Anywhere You Can Find It
            Stand at the window and watch clouds float across the sky. Crack the window for fresh air, and listen to birdsongs that waft in. Step out the front door and water the flowers.
            Even a small, comforting dose of nature can make a huge positive difference in how we feel mentally and physically.
            I love nothing more than taking a five-mile hike on Mt. Tam in Marin County, but that means finding the time, coordinating with hiking partners, driving, and hoping to find a parking spot at a trailhead. It also means having the mobility, coordination and energy to do the hike itself.
            Time, energy, transportation, and the physical capacity to do even a moderate hike are luxuries for many. As I get older, I recognize an increasing array of reasons why people may not be able to easily get out to reap the benefits of spending time in nature.
            An eternal optimist, in my dad’s final years when he barely left his big chair in front of the TV, my heart was lifted by seeing that he still had a great view out of the picture window, where he could see grass, trees, birds, and even an occasional deer walking through the yard.
            There are countless reasons for a big outdoor adventure to be out of reach, but I always argue that stopping to notice the flower growing through the crack in the sidewalk counts. Watching a spider build a web outside your window counts. Sitting near an open door to look outside and feel the breeze blow across your cheek counts.
            On many days, I have barely a minute to spend outdoors. There is never a day, though, that I don’t step out on my front porch to look at the sky and water the flowers. At the moment, a vibrant display of petunias and lobelia are bursting with color on my porch. They clear my head and lift my heart every day.
            Find that little dose of nature anywhere you can find it, whether at a park close to home, a view from a window or door, or looking at nature photos or videos. Keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives is: Sutro Heights, a hidden treasure of a park that feels like my own backyard at the western edge of San Francisco, featuring views of Ocean Beach, Seal Rocks, and lovely flowers woven into the edge of the ruins of a historic mansion.
 
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 125: Sutro Heights

Classic Beauty
            Roses bend under the burden of their grand reputation. Reputed to be difficult to grow, they are the prize exhibit in many gardens. Roses are the symbolic choice for romantic gifts: buy a dozen long-stemmed roses on Valentine’s Day and pay a king’s ransom.
            They appear in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” and most of us have been advised to “Stop and smell the roses!” many times over the years.
            Can a good thing be praised so much that it becomes tired and trite? Roses are a likely candidate.
            We gave that theory a test by visiting the Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park recently. Pink, yellow, apricot, lavender, creamy white, bright red, dream-like blends of yellow, orange and pink all in one flower—there were colors we have no name for. Roses do indeed deserve appreciation. 
            May we stop to smell whatever flower falls in our path, and be grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a quiet moment with something beautiful.
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Rose Garden-Golden Gate Park, brings readers to a special feature area in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park that displays a stunning array of roses.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
 
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 108: Rose Garden-Golden Gate Park

Shifting Directions
            We start our hikes having a general plan, but know we may have to adjust as we go along. Maps aren’t always accurate, and online information isn’t always correct. Recently, we drove to San Rafael, excited to check out the China Camp Visitor Center which we’ve had on our radar for a couple of years. We arrived only to find that it has been closed since the pandemic. Fortunately, there is a great visit site nearby at China Camp Beach and Village.
            The other part of our plan for that outing was to hike the Oak Ridge Trail to the Bay View Trail and check out the views from there. Due to some confusion between the trail map and trail markers, we ended up on a fire road that made a steep climb to a peak with great views.
            My sense of direction, even supported by a map and trail signs, had failed me to some degree. I got to a great vista spot but on a different trail. Readers who missed it can check out my recent guest essay on The Renaissance Garden Guy, called “Our Sense of Direction.” It deals with how our ability to navigate from one place to another evolves as we age and also as technology changes.
            Have you ever ended up somewhere that was just as satisfying as you’d hoped, even though it wasn’t actually your original destination? Go with the flow and keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes, China Camp-Oak Ridge-McNears Fire Trail Hike, leads readers on a relatively short hike that includes a steep climb to a peak that offers views including San Pablo Bay, Mount Diablo, and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
 China Camp-Oak Ridge-McNears Fire Trail Hike
New this week:
Hike Notes 220: China Camp-Oak Ridge-McNears Fire Trail Hike

Just Ducky
            Though my mom used to say it sarcastically as in, “Well that’s just ducky!” when something went wrong, “Just ducky!” can be taken with the straight meaning of something pleasing or delightful.
            There’s something about the last week of May, when kids are about to finish school and stand on the precipice of summer break, that feels exciting and full of promise. I imagine the open possibilities of visiting someplace beautiful and uplifting enough to temporarily make me forget whatever I’m stressed about at the moment.
            Countless nature sites fit that description, but one that popped into my mind this week was lovely Lake Lagunitas. I love all five lakes in the Marin Watershed, and Lake Lagunitas offers the easiest loop walk.
            I take so many photos on every hike, from broad landscape shots to closeups of wildflowers, that it’s hard to choose a representative image for any given place. When I skimmed through my Lake Lagunitas photos, I was drawn to this duck photo, and sure enough, the thought, “That’s just ducky!” came to mind.
            There are so many things to worry about in our personal lives and in the news that stumbling onto something simple that brings a smile is a priceless treasure.
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives is: Lake Lagunitas Loop, a family friendly two-mile loop around a lovely lake in the Marin Watershed.
            May we all take the opportunity to stop and enjoy a sight, smell or sound that brings a smile, and temporarily keeps darker thoughts at bay. Keep putting one foot forward!
 
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 15: Lake Lagunitas Loop

Making His Way
            It’s graduation season. This year we have friends whose children are graduating from preschool, from elementary school, and middle school. It feels like not so long ago that my sons were graduating from high school, and our older son from college.
            Early life is a series of passages onto the next higher level of education, and often from there to work life, hopefully with some raises and promotions mixed in over the years.
            For my younger son, profoundly affected by autism, college was not an option. Once he aged out of the school system, his options were limited, yet he still moves forward in his own way.
            There was a time when Sean was so overwhelmed by sensory and neurological input that just getting him out from under his blanket and out of his room was a major success. Teen years can be especially daunting for autistic kids, and we spent those years helping Sean get back out in the world after extreme challenges isolated him.
            Seeing images of Sean hiking on a trail in a beautiful place always reminds me of how far we have come since the years of being trapped at home. Though he does not go to college or practice a profession, participating in activities in his program for people with disabilities is still a huge achievement for Sean considering how difficult it was for him to engage with the world.
            May we all be thankful for the victories we have in life, however different they may look for different people. Keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives is: Phyllis Ellman Trail to Ring Mountain, a lovely, grassy inclined trail that leads up to the unique terrain of Ring Mountain in Tiburon.
 
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 63: Phyllis Ellman Trail to Ring Mountain

Not So Secret Treasures
            As a kid, there were some good swimming holes along the creeks near our house. Not that we kept them secret, but we didn’t go out of our way to tell everyone about them, either. Surfers are notoriously protective of special surfing spots.
               I avoid writing Hike Notes about certain special spots, even though they would make for a great post. Some places are best left discovered at a quieter pace.
            Tennessee Point Labyrinth was a place I posted about and wondered later if I should have stayed quiet. I noticed spikes in views on that page on my site, and wondered if I’d drawn too much attention. Truth is, my site doesn’t have the reach to cause the consistently higher visitor numbers there. Viral Instagram posts are the more likely culprit.
            The not-so-secret treasure that is the coastal trail walk to Tennessee Point Labyrinth is already known, so I am sharing a photo from a recent hike there showing wildflowers with a lovely coast view facing south. 
            Here’s to treasuring special places without giving away secrets. Keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Tennessee Point Labyrinth, takes readers on a stunning coastal view hike featuring a stone labyrinth on a high cliff above the Pacific with fascinating geological structures and white cliffs in view.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
 
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 119: Tennessee Point Labyrinth

Fences
            What is it about a fence in a field, or along a forest path, that pulls on one’s heartstrings?
            There is something universally comforting and welcoming about a worn wooden fence. When I see an old wood fence on one of my frequent Northern California hikes, I’m often reminded of weatherworn fences from my childhood in rural Upstate New York. They can also emanate a pastoral European ambience. Like the one in this photo, fences can also have a distinctly California feel.
            Though the basic concept of a fence is to block something, many of the fences we see on our hikes seem to just be a guide line along the trail, not keeping anyone or anything out from one side or the other.
            Do you like fences? What is it about them that is appealing? Keep getting out on the trail and enjoy the magic of a good fence when you see one!
            This week’s Hike Notes, Edgewood Park Old Stage Road-Sylvan Trail Hike, takes readers on a loop hike in Redwood City that passes through oak forest, grasslands, and an area featuring patches of serpentine rock.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
 
New this week:
Hike Notes 219: Edgewood Park Old Stage Road-Sylvan Trail Hike
 

Serendipitous Connections
            Since starting the HikingAutism website in March of 2018, I’ve met many inspiring people who are interested in autism, disabilities, hiking or nature. Once in a while someone with a similar combined interest in autism and nature appears.
            This week I heard from a fellow mom of an autistic son who has started a project called Outdoors for Autism which is starting as a poster campaign to support and empower youth with autism. The creator, Anne, has taken quotes from autism-inspired sources and paired them with poster-worthy images. She used a quote from a recent HikingAutism Insights post, “Tranquility,” in one of her posters.
            It’s always an honor and a joy to meet other people trying to make the world a better place.
            Check out the Outdoors for Autism gallery here: Outdoors for Autism
            You can see the original photo I took for the Insights post this quote came from here: “Tranquility”
            The featured photo for the Insights post you’re reading now is from another place that brings a sense of tranquility to me, the calm waters of Bon Tempe Lake in the Marin Watershed. This week’s Hike Notes from the archives is: Bon Tempe Lake Loop, a 3.7-mile loop hike around a lake that changes character with every turn of the trail.
            May we all appreciate the unexpected, positive connections that happen in our lives. Keep putting one foot forward!
 
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 10: Bon Tempe Lake Loop

Jewels At Our Feet
            “How long has that new store been there?” I ask as we drive along a row of shops in our neighborhood.
            “Mom, that store has been there for two years now. Don’t you pay attention?” 
            My older son tells me I’m oblivious to changes along our neighborhood streets. I drive along the same blocks so often that I don’t bother to look carefully.
            Most people probably have selective attention levels, depending on their life activities. I never drop my focus when working on a translation project, because the nature of the job is to be detail oriented. When I’m just driving along, though, I let my mind wander and don’t try to visually record every detail.
            Fortunately, special visual treats we come across by happenstance usually stand out enough to catch our attention.
            I love the idea of seeing various wildflowers that dot the landscape from spring into early summer, but I don’t always make a concrete plan to find them.
            Whether it’s poppies on an ocean bluff path or wild irises on a mountain forest trail, these jewels of nature usually manage to attract our view, even when we’re not searching for them.
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives is: Batteries Loop Trail-Marin Headlands, a short, relatively flat walk with broad views of the Pacific and dots of color along the trail in wildflower season.
            May we all appreciate the unexpected treasures lining our paths. Keep putting one foot forward!
 
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 130: Batteries Loop Trail-Marin Headlands

Better Late Than Never
            Pink, white, yellow, red and purple explosions of color burst from green bushes. We marvel at the colors as we walk through the Rhododendron Dell in Golden Gate Park.
            We almost missed them. 
            As a kid, I knew when the daffodils or tulips were blooming because I walked by them every day when I went in and out of our house. I never missed a spring bloom.
            Here in a city like San Francisco, some flowers are featured in specific garden areas, and they don’t always bloom at exactly the same time each year.
            Rhododendrons are hard to miss when they’re blossoming if you know where to look for them. We missed the early peak in Golden Gate Park this year, but there are still plenty of blossoms to enjoy.
            What is your favorite flower to watch for? They merit appreciation even if they’re a little past their best blooming point!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll, introduces readers to one of many special feature areas in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 179: Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll