Hiking and Backpacking

SCOUT OUTINGS

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Troops 493/494 or Crew 494 Past or  planned outing  top

Hiking and Backpacking  top
Backpacking (1st hiking webpage)
Local Historic Hikes (1st hiking webpage)
Local Hikes (1st hiking webpage)
Rim of the Bay (1st hiking webpage)
Folsom Lake Treks (1st hiking webpage)
Bay Area Ridge Trail (1st hiking webpage)
Tahoe Rim Trail (1st hiking webpage)
Pacific Crest Trail (1st hiking webpage)
Yosemite Valley (1st hiking webpage)
Santa Clara County
Peninsula Open Space
San Luis Obispo 
Alpha List (3rd hiking webpage)

Backpacking
Andrew Molera SP http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=582
Big Basin SP http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=540
Big Sur/Los Padres NP http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/
Castle Rock SP http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=538
Henry Coe backpack campsites http://www.coepark.org/sites-backpacking.html
Henry Coe SP Backpack General Page
Henry Cowell SP http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=546
Joshua Tree NP http://www.nps.gov/jotr/
Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=578
Lake Tahoe/ El Dorado Natl. Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/
Lake Tahoe National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/
Marin Headlands http://www.nps.gov/goga/mahe/index.htm
Mt. Diablo http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=517
Mt. Tamalpais http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=471
Ohlone Wilderness http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ohlone.htm
Pfeffier Big Sur http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=570
Pinnacles National Monument http://www.nps.gov/pinn/
Point Reyes National Seashore  http://www.nps.gov/pore/
Sequoia & Kings Canyon http://www.nps.gov/seki/
Stanislaus National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/
Sunol Wilderness http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol.htm
Yosemite NP http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
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Hiking
Local Historic Trail Hikes
San Francisco Presidio Trail Hike around San Francisco Presidio trails. 
SF Presidio Page  http://www.nps.gov/prsf/
The Presidio Historic Trail, sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Council, has a trail for Cub Packs and Boy Scout Troops. The Cub Scout Trail is about 3.5-miles as it starts from the Visitor Center, down to Fort Point and then around to Battery Chamberlin. The Boys Scout Trail is between 6.4 to 8.1 miles depending upon whether the troop hikes all across the Golden Gate Bridge and back. If you want a nearby place to camp, the Presidio has a group primitive site at Rob Hill near the WWII Memorial.

Almaden Quicksilver Historic Hike
The Almaden Quicksilver hike visits old Almaden and the mining towns up in Almaden Quicksilver county park.

Sacramento Historic Trail Requirement. General information for the hike.

1. Hike along the Sacramento historic trail. Patch awarded by Golden Empire Council.
2. Hike the trail as shown in the trail guide from Sutter's Fort to Old Sacramento and return (about 5 miles)
3. Visit the State Capitol and the State Railroad Museum
4. A Visit to Sutter's Fort is recommended. Admission is charged.

Link to website of Old Sacramento  and Sacramento Museums
Sacramento Historic Trail Document Detailed information on the hike. Map of the trail.

Sacramento Historic Train Trail  This is about a 2 1/2 mile one-day urban hike plus a Light Rail ride that follows the route of the first railroad in the West!

1. Hike the trail as shown on the map, from the Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento to the 13th Street Station and take Light Rail to the Butterfield Station and return You can stay on the train until St. Rose of Lima Park on the K-Street Mall and walk west back to old Sacramento. Your hike should be 1 3/4 miles to the 13th Street Station and a half-mile back to Old Sacramento. Review city hiking rules in the Scout Handbook.
2. Visit the California State Railroad Museum.
   Sacramento Rail Historic Trail Document
   

Monterey Historic Trail (Web) Presented by Troop 3, Carmel, California, Peninsula District,MBAC. Follow the Monterey Historic Trail and complete a 'historic facts scavengerhunt.'http://www.emf.net/~troop24/reqs/monterey.html
Details on the hike: Monterey Historic Hike and trip report on T494's outing: Monterey hike, sail and camping report. Copy of the historical information sheet: Questionnaire. The mostinteresting one deals withwhat you'll find at Monterey's Visitor Center.

Redwood Historic Trail The nearest historic trail is the Redwood Historic Trail. It's located at Boulder Creek Scout Camp. The trail is only 3.5 miles long, but provides information about the Redwood Tree and the Redwood Logging Industry. Download the Redwood Historical Trail Guide (PDF, 2.4MB), or stop by the Ranger Station to purchase one. Once you have completed the trail and filled out the Quiz Scoreboard (found in the Trail Guide), return to the Ranger Station and pick up your Historical Patch.

Gold Rush Historic 49'er Trail

Local Hikes with Patches

Ohlone Wilderness Trail    Hike along the Ohlone wilderness trail with starting points at either Del Valle or Sunol Wilderness trails. Suitable for High Ventures. It’s a 20+ mile hike with no water on the trail.   http://www.sfbac.org/hat/sunol.html

Skyline to the Sea Trail,     Backpack from Sanborn Park to Waddell Beach. Can be done in segments.The troop has hiked the Big Basin to Waddell Beach portion.
Bay Area Ridge Trail  The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a 400-mile multiple-use trail connecting parks and preserved open spaces along the ridgelines surrounding California's San Francisco Bay.   http://www.ridgetrail.org/trail/descrips.htm
The Fages Historic Trail  in the hills above Berkeley and El Cerrito commemorates and follows portions of the 1772 trek by a party led by Captain Pedro Fages (pronounced "fah hace") searching for a land route around San Francisco Bay. There are in fact 3 different ways to take the trail. There is a 10.4-mile loop for Boy Scouts and Fages II, a 20-mile loop for High Ventures. http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/highfages.shtml 
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Rim of the Bay Hikes (Rim Rovers)  
The purpose of the RIM OF THE BAY patch program is to encourage hiking and to bring into the lives of our Scouts a "mountain top" experience. There are six Mountains that surround our area that you hike up. When you finish the first mountain you get a patch and a "rocker" with the name of the mountain. Rockers are awarded for each additional hike completed. All of these trips can be accomplished in a single day. http://www.sfbac.org/activities/act_rimofbay.cfm
Mission Peak Near Fremont/Milpitas
Jurisdiction: East Bay Regional Park District , Elevation Gain 2,517'
Hike Length: 6.9 miles round trip (Peak Trail)

Mt. Diablo Near Walnut Creek
Jurisdiction: Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California, Elevation Gain: 1,997'
Hike Length: 7 miles round trip

' Mt. Tamalpais Near San Rafael
Jurisdiction: Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California
Hike Length: 8.5 miles round trip,Elevation Gain: 1,081'

Mt. Wittenberg  At Pt. Reyes
Jurisdiction: Point Reyes National Seashore, Elevation Gain: 1,367'
Hike Length: 5 to 6 miles (depending on the trail).

Mt. St. Helena Near Sonoma
Jurisdiction: Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California (located in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park) , Elevation Gain: 1,384' Hike Length: 11 miles (not recommended for Cub Scouts)

Pinnacles
Administration: Superintendent, Pinnacles National Monument, Paicenes CA 95043
 (408) 389-4485  (408) 389-4485 ,Elevation Gain: 400 meters (1400 feet)
Hike Length: 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) round trip from the Visitor Center, across the High Peaks Trail and side trip through Bear Gulch Caves. This is the minimum hike to qualify for the patch. Longer trips are possible. See the discussion. A well-constructed, spectacular trail with some exposure. Cubs and younger Scouts should be closely supervised on the High Peaks Trail and in the caves. Flashlights for each hiker are required in the caves. Water must be carried as there is no water en route. Not recommended for summer as it gets extremely hot.
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Trail Trekkers Cub Scout Progressive Hike Award

The Trail Trekkers Program offers a series of hikes which can be completed by Cub Scout age boys (from 6-11 years) and their families. website at San Francisco Bay Area Council http://www.sfbac.org/activities/act_trailtrekkers.cfm

Coyote Hills - Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont
Flag Hill - Sunol Regional Wilderness, Sunol
Hoot Owl - Sycamore Grove Regional Park, Livermore
Little Yosemite - Sunol Regional Wilderness, Sunol
Redwood Creek - Redwood Regional Park, Oakland
Rodeo Lagoon - Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin
Sycamore Grove - Sycamore Grove Regional Park, Livermore
Wildcat Peak - Tilden Nature Study Area, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley
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Folsom Lakes Progressive hikes
The Folsom Lake Treks, Folsom, California Click on link to the detailed page
A Set of Six, Ten Mile Day Hikes  
Golden Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America

1. AUBURN DAM to RATTLESNAKE BAR
2. RATTLESNAKE BAR to GRANITE BAY
3. GRANITE BAY to BROWN'S RAVINE
4. BROWN'S RAVINE to SALMON FALLS BRIDGE
5. SALMON FALLS BRIDGE to PENINSULA CAMPGROUND
6. PENINSULA CAMPGROUND to GOOSE FLAT
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Bay Area Ridge Trail  The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a 400-mile multiple-use trail connecting parks and preserved open spaces along the ridgelines surrounding California's San Francisco Bay. More than half of the trail is complete, open to the public, and in use. http://www.ridgetrail.org/
Map of the Trail

Pacific Crest Trail Zigzagging its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America's ecozones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and artic-alpine country. http://www.pcta.org/about_trail/overview.asp

Tahoe Rim Trail This 165-mile, twenty-four inch, single-track trail is open to hiking, equestrians, and mountain biking (in most areas). The trail encompasses the ridge tops of the Lake Tahoe Basin, crossing six counties, and two states. The Tahoe Rim Trail overlaps with approximately fifty miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/index.html
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Highlander Started in 2003, the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council's Highlander program encourages youth in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing to experience the outdoor wonders. The program is a series of 14 progressive hikes with a center patch awarded with the first hike and a rocker for each hike. Patches are available for purchase at the MDSC Trading Post, or by mail order. Hikes take place from Contra Costa County to Mendocino County and range from 2 miles to 10.5 miles.
Highlander information

Yosemite Valley Falls and Walls http://www.bsa-gyc.org/

(Look under camp & hiking patches under the Camping link at the Greater Yosemite Council website.)
What better way is there to experience Yosemite than to take a walk or hike? Listed below are five day hikes originating in Yosemite Valley. Use your common sense to avoid accidents and injuries, and always remember to bring your own drinking water on hikes. Remember to stop by a park visitor center before your hike to get current trail and weather conditions, and to prepare for thee unexpected; carry food and water, rain gear, and emergency including matches and first aid supplies. It is wise to carry a flashlight in case you return after dark.

Detailed maps and hiking guides are available for purchase at park visitor centers and gift shops. Please remember that dogs and other pets, bicycles and mountain bikes, and motor vehicles are not allowed on park trails. Pets are allowed on paved paths on the floor of Yosemite Valley and must be kept on a leash at all times. Horses and mules have the right-of-way on trails. Hikers should step to the uphill side of the trail, if possible, and remain quiet while animals pass. Do not attempt to touch them.

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Last Updated April 22, 2010