Tuesday, April 2       CANCELED BY LEADER 3/31/20

Hike (2B).  Sunol Regional Park (Yolano Group)

From near Sunol off I-680 we will climb Indian Joe Creek Trail past Indian Joe Cave Rocks and up to Vista Grande Overlook, where we enjoy lunch and grand views over the SF Bay and east to Mt. Diablo.  We then follow ridges and canyons down, down, down to trailhead.  The loop features diverse terrain from riparian to open oak-grassland as well as abundant wildflowers.  The loop is about 6.5 miles with about 1500 ft. elevation gain.  Bring lunch, water and essentials. No dogs.  Rain cancels. Contact leader for meeting time and place. Leader: Jim Cramer, 530-756-3973 or cramerjc@gmail.com.

Wednesday, April 3 

Hike (1A). McKeon Ponderosa Loop (Canyon Keepers Hike)

We'll make a pleasant, approx. 4-5 mile loop off of McKeon Ponderosa Trail, a not heavily used area of Auburn State Recreation Area.  We'll have an early lunch at a bench at about half way down McKeon Ponderosa and then head back up on an alternate route.  Nice, pleasant hike through both forest and open areas above the Middle Fork American River.  Bring water, lunch and essentials.  Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Burger King on Lincoln Way in Auburn at Foresthill Exit off I-80.  No dogs.  Rain cancels. Leader: Sheila Toner 530-886-0673.

Tuesday, April 9

Hike (1A).  Frog Pond, Berryessa Snow Mt. National Monument

This is a pleasant hike in the Cache Creek region that features widely varying ecosystems, ranging from riparian to chaparral to oak-grasslands. We’ll enjoy lunch beside an old ranch pond that often resounds with the croaks of large frogs.  The hike is a 5+ mile loop with about 800 ft. elevation gain. Bring lunch, water and essentials. Contact leader for meeting time and place.  No dogs. Rain cancels.  Leader: Jim Cramer, 530-756-3973 or cramerjc@gmail.com.

Wednesday, April 10

Hike (1A). South Olmstead Loop Area 

We'll make a 4 to 6-mile loop somewhere in the South side Olmstead Loop Area. The trail may be muddy if recent rain, and there may be some creek crossings.  Exact trail will be chosen based on conditions (maybe Lukens Mine Trail, or around the ponds or The Back 40 Trail).  This area always offers a nice hike through rolling oak woodland and meadows.  There are lots of options.  Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Burger King on Lincoln Way in Auburn at Foresthill Exit off I-80, or call for location in Cool if coming from El Dorado County.  Bring water, lunch and essentials. No dogs. Rain cancels.  Leader: Sheila Toner 530-886-0673.

Saturday, April 13  

Hike (2A).  Zim Zim Falls (Yolano Group)

Explore a corner of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by hiking to beautiful Zim Zim Falls. The hike is a moderate 7-mile out and back amble up pretty Zim Zim canyon to the 100 ft+ cascade. Be prepared to get your feet wet with 8 creek crossings on the way to the falls (and the same 8 on the return).  Elevation gain is about 400’. Bring water and lunch. Rain cancels.  Contact the leader for meeting time and place. Leader: Jim Cramer 530-756-3973 or cramerjc@gmail.com.  Leader Trainee Jodi Azulai jodi.azulai@gmail.com

Wednesday, April 17

Hike (1A). South Yuba State Park at Historic Bridgeport

We'll take two of the trails at South Yuba River State Park at Historic Bridgeport, west of Grass Valley. These are both beautiful trails going along the river. The wildflowers should be in bloom, so we'll go at an easy pace to enjoy them.  The Buttermilk Bend trail is an easy 2.4 miles round trip. The Point Defiance Loop trail is 3.1 miles, easy with some moderate uphill. Meet at Burger King, on Lincoln Way at Foresthill Exit off I-80 near Auburn at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot 

north of the river at the Park at 10:00 a.m. State Park fee or pass required to park. No dogs. Rain 

cancels. Leader: Chris Fox fox_chris@att.netor 916-918-9510.

Saturday, April 27 

Hike (2A).  Cache Creek Firescape (Yolano Group)

The Cache Creek/Lake County region was devastated by three major fires in summer 2015.  The Valley fire destroyed large parts of Cobb and Middletown, while the Rocky and Jerusalem fires swept through the ridges and hiking trails around Cache Creek.  This hike will explore one corner of the devastated hiking area.  We did this hike in fall 2015 and then annually in spring to witness habitat recovery. Annual photos will show the pace of recovery. The hike will climb the Judge Davis trail to ridgetop, follow ridges, and return on the Cache Creek Ridge trail. The hike is approximately 6 miles with 900’ cumulative elevation gain.  Bring lunch, water and essentials. No dogs.  Rain cancels. Contact leader for meeting time and place. Leader: Jim Cramer, 530-756-3973 or cramerjc@gmail.com.