Elevation Gain: 1,957 ft (8,500 ft at the trailhead to 10,457 ft at the peak)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, depending on your fitness level and altitude acclimation.
(LVNP rates it as strenuous and suggests 4-5 hours. It took us 2 hours – the threat of a storm kept us on pace.)
When it’s your last day in LVNP, and you haven’t “bagged” Lassen Peak yet, you make a run for it. And so we did. Actually, it was more of a fast walk than a trot, but a steady pace to try and outpace a looming monsoon. Mission accomplished. This was a fun hike and a solid workout. In my opinion, the trail is runnable – mostly smooth gravel with some short rocky sections. It’s a moderate, though consistent, incline with sweeping switchbacks. (Unfortunately, my knees no longer sanction running, so I have to settle for brisk walking.)
Since we had just hiked the Ridge Lakes Trail with 1k of elevation gain, we were warmed up for the climb. If you’re just hopping out of the car, you may want to take a little stretch band stroll before you hop on the “hill”.
The immediate scenery is a bit stark, but the panoramic views are splendid.
If you’re rolling into Capitol Reef at sunset or wrapping up a day of hiking but still have some energy left, the Chimney Rock Trail is a short, sweet hike that offers stunning panoramic sunset views. If you’re really short on time, you can take the official sunset “hike” in the park, Sunset Point Overlook—an easy half-mile trail that offers similar breathtaking vistas.
Chasing sunsets on the trails and yoga pose photobombing are two of my favorite things! What silly things do you do to express your exuberance in the wild?
Wizard Island, named for its resemblance to a wizard’s hat, is a striking volcanic cinder cone rising from the western side of Crater Lake in Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park. It was formed over 7,700 years ago during the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Mazama.
Exploring Wizard Island is one of the most unforgettable ways to experience Crater Lake up close — from its pristine shoreline to the sweeping panoramic views from the rim. It’s easily one of the top highlights of the entire park. I’m so glad my friend insisted we make the boat trip out there!
Unfortunately, the Cleetwood Cove Trail — the only public access point to the water at Crater Lake — is now closed for the 2025 season and may remain closed for up to three years due to a major rehabilitation project. As a result, boat tours to Wizard Island are suspended until the trail reopens.
I was lucky enough to visit Crater National Park this past August, just before the closure. The excursion to Wizard Island was, without a doubt, the highlight of my trip there. While I enjoyed a few beautiful hikes in the Park (posts coming soon), it was on Wizard Island that I truly felt the spellbinding magic of Crater Lake. The colors are spectacular—the many blues of the water and the neon green of the moss and trees are surreal.
What truly made the visit unforgettable was standing on Wizard Island, surrounded by mesmerizing views of Crater Lake, and then immersing myself in the deepest, bluest, purest lake in the country (in the refreshing summer temps of ~57 F)—priceless.
Cleetwood Cove Trail
Distance: 2.2 miles RT
Elevation Gain: ~700 ft on the return (comparable to 65 flights of stairs)
Difficulty: NPS lists this hike as “steep and strenuous”, AllTrails lists it as “moderate” – it depends on your fitness level and altitude sensitivity. (It’s easy footing, and runnable though the pumice surface can be slippery.) I’d rate it easy++.
To the Top of the Wizard’s “Hat” (Cindercone Rim) & Lower Cove area, Wizard Island
Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 798 ft
Is Crater Lake National Park Worth Visiting If You Can’t Get To Wizard Island?
Knowing what I know now, would I visit Crater Lake if I couldn’t get to Wizard Island? Probably not. While the hike samplers I took in the park (posts to come) were wonderful, I don’t find them compelling enough to warrant a special trip here. Disclaimer: I would never discourage a visit to a national park if you’re in the area, but if you need help deciding when and where to go, and what to prioritize, this might be helpful. Also, if you feel Crater Lake is absolutely worth it, even if you can’t get to Wizard Island, comment below to let people know.
Notes: Boat reservations to Wizard Island must be made in advance. Since it’s likely the park will have a new system in place when the trail and boat excursions reopen, here’s a direct link to CLNP.
Swimming is only allowed within 100 yards of Cleetwood Cove and within 100 yards of Wizard Island. To keep the water pristine, the following items are not allowed: scuba and snorkeling gear, wet suits, masks, goggles, fins, inner tubes, kayaks, canoes, inflatable rafts, SUPs, flotation devices, personal life jackets or vests, waders, and personal boats.
Pro tip (wink): Apparently, it’s a “thing” to wear a Wizard’s hat to Wizard Island. There’s plenty of time for you to find one before it reopens if you’re so inclined. (No, I didn’t wear one.)
Biking day 4 withTop Bike Tours Portugalwas tops in my book, yet again. The day began with a steep, mist-shrouded climb up a slick cobblestone street to the ruins of the 12th-century Castle de Aljezur.
If you’re wondering what it’s like to ride straight uphill on damp, sandy cobblestones—it’s no joke. Especially if you’re not clipped in or riding an e-bike. I now have a whole new respect for the Tour de France riders.
This was one of only two hills that got the best of me on this trip (both cobblestone), not a bad record considering how many steep hills we encountered, my knee issues, and being unclipped. I made it about a third of the way, just behind one e-biker and one clipped-in cyclist. Then my tire slipped. I lost traction and had to surrender to the dreaded walk of shame for the final climb portion. Sigh. How steep and slippery was it? Let’s put it this way, many of our e-bikers ended up walking it too.
The ruins were interesting and the view from the top was lovely—lush green fields stretching out below, and the white-washed village of Aljezur nestled peacefully in the valley.
Fortunately, our route didn’t take us back down that treacherous cobblestone. Descending the same way would’ve been an entirely different kind of adventure.
We went from that crazy cobblestone climb to cruising sweet, less-traveled, wide, paved roads down to the coast, stopping for coffee and snacks in a small surf village.
After pedaling through the charming village of Arrifana, we followed a pristine gravel path that wound through a quiet forest and eventually opened to the stunning coast. Our lunch spot awaited us on a seaside cliff, perched above the ruins of an ancient Islamic fishing village dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.
Our lunch times were drifting later and later into the afternoons. To emphasize the freshness of the day’s catch, our waiter brought “a portion” of it straight to the table—huge half fish in hand. Famished, I went all in on a decadent seafood pasta, which I devoured almost as quickly as it arrived.
Much to my delight, our next stop was a surf beach in Carrapateira. Even though we only had half an hour to play in the waves—and it had been years since I last surfed—I couldn’t resist. I rented a wetsuit and a board and jumped right in, and managed to get up on my first wave. Yes, I was a bit of a “kook” after all these years, but I had a blast, and the water wasn’t nearly as cold as I’d expected.
With 30 miles covered, we still had 8 cross-country miles to go before reaching our lodging for the night.
Saving the best for last, we charged along winding singletrack, through wildflower-strewn fields and splashy water crossings—an exhilarating finish to the day. Our reward? Cozy countryside accommodations and a well-earned dinner at the “Inn’s” welcoming restaurant.
What a day! Any portion of it would have been incredible on its own — but packing all that fun into a single day? Next level. From exploring castle ruins and cruising through coastal villages to riding cross-country through quiet forest trails, enjoying a decadent seaside lunch above ancient ruins, sneaking in an afternoon surf session, and capping it all off with a sunset mountain bike style ride through the countryside, followed by a fantastic dinner — oh my! Top Bike Tours Portugal delivers one epic day after another!
Castle Lake to Heart Lake, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Mt. Shasta City, CA
Distance: <2.5 RT
Elevation Gain: ~680 ft
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on your fitness level and sensitivity to altitude (5k-6k ft)
I discovered another gem of a hike in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, some have called it one of the premier hikes in the region. I guess I know how to pick them. It’s easy on effort and short on distance, but long on rewards. Especially if you’re into alpine lakes, reflection shots, and great views of Mt. Shasta, Black Butte, and Mount McLoughlin.
The single-track trail winds through a few rocky stretches, gradually climbing to captivating Heart Lake at an elevation of 6,050 ft, where you’ll be dazzled by the reflections.
If you have more time than I did, you can take dip in any of the lakes, hike the spur trail to Little Castle Lake (add 2 miles RT and a steep 250 ft climb) or continue to Mount Bradley (add 8 miles RT).
(I had less than 2 hours to sneak in a hike before dashing to the airport, so I wanted to make the most of it. Mission accomplished with this lovely hike that I paired with the super shortie hike just down the road on the way back to town—enchanting Faery Falls.)
On the Loose Live 