JOSHUA M. HARDT MEMORIAL TRAIL

 

Distance: 4.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 433 feet

Difficulty: Easy

39.1335° 120.7939°

If you’re looking for an easy trail, this is it. We set out for Joshua M. Hardt Memorial Trail at about 8 AM to avoid the California heat. The summers here tend to get hot so it’s always a good idea to plan these hikes early or in the evenings.

First things first, this is a great family trail. There’s a sturdy path that guides you the entire way, so it’s hard to get lost. The biggest beauty of this place is the colors. It is a vibrant trail that exudes beautiful orange-reddish fall colors (probably best to come back here during fall). There were also a lot of great swimming spots. If you have a kayak, the best spot is probably at the dead center of the lake. I’m 100% coming back here with my kayak to soak up the true beauty of this place and maybe catch some fish. Without stopping, this can easily be hiked in about 25-30 minutes. Here is my AllTrails map tracker.

CONCLUSION

Hike Score: B

Instagrammable: B

Difficulty: Easy

Crowded: Minimal

Hike Again: Yes

I’d recommend this hike for first-time hikers. There are a lot of benches set up in different spots, which makes great for picnics. There are also some accessible camp spots, but I’d double-check with Google on that to see if you need a reservation or anything.

Overall, this hike was okay. It doesn’t feel like 4 miles at all. I can see myself coming back out here.