Hiking & Biking near Santa Cruz Vacation Rentals

Santa Cruz vacation rentals are widely regarded as a progressive vacation residence option. Located along the Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is the preferred getaway destination for city folks from San Francisco that is just about 72-miles away. People planning a vacation in Santa Cruz county of California should also consider a Boulder Creek vacation home. Boulder Creek represents a small, peaceful community that offers premium vacationing locales. Boulder Creek attracts visitors from nearby cities like Saratoga, Morgan Hill, Pacific Grove, San Jose and Santa Clara. Like most Santa Cruz vacation rentals, Boulder Creek promises a typical, Mediterranean climate where the winters are cool and summers dry, making it feasible for vacationers to explore the outdoors.

Hiking, Biking Trails Near Santa Cruz Vacation Rentals

Among the many outdoor activities, hiking and biking have emerged as the preferred recreational options among most vacationers. The most recommended of hiking & biking locales near Boulder Creek Vacation Homes include:

1. Trails along Lone Rock Campgrounds

These campgrounds are located further-up the Antelope Lake. The first part of the route seems rather easy with green pastures and New England-type cottages welcoming the visitors. However, the path grows more strenuous as you move towards the campsites that are located near Lone Rock. These are referred to as Priority Lakeside Sites or PLs and reputedly, offer the best in outdoors camping facilities near Boulder Creek. The camping supplies are very impressive and the food is rather good considering that the trails are located at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet. The hiking routes extending along the Rolling Creek Trail are most popular and offer a medium level of difficulty though they can be demanding for first-time hikers.

2. Trails Near Boulder Creek Lakes

Boulder Creek Lakes refer to numerous pools that tend to overflow with water when the mountain snow starts melting, spilling along the nearby landscape, forming little lakes. This site is located near the Canyon Creek drainage and the trail is quite demanding. The trail can be particularly difficult during the summers since there is plenty of sunshine in this area. The trail is over 17-miles long and not recommended for families with small children.

3. Trails at Juniper Lake Campground

This trail borders along the outskirts of the Lassen Volcanic National Park. The Juniper Lake Campground is recommended for people seeking a less crowded outdoors experience. Along with the outdoor trails, fishing is highly recommended. The views along the trail are beautiful with the Lassen Peak, Saddle Mountain and Mount Harkness forming the surrounding landscape. While the campgrounds and smaller trails don't offer much difficulty, the higher reaches of the lake's trails can be quite difficult due to the steep incline.

4. Hemlock Campground Trails

Located at an elevation of more than 6,700 feet, the Hemlock trails offer many options for hiking groups. Firstly, vacationers can park their rental trailers along the sandy beach and use this as the camping site. The nearby Medicine Lake is ideal for some fishing and a quick dip. Among the popular trails at Hemlock, those extending deeper into the Modoc National Forest offer the best views with thick foliage on either side.

Vacationhomes.com offers comprehensive listings of vacation rental options. Use the site to make specific searches wherein information can be browsed for rentals grouped according to pricing, location and family visit options.

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