Take a Hike

HIDDEN VILLA LOOP LOS ALTOS HILLS, CALIF.
(about 45 minutes south of San Francisco)
With spring often comes the urge to take to the trails. If you are in the San Francisco area, head to Hidden Villa’s 3.7-mile loop, an easy adventure for hikers of all ages. When not treking uphill to the loop’s 900-foot peak, hikers can relax on the rest of the trail, which consists of flat terrain. Maps are available at the information kiosk about .3 miles from the trailhead. Dogs are not permitted on the trails.

WEB SITE | www.hiddenvilla.org

FUMEE MOUNTAIN PATHWAY BREITUNG TOWNSHIP, MICH.
(about 10 minutes east of Iron Mountain)
If you’re up for a more challenging trek, you can hoof it over to Michigan’s Fumee Mountain Pathway, billed as the most difficult hike of the Fumee Lake Natural Area. Surrounded by the Michigan towns of Iron Mountain and Norway, as well as Niagara, Wis., the 7.2-mile Fumee Mountain Pathway includes a climb to 1,520 feet. Those that make it are thanked with fabulous views of Fumee Lake to the south and the Pine Creek Bluff Chain to the north. Public parking lots are available on both the east and west sides of the natural area.

WEB SITE | www.exploringthenorth.com/fumee/fume

LONGS PEAK TRAIL ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK ESTES PARK, COLO.
(about an hour and a half northwest of Denver)
If the two choices above sound too easy, you should head to Estes Park for some seriously challenging hikes. The advanced 15-mile Longs Peak Trail features stunning panoramic views at the top of one of Colorado’s ‘’14’ers’’ (14,000-foot-plus peaks). The 12-hour hike is meant for serious hikers only. During summer, the weather is fairly predictable; early mornings are calm, but rain and dangerous lightning can often arrive in the afternoon. It’s better to start the hike very early, so you can get to the peak and back to the car before the weather turns.

WEB SITE | www.longspeak.com

ETREX VENTURE CX

Whatever trail you decide to follow, make sure you stay safe by taking along a good GPS system like the eTrex Venture Cx by Garmin. Users can load maps and routes through the unit’s USB connection. In addition, the Cx features a highly sensitive GPS receiver that allows users to track their location in heavy foliage or deep canyons. The unit also features a waterproof case. www.garmin.com