Scott Sichler

Bend, Oregon has a deserved reputation as one of the top mountain bike destinations in the country. Unless you are from the area, you might not be familiar with nearby Sisters. Sisters is a sleepy western-themed town of 3,000 better known for it's annual rodeo and quilt festival but the locals have been quietly building a vast mountain bike trail system with the Peterson Ridge Trail as the star...

The trail starts at the end of Forest Service Road 1861 which is closed January 1st through July 15th for wildlife conservation.   This trail descends about 900 feet in elevation through a Sitka Spruce-Western Hemlock rain forest. You will cross two seasonal creeks and end at a prairie headland overlooking the Pacific Ocean with stunning views. The falls you see are Chitwood Falls which cascade...

Cascade Head on the Oregon Coast sits a top a 270 acre preserve protected by the Nature Conservancy and is a National Scenic Research Area and a United Nations Biosphere Reserve. From the south trail head at Knight Park the trail winds through an old growth coastal forest before climbing 1200 vertical feet to a wild flower filled meadow with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the Salmon Ri...

The Eye of the Alabama Hills Arch is a quick hike or drive from the popular Mobius Arch just off Movie Flat Road. The rocks around the arch offer outstanding views of the surrounding Alabama Hills and Sierra Mountains. To get to the arch follow the directions for Mobius Arch which is a great first stop. From the Mobius Arch Trailhead head east on Movie Flat road for .7 mile. Look east or to you...

If you want to enjoy a great beach and experience some excellent snorkeling, head a few miles down the dirt road south from Cabo Pulmo to Playa Arbolitos. A small entrance fee allows you to use their rustic bathroom and showers. They rent kayaks and snorkeling gear if you need it. It's also possible to camp here in a small rig or tent. Walking a little south from the beach takes you to best sno...

This slot canyon hike is found deep in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Canyon Sin Nombre. If you have a suitable 4WD vehicle you can drive about 2.2 miles to the start of the slot otherwise you can hike down the sandy unpaved road. The entrance will be on your left and marked by metal posts. The slot has several rock slides that require some scrambling. When you reach the top area you can...

The Fall River Trail follows meanders through an old growth ponderosa pine forest along the banks of the Fall River. There are several pull-out parking spots along Forest Service Road 42 but probably the easiest is to start at the Fall River Campground day-use area. The day-use area has pit toilets and picnick tables. Your dog might enjoy swimming in summer but most humans will find the spring-...

This is a short but sweet trail close to the Araby and Garstin Trails. Great views of Palm Springs and the San Jacinto Mountains. Parking area is off of Lansdale Street. From here, head down the Earl Henderson Trail and you will see where in connects with the Shannon Trail. You can choose to switch to the Shannon Trail or Continue on Earl Henderson as you continue on the loop. Notes: Carry pl...

You start outside of San Felipe, Baja California at kilometer 181 and drive on a mostly dirt roads for 33 miles to reach the trailhead. A 4x4 vehicle isn't necessarily needed but you will cross a dry lake bed and sandy sections that could be tricky. There is no cell service out here. You can find a map of the drive and the trail here. The trail starts in area of giant Cardon Cactus (Pachycereus...

Soda Creek Falls flows 150 feet down a curvy basalt rock groove at Cascadia State Park. The trail follows Soda Creek through a lush Oregon rain forest. The site was a former hotel and health spa with the mineral water from the creek as the main attraction. The park has a small campground, and picnic area. The nearby Santiam River offers swimming and fishing.  Cascadia State Park is 14 miles eas...

This 4 mile out and back hike climbs almost 900 feet on the side of the hill North of Playa El Burrro. From the beach the trail is clearly visible as it zig zags up the hill. Once you reach the top, continue right along the rocky spine of the hill for panoramic views of Bahia Concepcion and the surrounding white sand beaches. You can park at the beach or nearby Restaurant JC'S which has tasty f...

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge near Quartzsite, Arizona is a must see when visiting the area. The refuge encompasses over 600,000 acres with a large population of bighorn sheep. One of the most prominent features are the Kofa Mountains and the towering 4,877 foot Signal Peak. I followed the GPS coordinates from this site, starting at the mouth of Ten Ewe Canyon along Kofa Queen Canyon road. This...

The Museum Trail is a very steep climb with a 1,000 feet elevation gain in just one mile but has some great views of downtown Palm Springs. The hike starts behind the Palm Springs Art Museum. This trail can also access the Cactus to Clouds Trail that goes all the way to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. Hikers often require rescue on the Cactus to Clouds Trail as they may be unprepared for the almost...

The Deschutes River Trail is a must do mountain bike ride or hike in between Sunriver and Bend, Oregon. The river varies from calm water to waterfalls. The trail follows along the river and goes through pine forests, meadows, and lava flows. Most of the single track is smooth with a few more technical rocky sections.   This trail can be accessed from Meadow Day Use Area, as well as the followin...

Murray Hill is the highest point in the surrounding trail system. You can access it from Araby Trail or anyone of the others in the area. It's about 9 miles round-trip and a healthy 2,850 vertical feet gain. From the top of the Shannon Trail bear right until you reach the Wildhorse Trailhead. Go left at the trailhead. After a mile the trail will climb steeply along the ridge lines. There are p...

This hike takes you up to Bob Hope’s massive mushroom shaped house. The neighborhood also includes a house where Steve McQueen lived and the Elrod House featured in the James Bond film “Diamonds are Forever”. It’s a fairly easy hike up to Bob’s but really climbs after you pass the estate.  You can make this a fairly quick 4.5 mile out-and-back with enough vertical gain to get your heart pumpin...

Sheep Canyon is probably the most remote palm canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California. While Palm Canyon is easily accessed from the State Park campground, Sheep Canyon is on a dirt road that requires stream crossings and potentially a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.  The canyon is named for the bighorn sheep you might see if you are lucky. A primitive campground is nearby if you wan...