No end to lovely local hike destinations for the fall

Lots of readers commented on my Oct. 8 column about local hikes for the fall. The five favorites I described are also generally good in the spring and anytime during the winter when the skies are clear and the ground is dry – conditions which are not too hard to come by these days.

Those “top five” fall hikes were Spikes Peak at Pacheco State Park, Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park Loop Trail, Merced and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge trails, Sonora’s Dragoon Trail and Table Mountain at New Melones.

To complete the list of great local hikes for anytime it isn’t too hot or too wet, here are some more good choices:

Red Hills – The Bureau of Land Management offers 17 miles of trails at Red Hills near Chinese Camp. Although the landscape appears dry and scrubby much of the year, spring brings reliable wildflowers, and views can also be striking on cool days with clear skies. For more information, go to www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/folsom/redhills.html or call (916) 941-3101.

Other wildlife refuges – If you’ve already enjoyed the trails at the Merced and San Luis refuges, there are two additional short trails totaling about three miles at the West Bear Creek Unit of the San Luis Refuge. Located 15 miles north of Los Banos on Highway 165, there are about three miles of trails for walking. For more information go to www.fws.gov/refuge/san_luis or call (209) 826-3508. West of Modesto, the San Joaquin NWR’s 3.8-mile Pelican Trail includes a wide range of habitats. This trail is located on Dairy Road, south of Highway 132.

All of the refuge trails are generally best from December to February when the greatest number of wintering birds are present. The amount of water in the ponds is also important. If this season stays dry, contact the headquarters before your visit to check on conditions. To learn more about the SJNWR, go to www.fws.gov/Refuge/San_Joaquin_River or call (209) 826-3508.

The Merced River – This path from Briceburg to the North Fork (three miles round trip) is an excellent easy trail on BLM land east of Mariposa. You can add to the hike by following the North Fork for an additional quarter mile to some nice cascades.

To find the trail, head east from Mariposa on Highway 140 for about 12 miles. Turn left at the Briceburg Visitor Center and follow the six-mile gravel road along the river until it dead ends. Visit www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/folsom/mercedriverrec.html or call (916) 941-3101.

Williams Peak – This relatively easy round-trip hike of about two miles climbs 750 feet to a peak with grand views of the hills and valleys between Hornitos and Bear Valley. The abandoned fire lookout tower still stands on the summit, but years of weather and vandalism have left it in a dangerous condition. You can enjoy the views without climbing the rickety stairs.

To find the trail, take Bear Valley Road 8.7 miles northeast from the plaza in Hornitos. Turn left on Hunters Valley Mountain Road for 2.2 miles. Park when you see the road split with a metal gate on the left branch. Park nearby and follow the road beyond the gate until you reach the summit.

Stockton Creek Preserve – This area offers four miles of trails near Mariposa. Stockton Creek is the water source for the town of Mariposa and it is impounded by a reservoir within the preserve. The landscape is oak and chaparral, with wide vistas from the highest points on the trail. This is a moderate hike if you take the trail at your own pace. For more information and directions, go to www.sierrafoothill.org/index.php/land/preserves/stockton-creek or call (209) 742-5556.

Peoria Mountain at New Melones Reservoir – Like the Table Mountain hike described in my previous column about best fall hikes, this four-mile round-trip hike offers great views of the foothills between Jamestown and Angels Camp. With an 800-foot elevation climb, it’s a moderate workout. Although the reservoir is low, the views from the top of the mountain are still very nice, especially on clear days. For more information, go to www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/index.html or call (209) 536-9094.

Along the Stanislaus River – At the hamlet of Knights Ferry on the Stanislaus River, the Canyon Trail starts where Main Street ends and it follows the river canyon for about a mile with beautiful views of the town and its famous covered bridge. Springtime wildflowers are often amazing, thought this is also a perfect trip in the fall and winter.

Lakes and reservoirs – The Shoreline Trail at Lake Don Pedro, the Buck Ridge Loop at Hensley Lake, the Monument Ridge and Lakeview Trails at Eastman Lake, and the Shoreline Trail at Lake Don Pedro will be great choices again as soon as there is some more water in the reservoirs. Eastman and Hensley currently are below 10 percent of capacity.

This story was originally published October 21, 2014 at 7:27 PM with the headline "No end to lovely local hike destinations for the fall."