Burney Falls and Mount Shasta: Two Jewels in the Crown of Northern California

Burney Falls, CA 2023 Trip

Burney Falls is located 63 miles northeast of Redding, CA. It is a scenic drive through the hills of northern CA.  I arrived on July 4th and it was 90+ degrees in the parking lot.  The beauty of the falls is unique and breathtaking.  It’s like an oasis, in that, as you walk to the bottom of the falls, the temperature drops about 20 degrees. To give you some perspective, Burney Falls is 130 feet from top to bottom whereas Niagara Falls is 167 feet.  Parking can be difficult as this park gets a lot of traffic.  Patience is the key because as soon as it seems like you will never get a spot, there will be 5-10 openings 30 minutes later.  The falls were especially strong this year due to record snowfall in northern CA.  Check out the videos to see how fast the water runs.

Someone left their fanny pack and water bottle on the rocks near the falls and a squirrel was doing his best to find some snacks. 

2019 Trip

I visited Burney in 2019 but it was raining heavily that day but the hike through the woods and the sunset a few miles down the road were very satisfying. 

The sunset down the road from Burney was amazing.

Mt Shasta, CA

Mt Shasta is 61 miles north of Redding, CA just east of Route 5.  You literally can’t miss the mountain because it dwarfs everything around it.  It frequently has a snow cap, even through the summer.  I was there at the beginning of July and you can clearly see there is no shortage of snow.  The peak is at 14,179 feet and it is part of the Cascade Range.

There are areas around Mt Shasta that were burned extensively by the 2021 Dixie Fire. The area is recovering and you can see plenty of green areas overtaking the burnt remains.

Click the links below for more information about Burney Falls an Mt Shasta:

Burney Falls Link

Mt Shasta Link

Have you visited these landmarks? What were your thoughts when you were there?

Whale Watching

In the heart of Newport Beach (where there is very little parking), you can take a 2-hour tour (said in the Gilligan’s Island narrative voice) a few miles off the coast and see various types of whales.  The time of year will dictate what types of whales you might see in this area.  I went on this excursion on Saturday January 19th.  It was a beautiful 75-degree day with barely a cloud in the sky. 

A nice day to paddle your way around the shoreline.

Pretty cool to see snow-capped mountains while cruising on the ocean.

We were told by the boat’s captain that there were a few Gray Whales in the area and we should have a reasonable chance to see them.  These whales migrate at a top speed of 3 miles per hour from Alaska to Baja Mexico.  He also mentioned that the whales lose a considerable amount of weight because they do not feed while migrating.  We met up with two smaller boats that were staking out an area.  Approximately 10 minutes after we arrived, we saw some water spouts so we knew they were near the surface.  Shortly thereafter, we were able to see one of the whales breach the water and two tails flip over.  And that, folks, was the extent of our experience.  LOL.  After about 20 minutes, the captain told us that whales can go under water and hold their breath for 20 minutes.  We waited a while longer but did not see them again.  The captain then took us to some other locations but we were not able to see more whales.  We did to see some sea lions who were laying on each other on a buoy.  We then made our journey back to the dock.  I took many pictures so I hope you enjoy them. 

I like the following sequence of photos. Check out the changing ripples of water with various shades of light hitting them as the sun begins to set.

Same situation here. This is a closeup of the waves and foam from the ship’s engine.

Check out the color and shading of the sun on the water on the next couple of pictures. The water looks like it is on fire.

I’m not sure who this guy is but he is extremely tall. Either he or the woman or both were flown in on the helicopter and joined the party on-board.

For more information about Gray Whales, click the link below.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/gray-whale/

Red Canyon: Dixie National Forest, Utah

Just 14 miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park on Route 12, Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest gives a glimpse of what is to come at the grand national park down the road.  It is like a little brother that lives in the shadow of his big brother who gets all the accolades.  Red Canyon is perfect for sunsets and moon rises.  The orange sandstone and the green pine trees glow in the setting sun.  The moon ascends from behind the park and functions as the icing on the cake. 

There are trails to hike and a campground if you prefer to stay the night.  When covered in snow, the trails can be navigated with snowshoes or cross-country skis.  One of the more photographed areas of the park are the tunnels.  The tunnels are currently undergoing construction so be careful when driving through the area.  Oh, and watch for passing vehicles if you insist on taking pictures of them while standing on or at the side of the road. 

Framed by the blue sky, wispy clouds or none at all, this smaller version of Bryce Canyon is never ignored, but is less crowded than its larger brother to the east.  If you visit Bryce Canyon, take the leisurely drive to Red Canyon.  It’s only another 10 miles to the small town of Panguitch or an hour to the gorgeous Zion National Park. 

For more information on Red Canyon click on the link below.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dixie/recarea/?recid=24942

Route 395: Round Valley to Mono Lake

The end of the journey.  When you plan a trip, the anticipation can sometimes be overwhelming.  Maybe you can’t sleep for a night or two.  Maybe you get anxious and worry that you will forget something.  You get that feeling that you just want to hit the road and get it underway.  But all too soon, it ends.  All of that excitement and the high expectations are either satisfied or disappointment sets because the trip did not meet your expectations.  That didn’t happen with this trip.  The only minor disappointment was that some of the roads were closed so I couldn’t reach certain mountain peaks or lakes. 

This is a gorgeous area of the country.  So many people sing the praises of the Pacific Coast Highway with the ocean waves crashing onto hundreds of miles of beaches or cliffs.  I challenge them to take this drive on Route 395 through the heart of California.  I know that even though this area has been neglected of fanfare and tourist attention, it is no less satisfying than any other road trip through California.

When I arrived at Convict Lake, I sent a text with a picture to my sister and said that I thought this might be the most beautiful place I had ever visited.  About an hour later, I sent her another text from June Lake saying that this might be the most beautiful place I had ever visited.  It’s impossible to select just one location in this journey and say that THIS is clearly the most beautiful location.  This is the conundrum of the Midlife Crisis Traveler.  The more you travel, the more impossible it is to nail down a place or even a top 10 list of places that are your favorite.  Oh, what a problem to have!

June Lake has its own beach.  I know that I will have to return during the summer months when residents and visitors sit in the sand and watch the sun set behind the mountains.  They call Montana Big Sky Country.  I can’t imagine the sky being any more impressive than in the 395 Valley.  It provides the icing on the landscape cake. 

I ended my excursion at Mono Lake.  The Tufa’s are explained in the picture below.  Many of them are visible above the water line.  It gives the area a sort of prehistoric look. 

A short drive from Mono Lake is the Tioga Road which runs through Yosemite National Park.  Unfortunately, the road closes during the winter months and was still closed when I visited in early April. I will return at some point to drive the rest of the Route 395 trail through Nevada and California. 

Route 395: Bishop, CA

Bishop California is a small town nestled between the Sierra Nevada and White Mountain Ranges.  You can’t miss it because Route 395 slithers its way right through the middle of it.  I-395 starts in Hesperia CA and ends at a spot just over the Canadian border.  It is a drive that I highly recommend.  This documentation only covers the California portion of the highway and the glorious journey through the town of Bishop.  I took hundreds of pictures on the highways, back roads and scenic overlooks surrounding Bishop.  It is a photographer’s dream location. 

Not only is the scenery spectacular but if you are an active person who loves the great outdoors, this is a paradise for you.  Fishing, camping, hiking, cross country skiing, golfing, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking and mountain climbing are right outside your front door.  Some of the best downhill skiing in California is right up the road at Mammoth Mountain.  Mt Whitney, the tallest peak in the 48 US states is nearby as well.  Mountain climbers from countries around the globe love the challenge that Whitney poses.  The Bristlecone Pine Forest is about a 30 minute ride into the White Mountains.  These trees are the oldest living organisms in the world.    

Below is what a minor water leak can do during the winter, LOL.  Not sure if you can see it but a fine mist isspewing upward just left of the pipe located on the right side of the picture.  

Memorial Day weekend brings the Mule Days Festival.  This year is the 49th annual event.  There is also a food festival sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce that is very inexpensive and offer delicacies from local restaurants. 

The pictures below were taken from the Sierra View Overlook in the Bristlecone Pine Forest.  This is one of the best views in the area.

For more information about the Bishop, CA area, click on the links below.

https://www.bishopvisitor.com/

Route 395: Manzanar

Manzanar was a World War II Japanese Internment Camp located on Route 395 between Lone Pine and Independence California.  I had the opportunity to spend some time in the visitor’s center and took many pictures.  I also watched the video that I posted below.  Please watch the video as it tells many stories of these poor people who had everything taken from them just because of their ancestry.  Although this is a beautiful area, the climate can be difficult.  The living quarters were hastily slapped together and did not always shield the inhabitants from the harsh elements.  Over 11,000 Japanese Americans were processed through Manzanar. 

This is a model of what the camp used to look like.  Only a few buildings remain.

This is a list of all the people who lived at Manzanar.

Eight people were assigned to each living area which measured 20x25 feet. 

This is the Manzanar cemetery.  135 people died at Manzanar, 28 were buried in Manzanar's cemetery. 

For more information about Manzanar, click the link below to visit their website.

https://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm

Route 395: Lone Pine and Mount Whitney

Route 395 must suffer the fate of the middle child.  On one side, you have two of the most legendary sites in the US National Park system in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.  On the other, you have one of the largest parks in the National Park system that has the lowest point in North America.  Yosemite is quite possibly the most photographed location in the United States.  Tunnel view, Yosemite Valley and places like Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne Meadow and Tenaya Lake on the Tioga Road are a photographer’s idea of heaven on earth.  Sequoia National Park boasts the largest trees on earth that can live over 3000 years. 

Death Valley National Park contains Badwater Basin which is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level.  It is the hottest, driest and lowest National Park.  The hottest temperature in world history, 134 degrees, was recorded at (fittingly named) Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913.  Death Valley NP is a massive 3.4 million acres and contains everything from mountains to sand dunes to caves and even snow in the winter. 

Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.

With these two areas containing such marvels, what is left for the Route 395 corridor?  The view.  The view from this valley is better than what you will see if you are in Yosemite and Sequoia NP’s.  The eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains is the best view for these scenic wonders.  There is a collection of lakes cradled in the nooks of these majestic mountains.  I’ve driven this road in the summer and winter.  I highly recommend a trip during the winter months through this area.  The snow and ice accentuate the crags in the mountains.  Millions of years of abuse by the wind, rain, snow and ice have left these mountains with scars of beauty.  Roads snake their way through the foothills and make an ascent to the top rather manageable.  Warning: if you want to climb Mount Whitney, which is the highest peak in the lower 48 states, you must get a permit. 

There are dozens of campgrounds which are either at the base or located partially up the mountainsides.  If travelling during the winter and early spring months, be careful of rock slides and debris on the road.  As the snow and ice start to melt, it dislodges rocks and dirt which create rockslides which can cause damage to people, cars and the roads.  Many of the roads and campgrounds partially up the mountains are closed during the winter but you can still drive a considerable way before a gate will block the road.  Make sure that you don’t go too far off the beaten path.  Some roads might only consist of dirt and gravel.  There are few visitors to some of these areas during the winter so, if you get stuck, you could get yourself in deep trouble.  Always be safe out there. 

The Alabama Hills are at the foot of the Whitney Portal Road.  Collections of huge rocks have settled here and provide a unique scenery.  There are roads that twist and turn through the rock formations.  Shadows fall between the precarious round curves and sharp edges of the rocks.  They form a fascinating welcome mat to the gorgeous mountains that stare down at them.  I wonder what they say to each other when we are not around?

Have you visited Mount Whitney?  What was your experience like?  Click the link below for more information about Mount Whitney.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/whitney.htm

Route 395: Red Rock State Park to Lone Pine

A couple of years ago, I decided to drive through Yosemite National Park on the Tioga Road (which is only open during the summer) and drive south on Route 395.  Looking at the map to prepare for my trip made me think that this could be a very scenic drive.  On my right were the Sierra Nevada mountains which were seeing pockets of rain showers, clouds and fog covering various peaks.  It made for some breathtaking photos even though my Ipad was not the best camera to capture the moment.  I vowed to return in the winter to see if the snow and ice would showcase the jagged edges of the mountains more dramatically.  I was not disappointed. 

This time, I decided to start driving from the south.  My journey began with Red Rock Canyon State Park.  This is a small park which offers camping spots for tents and RV’s.  It is a beautiful location and has two main areas of interest with Route 14 splitting these areas in half.  Route 14 merges with Route 395 if you drive north about 20 miles.  At that intersection, you start to see the Sierra Nevada mountains on your left and the mountains of Death Valley National Park on your right.  Although the drive to Lone Pine shouldn’t take very long, your urge to stop and take hundreds of pictures of the various angles of the mountains will keep you moving at a snail’s pace.  It’s worth every second. 

After an early blue sky day, snow clouds moved in and began to dust the Sierra Nevada mountains at various areas in the range.  

Off to the right, Owens Lake will appear.  If during the winter and early spring, there might be a fog cloud over the water. 

Finally, at Lone Pine, your breath will officially be taken away.  The landscape just got serious.  Mount Whitney is an impressive sight to see.  It is the highest point in the lower 48 states and is accompanied by jagged peaks on its flank.  Lone Pine is the kind of place that you aren’t sure where to look because you are surrounded by such impressive mountains to the east and west.  But this is just the first leg of the journey.  There are many winding roads, partially frozen lakes and massive mountains to come. 

Have you driven through the Owens Valley?  What was your experience like?  What is your favorite location?  For more information about Red Rock Canyon State Park, click the link below.

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=631

Monument Valley

Driving south on Route 191 from Moab, UT and the spectacular Canyonland and Arches National Parks is a continuation of beautiful landscapes.  There are few people on these roads and just a few small towns on the way to Monument Valley.  Sacred Native American lands run through these areas and provide centuries of history. 

Monument Valley is a majestic destination.  It has wide open expanses and imposing rock formations.  Blue skies, high puffy clouds and red sandstone provide a contrast that leaves one breathless.  Simple photographs of the rocks are transformed as sunlight plays peek-a-boo with the clouds.  The face of the mountain can be cloudy like a frown on an unhappy baby.  Within seconds, that frown is replaced with a sunbeam laden, ear-to-ear smile.  It completely transforms the scene. 

At the end of the day, the sunlight struggles to lay claim to the land it has warmed for hours.  It scrambles and scrapes for traction despite the earth’s turning its back on the light.  The final stages of struggle are punctuated with the reds, oranges and yellows of the failing sun.  Revenge will have to wait until early morning.