Sporty Sunday: Hiking Deer Creek

Most of the Sierra Nevada hikes are snowed in until at least May, but there are a handful of trails (really in the foothills), that are open year-round. I plan to hike every single one.

Deer Creek in is Lassen National Forest, 40 miles from Chico. It was over a 2 hour drive from Sacramento, so we left at 5:30 a.m. (I like to hike early and hike first.)

I listened to Outlander on the long drive, so I had Scotland on the brain and this hike certainly brings that country to mind. It was all moss, striking rock formations, and Ericaceae. The main attraction is Deer Creek and the trail mostly stays within the sound and spray of the water. All in all, it was a very pleasant ramble from the trailhead to Lower Deer Creek Falls, at 1.6 miles from Hwy 32.



After the falls, the trail climbs higher up the canyon wall and is fairly dull and dry until the trail’s “end” at 2.3 miles, next to the creek, again. Lured by the description of a bridge over Deer Creek, we continued past the endpoint (on a fire road and then a footpath) and rediscovered the mossy magic along the water’s edge. The trail emptied onto a paved road (FR 27N08), which crosses the creek, as promised. The bridge made a nice turn-around point and even offered a view up (and down) the canyon.

Source: Soares, John R. and Soares, Marc J. "Deer Creek." 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California. 3rd ed. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2008. Print.

Length: 6-ish miles (4.6 miles if hiked as described in guidebook)

Water: Deer Creek and tributaries.

Use: Very light. On our way out, we passed one man and a dog. And saw another man and his dog arrive at the parking area as we were leaving. This trail seems to be popular with single hikers and their canine companions!

Differences from published description: None.

Jasper’s rating: 4 paws out of 5. He would have liked it to have been longer or steeper.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

P.S. Do you see the doggie in the first photo?