This blog post offers students some ideas for places to go year-round if they are interested in outdoor activities like hiking and camping. I am a grad student and I have lived in several areas around southern California for ten years now. Hopefully, I can share some useful wisdom that I have accumulated spending my weekends exploring beautiful California.
During the winter and spring seasons a great destination is the desert due to the moderate climate, star-filled night skies, and endlessly fascinating geography. A popular weekend getaway from Orange County is Joshua Tree National Park. Without traffic, the drive is only about 2 hours and you’ll feel like you are in another world. There are hundreds of excellent campsites in the National Park but since the overwhelming majority are first-come, first-serve plan to get there as early as possible on Friday because any later you might have trouble finding a spot in the park. I’d even recommend arriving on Thursday if you have the flexibility. Once in the park, the ranger will provide you with a map and brochure. There are several fun hikes and vast terrain to explore. Also, if you have rock climbing gear and the appropriate skills then you probably already know all about how awesome Joshua Tree is and don’t need my advice.
During the summer and fall seasons the mountains make a great, relatively close getaway. Winter and Spring can be really nice in the mountains as well but be prepared for the chance of snow on the ground, stormy weather, and cold temperatures if you go above 4 or 5 thousand feet in elevation. Mount San Jacinto State Park is under 2 hours away from Irvine. Another adventure waiting to be had is the summit of San Jacinto Peak. John Muir wrote, “The view from San Jacinto is the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth!” And he was not lying. I was there a few months ago and you could see all the way to the ocean. There are a number of routes up to the peak, including the famed “Cactus to the Clouds” trail if you are willing and able to start in Palm Springs. There are more moderate routes up like the Marion Mountain Trial that starts in Idyllwild. You will also find nice camping in Idyllwild. Hiking the peak is strenuous and the elevation gain is great enough to cause altitude sickness in some hikers. As with any trip in the mountains, do your research before you go and prepare accordingly.
Happy adventuring!
Helpful links:
Joshua Tree
www.nps.gov/jotr/
San Jacinto
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636