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What we’re about
Welcome! (Require: a personal photo and introduce yourself to the group)
***By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings***
- Click RATING TABLE to learn more about difficulty levels. Click HikingOC Policy to read more FYI. https://www.meetup.com/hikingoc/messages/boards/thread/53724845
Take a quick look at our Events Calendar to see what events are on the horizon
- • Join us whether you are new or experienced in Hiking. There are different levels, but we all share one common: using our legs to move up down hills. Most of the time on dirt trails, but there are different terrains: rocky or gravels or in water, river or mud; different settings: mountain, forest, wilderness or desert.
• Contact us if you are interested to join the Organizer Team and organize Hikes local OC or out of town Hikes to those who share the same interest. Our wide open calendar will fill with events during the weekdays, but mostly the weekends. Our events or trips are generated by volunteer effort and time of volunteer organizers.
[All Our Organizers Volunteer their Time and Effort for Free Cost to Most Events]
• Once or twice per month, there will be events or trips that require payments. These are costs to cover your expenses and fund raising to "HikingOC Fund".
• "HikingOC Fund" will generate profit after the costs from events monthly. It will maintain the group website, support all HikingOC volunteered organizers who contribute to build this hiking group, an outdoor active community and to donate to the good causes or charities.
• If you like to do a great cause in honor our group name, please support helping those affected by disasters or the National Park Services (we hike on many lands of the National Parks.) We are sure your support is highly appreciated and rescues the unfortunates! There are many Non-Profit Organizations, please contact direct AMERICAN RED CROSS ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER for more info
***Read more past hikes on A Journey with HikingOC -- ANP Tourism-Lifetime Memory
for more Travel Trips in the US and Many Regions in the World***
Check on the IMAGES to see our photo albums
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Upcoming events (4+)
See all- San Jacinto mountains adventure from the tram/ Level 3Tramway Road, Palm Springs, CA
Sorry but we need to limit the number of people on this hike for safety.
This will be a fun but steep and rugged hike to Wellman’s divide and maybe beyond a few more miles heading to the peak. We will likely take the round Valley loop heading back for an added mile and it’s a beautiful trail. There may be several long and short snow patches along the way but easy to slowly walk through them.
The goal is to get to the parking lot by 7:40 in time to walk up to the tram station and buy tram tickets in time to get on the 8:20 AM tram.
If you arrive early and want to get on the 8 AM tram that’s fine, just wait for us at the picnic tables at the top station on the lower level.We start at 8500 feet and climb to at least 10,000 feet. So altitude will definitely be a factor.
We are limiting the number of hikers for safety so we are sorry if you are not included.
Hike Stats:
Distance : Aprox. 8-11 miles RT depending on the route
Elevation Gain: about 1500-1800 feet
Hike Time: 7-8 hours
Difficulty: Moderate. There is some decent elevation on some rugged terrain so know your limits
Trail Condition: steep and rugged in sections. Snow patches
General Rating/Difficulty: Level 3 (Moderate Pace) for distance, elevation gain and strenuous
Click RATING TABLE to learn more about hike levels
https://tinyurl.com/HikeRatingIMPORTANT NOTES:
1)This is an intermediate level hike not suited for beginners so please know your limits.
2) This is not a very fast paced hike so if you are not comfortable with this type of pace this hike is not for you. This also is not a slow paced hike so if you are a slow hiker this hike is not for you.
3) We hike as a group and and stop at intersections and stop periodically so everyone catches up. Nobody is left behind. If you are not comfortable staying with the group this hike is not for you.
4)Bring lunch as we will be eating on the trail
5) The tram ticket is $31 but they have senior rates for $29 and they may do AAA discounts. Parking is $15 per vehicle.
6)Both the upper and lower tram station have restroomsDirections: Take interstate 10 East toward Palm Springs.. exit at highway 111 toward Palm Springs... when the highway ends you will see a big Tram information sign at the light and a visitor center before the light . Turn right here and proceed about 3 miles to the parking lot for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Station. There will be an $15 parking fee per car at the toll booth. Restrooms are available at the lower and upper tram stations. PLAN TO BE AT THE PARKING LOT, PARKED, AND IN THE TRAM STATION BY 8:00AM to get on the 8:20AM tram.
REMINDER: By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, mountain lions, coyote, snake bites or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike ***
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY - Turtle Rock Hills Hike on Sunday at Sunset near UCI /Levels 2 to 3Turtle Rock, Irvine, CA
Weekly sunset Sunday hike on the hills of Turtle Rock.
Meeting: 5:30 PM
This hike is rated level 2 for pace and elevation. Please see the RATING TABLE for more info about difficulty levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating
Duration: ~1.5 to 2 hours
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation: 1100ftESSENTIALS: Bring water, and shoes that will provide grip on dirt trails/hills (like hiking shoes or trail runners)
DIRECTIONS: Address: 1 Concordia, Irvine
ABOUT THIS HIKE:
This is a workout conditioning hike composed of a looped route with a mix of trails and sidewalk/bike paths, along with some not too long but fairly steep hills. The two popular hills: French Hill and Suicide Hill at Turtle Rock. This loop, which uses city streets, single-track trails and a little bit of climbing, is one of several possible routes that visit the two summits. This hike requires regular hikers or those who have exercise experience stair stepper or treadmill on 5-7 degree incline. The trail is dog friendly.
Route:
The hike begins with a steep climb up French Hill, gaining 200 feet in about 0.3 miles. At the top, you get a nice view of the Santa Ana Mountains and you can also see the other destination, Turtle Rock, to the left.
At the top, bear right, pass by a small summit marker, and begin heading downhill, toward a residential neighborhood. The trail swings around the back side of the houses and begins to curve south, making a moderate ascent to a ridge. Here, you get nice views of the Laguna Canyon area and the San Joaquin Hills.
At 1.2 miles, you begin a sharp descent toward Ridgeline Drive. Head right and follow a trail that’s been beaten on the side of the road. Soon you cross Hillsborough, where you can follow a proper sidewalk up to the intersection with Turtle Rock Drive.
Cross the street and continue following Ridgeline, looking for a paved walkway heading downhill 1.9 miles. At the bottom of a hill, where the walkway makes a hairpin turn, continue straight on a dirt trail. Never getting too far from the residential area on the right, you climb to another ridge. Head right at a junction, where you’ll see Turtle Rock ahead of you, with its geological outcrops that resemble turtles. You descend into a pleasant wooded area, reaching a paved walkway at about 2.6 miles.
Head left, and almost immediately take a hard right and begin climbing a staircase. At the top, head right and continue your ascent. A little bit of scrambling, though nothing too difficult, is required to reach the top of Turtle Rock 2.9 miles, where you enjoy a nice view of almost all of Orange County, and on clear days, beyond.
Continuing north, you descend steeply from Turtle Rock. Turn left at the next junction and head through a meadow, toward the intersection of San Rufino and Via Novella 3.4 miles. Follow Via Novella to Amalfi Drive, head right and turn right again on Turtle Rock Drive. Heading slightly uphill, follow Turtle Rock 0.4 miles back to the starting point.
REMINDER:
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike*** - Bolsa Chica Wetlands - Level 2Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA
Looking for an easy hike to start your week off right? Are you a beginner just trying to get started hiking? Please join us for a nature walk at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. This walk is suitable for strong beginners.
This walk is for humans. Dogs are not permitted in the wetlands preserve.
This is not the beach walk.
## Key Info:
## Meet and Greet at 9:45 AM.
## Hike Briefing at 9:55 AM.
## The hike departs promptly at 10:00 AM.
## If you arrive late or otherwise choose to do this walk on your own, just follow the directions detailed below. And bring a friend!Length: This hike/walk is about 4-5 miles.
Difficulty: This walk is mostly flat, with one small staircase.
Pace: Leisurely (about 25 minutes/mile, with stops).Description: From the parking area we will walk across the foot bridge to walk along and around several small inner bays. There are nesting grounds for water birds, and breeding grounds for sharks along the way. We may stop briefly at the Bolsa Chica Interpretive center to see some of their wildlife displays, and then make our way back to our starting point.
Facilities: There are no restrooms at the start of this hike. There are nice restrooms available at the Interpretive Center, the mid-hike turn-around point.
Sometimes we may see some wildlife: quail, hawks, roadrunners, bunny wabbits, and if we are very lucky, maybe a snake or a tarantula.
Rating: Level 2 - Click here for hike RATING TABLE
Parking: There is a free parking lot at the starting point. The lot fills up at times, so arrive early in case you have to wait until someone leaves. Google Maps GPS Address: 18000 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, or CLICK HERE. The lead photo in this post shows the parking lot entrance from CA-1 (PCH).
What to bring: Water and snacks, sunglasses, comfortable walking/hiking shoes, maybe a hat or umbrella for sun protection, a happy attitude and a big smile!
REMINDER:
By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETYHiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, mountain lions, coyotes, snake bites or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike.