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Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• Lodi too small for two Tigers?

• Nationwide, pet obesity is on the rise — Lodi is no exception

• Richard Prima, public works chief, calls it a career after 3 decades

• Probation violated? Lodi man arrested after a hate-crime charge was tossed

• State approves $49.4 million for Highway 12 makeover

• Regional Roundup

November 21st, 2009

• Logbook

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

• Regional Roundup

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Chase ends in crash

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

November 17th, 2009

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clarification

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Regional Roundup

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (169)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (73)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (50)
• Public health care is a Christian option (38)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (20)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (17)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

ADVERTISEMENT

The call of the falls

With perfect Springtime weather and sunny weekends upon us, it is time to lace up the hiking books, grab the trail mix and get outdoors to where the water flows. Whether hiking to California's tallest waterfall in Yosemite, or biking along cascades in Oroville, it is the peak season to explore the gushing and trickling waterfalls that are closer to Lodi than you may think.

Best of California

Yosemite Falls (upper and lower)

Drive from Lodi: About three hours

Where: Yosemite Village, Yosemite National Park

The drop: 2,425 feet (from the top of the upper falls to the base of the lower falls).

Season: March through July

Difficulty: Easy or Very strenuous

With a total height of 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls in Yosemite is the tallest known waterfall in California, and the sixth highest in the world. Yosemite Falls consists of three sections: The Upper Falls, the cascades and Lower Falls. The final 320-foot drop of the Lower Falls flows into the Merced River.

Getting here: The trail entrance is located at Sunnyside walk-in campground on Northside Drive.

Second largest waterfall in California

Snow Mountain Falls

Drive from Lodi:

Where: Near Soda Springs, Tahoe National Forest in Placer County

The drop: About 2,200 feet

Season: June through August

Difficulty: Very strenuous

At 2,200 feet, Snow Mountain Falls is the second largest highest known waterfall in California, after Yosemite Falls. According to Leon Turnball, who photographs waterfalls (http://www.WaterFallsWest.com), East Snow Mountain Falls is a very long day hike, and very steep. To get to the falls, he says you must hike seven miles along the Palisade Creek Trail from Cascade Lakes on the North Fork American River. Dogs are allowed

Getting here: Take the Soda Springs Exit off Highway 80. Turn right on Pahatsi Road. Turn right on Palisade Creek trailhead and drive 4 miles. (Pahatsi Rd. becomes Kidd Lakes Road). Along this rough dirt road, you will reach a fork at 1.5 miles. Keep to the right, passing Kidd Lake on the left. Just past the Royal Gorge warming hut is a fork. Turn left here, and continue another half-mile to the trailhead. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for this road. Dogs are allowed.

Best family hike Codfish Creek Falls

Drive from Lodi: Just over an hour

Where: Weimar, Auburn State Recreation Area in Placer County

The drop: 800 feet

Season: March through September

Difficulty: Easy

Along the North Fork of the American River is Codfish Falls, near the Ponderosa Road Bridge. There is a 4-mile hike that features scenic views of the rive, wildflowers and the waterfall. The trail is suitable for families with closely supervised children. The trail is narrow in some areas and the drop is steep. Dogs are allowed.

Waterfall enthusiast, who has documented his hikes at http://www.WaterFallsWest.com, says the waterfall gets the morning sun, and is shady in the afternoon.

Getting here: Along Highway 80 at Weimar, at the Weimar Cross Road exit, turn right onto Ponderosa Way. For 6 miles, drive south until you reach the bridge crossing the American River. A trail leads downstream.

(Marc Lutz/News-Sentinel)

Best after it rains

Donner Creek Falls

Drive from Lodi: About two hours

Where: Mt. Diablo State Park, near Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County

The drop: About 40 feet

Season: December through May

Difficulty: Moderate

Cascading down four different tiers, Donner Creek Falls (also Diablo Falls) is best during the winter months after a good rains.

Getting here: From Highway 680 in Contra Costa County, exit Ygnacio Valley Road. Drive east on Ygnacio Valley Road about seven miles, then turn right on Clayton Road. Drive south on Clayton Road (which becomes Marsh Creek Road in Clayton) about three miles, and turn right on Regency Road (this road is easy to miss — begin looking for it after you pass the junction with Marsh Creek Road). Drive to the trailhead at the end of the road.

Best if you're up for a challenge

New York Canyon Falls

Drive from Lodi: About an hour and a half

Where: Near Foresthill, Tahoe National Forest, Placer County

The drop: About 500 feet

Season: May and June

Difficulty: Very strenuous

To get to New York Canyon Falls, you'll have to hike a very remote and inaccessible canyon of the North Fork American River. There are no trails available, but dogs are allowed.

Getting here: From Highway 80 at Auburn, take Foresthill/Auburn Ravine exit, and drive 17 miles to Foresthill. Continue on Foresthill Divide Road 16 miles past Foresthill to the Mumford Bar trailhead.

Best if you want to take your bike

Feather Falls

Drive from Lodi: About two hours

Where: Near Oroville, Feather Falls Scenic Area, Plumas National Forest in Butte County

The drop: 640 feet

Season: Year round

Difficulty: Moderate

At 640 feet high, Feather Falls is one of the highest falls in California. It is best to visit Feather Falls early in the day because it is popular and the trails can get crowded with hikers and bikers.

There is a path that leads to the top of Feather Falls, where you can look down from the brink. There are also swimming holes at the top of the falls, for later in the summer. Dogs are allowed.

If you bike, you may want to use the newer 4.5 mile trail. Dogs are allowed, but keep them close because there are rattlesnakes.

Getting here: From Oroville, take Highway 162 East about 7 miles until you turn right on Forbestown Road Make a left on Lumpkin Road and another left at the Feather Falls sign.

The Mist List

Other waterfalls that are only a drive away:

Knickerbocker Creek Falls near Auburn

Drive from Lodi: Just over an hour

Height: 514 feet

Extra: Best seen after a lot of rain

Grouse Falls near Foresthill

Drive from Lodi: About an hour and a half

Height: About 600 feet

Extra: Great for walking or biking

Shingle Falls near Marysville

Drive from Lodi: About two hours

Height: 350 feet

Extra: Easy trail for everyone.

Grizzly Falls near Fresno

Drive from Lodi: About two hours

Height: 20 feet

Extra: Great for hiking with the dogs.

Morgan Falls near Morgan Hill

Drive from Lodi: About two hours

Height: About 25 feet

Extra: Often overlooked because there is no signage.

Brooks Falls in Pacifica (near San Francisco)

Drive from Lodi: About two hours

Height: About 207 feet

Extra: Small waterfall

Source: http://www.WaterfallsWest.com

Want to find out more about discovering California's waterfalls, visit these online resources: http://www.WaterfallsWest.com http://www.Parc-Auburn.org http://www.World-Waterfalls.com http://www.TotalEscape.com http://www.MountainTravelGuide.com http://www.LocalHikes.com http://www.MDIA.org