Hidden Falls Regional Park

This weekend, I discovered Hidden Falls Regional Park, which is tucked away on the outskirts of Auburn. My son and I collected our young cousins that live in the area for an afternoon of hiking and exploring. The weather couldn't have been better and we all had a wonderful time.

The park features seven miles of trails which are suitable for hiking, running, biking or horseback riding. There are also two creeks, groves of blue oak woodlands and a year round waterfall. We were going to do a full loop of the park, from the "Seven Pools" to the waterfalls, but ran short on daylight, and after about two hours, had only covered half of the park. We trekked a combination of the Poppy and Blue Oak Loops, and the Seven Pools Vista Trail. Not knowing what to expect, we were quite pleasantly surprised to come out of the woods onto the edge of a ridge looking down into a valley at the Seven Pools. The trails we chose were rated 'Moderate' to 'Difficult', and my companions, aged 7 to 11, made it through the hike fairly easily with a few rest stops. We plan to go back soon to discover the 'Pond Turtle Trail', which was recommended by a local we met on the trail for it's cool pools to dip your feet in, and the falls, of course.

Spring is a perfect time to visit - it isn't too hot and you don't have to worry about mosquitoes! This could be a great place for a family hike, picnic or outing. More information about Hidden Falls Regional Park can be found here.