Hiking has always been one of the activities Bryce and I love to do together. So, when we decided to stay in Shingletown we knew we would have to look for some great trails we could do with Valerie (and the dogs if possible). Turns out there are TONS of outdoor activities and sights to see around us including some beautiful waterfalls. AND it’s worked out perfect because the friends we know here have had some great baby friendly hikes to recommend. 

The weather the first couple weeks we have been here has been a mixture of snowy and rainy with a few days of sunshine in between. That being said we haven’t gotten to get out too much yet. But now that we are some warmer days ahead we plan to get another few good hikes in.

Here are baby friendly hikes we’ve found in the area: 

1. Chamise Peak Trail (4.8 miles total)

   This was my first real hike postpartum. I have been a little nervous to go out hiking with Valerie because there are just so many unknowns. This hike was a great jump back into the outdoors and give myself a good challange. It is a decent hike length and the generally gradual incline makes the elevation climb on the way up manageable. There are lots of trees all the way up, so you have access to shade on/off. I would recommend a hat, some water, and at least a small snack or two if you wanted to do this hike. There are also plenty of benches along the way up to rest and take in the view, which is beautiful glimpses of the Sacramento River and Mount Lassen all the way up!
   My husband and I went with his friend and his kids (both of which are much older than Val). We brought the stroller with us, and while I say the hike is baby friendly I will also specify that I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s stroller friendly (unless you have a stroller meant for trails and things). We ended up leaving ours behind switched Valerie into a baby carrier. We picked the stroller back up on the way down, but I wore here until we got back to the car.  In the future, I would either make sure we had a beefier stroller, or commit to baby-wearing for the hike. 

     
    

    

2. Random Viewpoint jaunt on CA-44

   This was really nothing more than a random pull off on the highway. The road was closed to car traffic, but you could still turn off onto the road and park along the side. Then it was only a short walk to the viewpoint on foot, and the view was definitely worth it! I was expecting a view of the mountains being in this area, but this was beyond what I anticipated. It was great not to be in any rush so we could pause and take a breath (and a few photos). Sorry I can’t be more specific as to which viewpoint this was. All I know is this was on the way to Burney Falls.  
    

3. Burney falls (1.2 mile loop)(.3 miles to bottom)(350 ft to viewpoint from parking lot)

   If you are going to be anywhere close to Redding, I would HIGHLY recommend you check out Burney falls. It is just breath taking. The falls are large and seem to trickle out all the way across the wall of the falls. There are multiple spots for viewing too depending on what you might be up for. You can park and literally walk less than 500 feet to a parking lot view. Although, it’s a much better picture (and more fun in my opinion) if you can make it the .3 miles down to the bottom of the falls. Unfortunately, we were not fully prepared so we did not do the 1.2 mile loop. But if we have time, I would definitely come back. 
   This one had a paved path all the way down so you could easily bring any stroller. Hiking down to the bottom of the falls is not too steep either. Make sure to use your parking breaks though if you stop to take a quick photo of the falls on the way down! The incline is still enough to cause your stroller to take a cruise on its own. This would also be a super easy walk to carry your baby even without a stroller. (If we were to do the 1.2 mile loop I would stick to carrying Val rather than using the stroller.) On this trip we did a little of both. The stroller got us down to the bottom, then became our storage cart while I used my Didygo to carry her back up. 

    

   

4. Crystal Creek Falls (.7 miles total)
   This was another stop we made that was pretty short, and totally worth it. It is more of a short walk than a hike. The parking lot is a little tight, but after you find a spot, its just over 1/4 mile to the falls. There isn’t much elevation change to deal with either. I would definitely say this is a stroller/baby friendly walk, but because of the short distance we didn’t bother to bring the stroller. On one side of the falls there are some calm pools of water kids can play in that aren’t too deep, and theres ton’s of rocks to sunbath on. There are also picnic tables close by which could make this a good spot in the summer to come splash around with the family and have a snack.

   (picture of whiskeytown falls coming soon!)

5. Whiskeytown Falls (2.8 miles total) (This is the next spot!)(Check back soon!)

(Here are some of the other gorgeous falls you can see in the Shasta area. I will let you know which ones we make it to check out while we are here!) If you are going to be in Shingletown proper, check out what we found worth checking out in town here!)