has been operating as a trading post of Native American art since 1878 and run by the National Park Service since 1967. After eating a picnic lunch there, we explored the grounds and museum collection. Then we got back on the road again.
Hubbell Trading Post, Ganado, Arizona.
Entering the Park
We entered the park from the southeast, passing through the nearby Hopi Reservation on smaller highways. As we gained elevation, we drove through the Kaibab National Forest, lush with ponderosa pine, fir and spruce trees. We drove through the forest for a while until we entered the park.
At the entrance, I bought the America the Beautiful pass. This pass grants me access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for a year. I got it knowing that I would be headed to more national parks on my California trip in December. You can also pay a one-time entrance fee. More basic information about the park can be found here.
Desert View Watchtower
Desert View Watchtower in the South Rim of the park.
After entering the park, we made our first stop at the Desert View Watchtower in the South Rim. The Watchtower was designed in 1932 by Mary Colter in the style of Ancestral Puebloan towers. There is an amazing viewpoint out towards the canyon from here, which gave us our first glimpse of the gigantic canyon and it’s sweeping beauty. The tower itself is quite impressive and you can climb all the way up to the top in a series of spiraling stairs.
Camping in the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon Camping at Mather Campground.
We camped in Mather Campground inside the park, which is on the South Rim and open year round. You can make reservations for the campsite up to 6 months in advance at Recreation.gov. The campground is in a great location and it has lots of trails around for short walks and hikes directly from the site. If you need to re-up on any groceries or supplies, the Grand Canyon Village is a short drive away.
Even though we were there in summer, the high elevation and desert environment made for quite chilly nights and mornings. Make sure to pack accordingly for both the heat and the cool evening temps. At night, you have amazing views of the bright stars and sky, being so far away from city light pollution.
Running in the Grand Canyon
Running along the Rim Trail.
As I mentioned, the South Rim sits at around 7,000 feet elevation, which is definitely something to be considered for any hike or run you do here. We did a long run on our first morning along the Rim Trail that traces the canyon’s edge. We started early to beat the heat and avoid the large crowds. Luckily, we could leave directly from our campsite on a smaller trail that linked up to the Rim Trail. The route consisted of a winding, paved trail with occasional water fountains and bathrooms.
It was definitely tough to run at elevation, and more difficult when combined with the heat in the latter part of the run, but we persevered. Either way, getting the opportunity to run along the canyon was easily one of the most epic runs I have ever done. Just taking in the panoramic views into the vast expanse of the canyon was something I’m not sure I’ll be able to top.
Our Rim Trail run.
Hiking in the Grand Canyon
Views from the Rim Trail, with the brown Colorado River in the distance.
After our run along the Rim Trail, we set out on the free shuttle that stops at various locations around the park. We got off at Hermits Rest, the farthest western stop on the South Rim. We did a slow, easy hike from there to Pima Point and then hopped back on the shuttle. It was stunning to observe the sprawling canyon as we walked. Afterwards we met up with my cousins at the El Tovar Lodge for some ice cream and drinks. This is a nice place to chill after a hike.
There are tons of hiking options in the Grand Canyon, with most of the easier ones above the rim. For steeper and harder hikes you can venture down into the canyon, but you must be well prepared for those hikes. You can access many of the trailheads using the free shuttle bus that runs from sunrise to sunset. For the more adventurous, you can look into a backcountry permit to hike and camp down in the canyon. This gets booked up fast though, so you’ll want to start planning 9-12 months out.
My cousin Alex looking out on the South Kaibab Trail.
South Kaibab Trail
South Kaibab Trail hike.
On our second day we did an early morning hike on the South Kaibab Trail. We took the early morning Hikers’ Express Shuttle from the visitor center to the trailhead, which starts running earlier than the main shuttles. The goal is to start your hike before sunrise or just after to spend as much time as possible hiking in cooler weather. Since we were there in late August/early September, the days got very hot and we wanted to avoid the heat as much as we could.
It was cold when we started and we wore our long sleeves, but ended up completely stripping down to our t-shirts as the sun came out. We made sure to pack tons of water since there aren’t any water spots along the trail. We also wore hats, breathable clothing and sunscreen to protect ourselves from the sun.
Great views along the South Kaibab Trail.
Since we were doing a day hike, we went down about a mile and half to the second rest area called Cedar Point. It is not advised to go beyond this point if you are doing a day hike in summer due to the heat and potential for dehydration.
Miguel and Alex photographing the views at Cedar Point before we began our return.
Planning Ahead When Hiking
My cousin Alex and I hiking down the South Kaibab Trail.
It is crucial to plan ahead when hiking in the Grand Canyon. Due to the elevation, heat and exposed canyon trails, you will need to pack tons of water, as there is often only water available at the trailheads. Aside from water, pack snacks and weather appropriate clothing. The park promotes Hiking Smart, with the following guidelines:
Plan your hike before you start.
Balance your food and water intake.
Eat salty snacks and drink water or sports drinks.
Go slowly, rest often, stay cool. Allow the weakest hiker to set the pace.
During the summer, hike during the cooler, shadier times of the day.
I use the sport of running as a means to explore when I travel. I can get places faster and check out a destination in a different way by running ‘behind the scenes.’ On our trip to California in December, we ran some trails, roads and a tiny bit of track. Everywhere we ran had its own special magic. We got to do runs in the LA area, Yosemite and north of San Francisco. This post will highlight the best runs from our trip. You can link to the full rundown of my trip to learn more about our California adventure.
Prior to arriving at each of our destinations, I looked up potential running routes and hikes in the area. You can do this directly on the park sites or just by googling the area. I also look on All Trails and use my Strava or Footpath apps to plan out nearby routes.
Exploring the foothills
Miguel running on the Thompson Creek Trail.
Getting some track work in at Pomona College.
While we were staying in the LA area, we went on a few runs and did one track workout. For our longer runs, we ran on the dirt trails of the Claremont Wilderness Park at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest. The park has some great trails that are popular for hiking, mountain biking and trail running. That includes the Thompson Creek Trail, a nice biking and running path along the foothills. We also headed to Pomona College to do a brutal 5 mile tempo workout on the track.
Running in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Checking out the yosemite Trails
Once our trip took us up north, we moved primarily to trails. At Yosemite National Park, our time was limited, so we ended up doing our runs on hiking trails in the park. Our first run was on the Mirror Lake Trail, which offered an enchanting setting around a lake and allowed us to leave from our doorstep in the Curry Village.
Mirror Lake Trail out and back run from Curry Village.
Yosemite trail running
On our second day, I ran solo around the valley on the Valley Loop Trail. This trail was mostly paved, with parts of the run in more remote areas of the valley. I was petrified the entire time that I would come across a bear running alone, but thankfully that did not happen! Even still, it was a great way to check out the valley in the early, misty morning when most people were still sleeping. In fact, while we were there, we didn’t see any larger animals on any of our runs.
Yosemite valley loop trail solo run.
On our last morning, we took a run around the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail. We got out early before the tour buses and crowds started piling up at the falls. You can see in the photos above that we were completely alone. Such a treat in this often crowded park! It felt special to have the place all to ourselves with the valley dew in the air.
Running in Golden Gate Recreation Area
The next part of our trip took us to the Bay Area. We chose to stay north of the city to be closer to nature. And since we were very close Golden Gate National Recreation Area, we could leave from our doorstep to the trails nearby. The vast network of trails and fire roads in this area gives you tons of running options. For our first run there, we mixed it up and ran a few different interconnected trails with spectacular views of the ocean and coast. And since we were largely on fire roads, the terrain wasn’t too technical.
Running the trails of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
On our second day in the area, we got lucky to be invited by a friend to a group run up Mt. Tamalpais. Mt Tam has a stunning 2,571 foot peak with a panorama view of the surrounding hills, valleys and ocean. The out and back peak run was hard as hell, but worth every bit of the toughness.
Mount Tamalpais out and back trail run to the peak.
View from the peak of Mount Tamalpais.
Some running Resources
Check out my running page, which will link to all my running articles in one place. Stay tuned by signing up for the newsletter for future posts.
For the holidays this year, Miguel and I took advantage of our time off and decided to take a trip to California. Instead of staying out east in the cold, we wanted to escape the city and see some national parks instead. Through this trip, we got to gain a greater appreciation for nature. Many of the places we visited were new for Miguel, which made it more exciting to me.
The plan for the first part of the trip was to fly into Los Angeles and use my mom’s house as a home base. From there, we would work our way north up to the Bay Area. Our trip by no means was long enough to see everything that I wanted us to see or do. But it allowed for some pretty spectacular sights in a short time.
This post will outline our trip to California in detail. More information about the running highlights from our trip can be found here.
Yosemite National Park morning views.
Trip Planning: before
I started planning for this trip about six months out. I began by doing general research for possible itineraries and places to visit. Once I found a route, I looked up potential flights, car rentals and lodging. Since I have family in California, I built this trip around staying with them when possible to lower costs. Obviously that is not always an option, but it worked out well for this trip.
My main logistical decision was if we would work our way north or south. I did some price checking and estimated what was the most cost effective. In the end I decided on going north. We would fly into the LA area and return from SFO. There are a lot of ways you can do a trip like this, so you should figure out your needs to do what is best for you.
Hiking around Muir Woods.
Booking transportation & Lodging
For flights, I use Kayak to search prices before I buy anything. Flights for this trip were more expensive because it was over the holidays. I monitored them for a while until I saw a price drop and then purchased them immediately. You can reduce the price by flying off peak times or by purchasing your ticket a few months out.
We would need to have our own car for a good chunk of this trip, but we were also flying in and out of different airports. I strategized the most cost effective way to do that. I ended up booking two rental cars, one for Southern California and one for the Bay Area. It is usually a lot cheaper to rent and return a car to the same location than a point to point rental.
For lodging, I looked up Airbnb first, as they have some good low cost options with kitchens. I also checked out Booking.com and other travel blogs to see if there were hotels, hostels or lodges that were recommended. For Yosemite, I searched directly through their lodge vendor since I wanted to stay inside the park while we were there.
Running the trails at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
outline of an Adventure
I got to use my America the Beautiful parks pass a few times on this trip. The annual pass grants you access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the US. After purchasing the pass in August, I wanted to maximize the pass as much as I could on this trip. In total, we went to 2 national parks, 1 national monument, and a national seashore on our California adventure. We visited:
After spending a few days relaxing, we headed out to Joshua Tree National Park. The 800,000 acre park sits just 140 miles east of Los Angeles in Southern California. I hadn’t visited in years and I had forgotten just how magical Joshua Tree was. It is unlike anything you have ever seen and it will change how you feel about the desert. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Joshua Tree National Park is a place where the Mohave Desert and the Colorado Desert meet. It is filled with cacti, trees, shrubs, lizards and other desert dwelling plants, birds and animals. More information about the history and make-up of Joshua Tree can be found here and here. There is a fee to enter the park or you can use your America the Beautiful parks pass for covered entry.
We stayed both nights at an Airbnb in a fairly remote location. I probably wouldn’t choose that spot again. There are two small towns at the main entrances of the park, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, where most of the lodging is located. I would recommend staying in the Joshua Tree area, as that was where most of the restaurants and amenities were. We ate at Pie for the People! and were surprised how much we loved it. You can also stay farther out, but it will make beating the crowds much harder. Additionally, there are campgrounds within the park that offer basic camping options.
Joshua Tree National Park hiking on the Barker Dam Trail.
Joshua Tree Hiking and exploring
We had a little over two days to spend in Joshua Tree. We arrived late on the first day and got to see the sunset over the desert. The next day we woke up early to spend a full day at the park. I recommend arriving early if you are visiting during the peak winter season. There are limited parking spots at the popular trail heads and you will want to beat the crowds. It should also be noted that there are not many water facilities inside the park. It’s essential to prepare yourself by bringing lots of water, snacks and layers of clothing. When we visited in December, the temperatures were quite cold and we wore our jackets the entire time.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail hike.
Joshua Tree is huge and there are lots of great hikes and places to visit for any type of activity level. While we weren’t able to do any trail runs in Joshua Tree, we loved hiking around. Since we wanted to see as much as possible, we did a series of short and easy hikes on our visit. We went to the following places based on various recommendations:
Hidden Valley Nature Trail: Easy, beautiful and short loop hike
Barker Dam Trail: Easy and relaxed hike with some cool views
Ryan Mountain Trail: Out and back hike that is moderately strenuous with spectacular views
Skull Rock Trail: Quick pitstop to this highly overrated IG hype location
Cholla Cactus Garden: Easy walk and one of my favorite areas (see below)
Next Step: driving from la to yosemite
Our drive home from Joshua Tree was kinda crazy because we hit a snowstorm in the high desert in our compact rental car. Yikes! And upon returning to the LA area, we took some down time to recover from getting a little sick. We made sure to stop for cookies one more time at Some Crust Bakery. The following day we dropped off our rental car since we would be hitching a ride north with my dad. He picked us up that evening before heading out the next day. His plan was to leave by 5am to avoid the LA traffic. Even though a 4am wake up call sounds rough, it is highly advised if you are leaving from Southern California.
Crossing the Tejon Pass towards Yosemite.
The night before heading out we packed up our things and prepped lots of snacks for the 6-7 hour drive. My dad had done this drive many times before, so he was well prepared with snacks, rest stops and timing to avoid traffic. This was huge. We snuck out on the darkened LA freeways and we easily hit the Tejon Pass by dawn. As we climbed the pass, daylight started to creep in, exposing the snow covered hillsides along the highway. We had lucked out, the pass was just a few days out of being shut down completely from a snow storm. The car crested the ridge and we rode into the valley below as the storied California farmlands fanned out on both sides. This eventually made way to a mountainous forested area that meandered into the national park.
We made it! Entrance to Yosemite National Park.
yosemite national park
While we only got to spend three days and two nights in Yosemite National Park, I could have easily spent weeks there. The 1,200 square mile park is California’s most popular national park and there is no question why. It is truly mesmerizing and deserves at least one visit, but hopefully many. There is an entry fee to visit the park, or you can use your America the Beautiful parks pass for covered entry. Since we visited over the holidays, the place was slightly less crowded, but surprisingly still quite full. I can only imagine how crazy it gets during summer.
Mirror Lake, Yosemite National Park
For our visit to Yosemite, we opted to stay inside the park in their lodges. While a bit more pricey, it was very much worth it to be able to hike or run from your door. If you stay outside the park, you will have to queue up each day with a long line of cars for entry. Due to the popularity of the park, I recommend booking as early as you can to find a spot. We stayed our first night in a cabin in Curry Village and our second night at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. Both were beautiful in their own way, with Curry Village more rustic and Yosemite Valley Lodge a step up in decor and price. Those looking to splurge should check out Yosemite’s most famed lodge, the historic Ahwahnee.
Our cabin in the Curry Village at Yosemite NP.
There is much to be said about Yosemite’s many trails that can’t all fit here. Most of the trails that ventured above the valley floor were closed due to icy winter conditions while we were there. Prior to heading to Yosemite, I recommend looking up some of their trails and hikes. There is a great transit system that drops off visitors at most trail heads throughout the park, making everything more accessible without a car.
Us posing awkward at Yosemite Valley Falls.
Getting to the Bay Area from Yosemite
I did a lot of research prior to figure out how best to get from Yosemite to Northern California and there wasn’t a completely clear answer. What I ended up with was getting dropped off at the Merced train station and taking an Amtrak train north. There’s also a YARTS bus that can also take you from Yosemite to the train station. It’s a bit of a logistical challenge, and we did miss our train going north so we had to wait, but once we got on the train it was easy. We arrived in downtown San Francisco and hopped in a Lyft to pick up our rental car. From there we drove north of San Francisco to where we were staying for the next two nights.
Exploring Muir Woods National Monument
The following day we took an amazing morning trail run from our Airbnb and stopped by the yummy Shoreline Coffee Shop for some breakfast. Afterwards, we headed over to the Muir Woods National Monument. Muir Woods requires you purchase a parking permit prior to arrival. We booked our parking a few months out and the parking lot was packed when we arrived. When reserving, you chose a 30 minute arrival window and then pay the park fee separately to enter. You can also enter using your America the Beautiful pass.
Muir Woods is filled with old growth coastal redwoods that will enchant you. The area to hike within Muir Woods consists of mostly easy, well marked trails around the redwood giants. If you would like to go longer, there are options to break out to adjoining trails that offer a birds eye views of the area. Plan to bring some snacks and spend half a day hiking around and breathing in the fresh air.
View of our Mill Valley airstream Airbnb.
We stayed at a funky Airbnb very close to the hills in Mill Valley. We loved the location and its close proximity to some cool trails and Muir Woods.
Hiking around Muir Woods.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
We had some great runs in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which covers a 91 mile swath of coastline spanning out from the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. I highlight the runs we did here. Access to the park is free and there is a vast trail network in this protected area. Check out my running page for more links to runs I’ve done in other places we’ve visited.
Views from the trails in Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Our last stop on this whirlwind California trip was to the Point Reyes National Seashore. This was our last section of the trip and we had less than two days to check out this amazing location. Leaving Mill Valley, we drove up the scenic CA Route 1 panoramic highway, which offered us amazing views. We saw all types of beaches and coastal environments, misty forests and small towns along the way. We stopped in at Stinson Beach for a picnic lunch, which is my favorite beach in this area.
Miguel chilling at Stinson Beach along CA Route 1.
We then drove directly into Point Reyes National Seashore, a large protected area in Northern California. Access to the park is free. We parked at Drakes Beach and got extremely lucky because it was elephant seal mating and pupping season. At the beach we saw quite a few elephant seals strewn out as if they were dead. There were volunteer docents to ensure visitors didn’t get too close to the seals while they were resting. Occasionally, the seals would lift up their heads and utter a long, low groan, and then lay their heads back down again. It was such a lovely experience.
After checking out the elephant seals, we took the shuttle up to visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse. We braced ourselves against the wind and climbed down the 313 steps to explore this lighthouse built in 1870.
There are a lot of options for lodging in the Point Reyes area. You can choose from tons of cute hotels, Airbnbs and camping. We stayed at the HI Point Reyes Hostel, which was very clean, had a great communal kitchen and some nice common areas. I picked it because it was one of the few places located inside Point Reyes, unlike other lodging in adjoining towns.
Outdoor view of the HI Point Reyes Hostel.
The next morning we woke up early and visited the yummy Bovine Bakery in Point Reyes Station. Then we drove into San Francisco to the airport. We had such a great trip to California and we will definitely be back!
Point Reyes National Seashore.
trip Reading
Unlike my other travel adventures, I didn’t read as much on this trip. I’m not sure if it was due to being busy exploring nature, but I read much less. What I did read, though, I liked. My two books for this California trip were:
