In fourth grade, we received a free pass to all the parks, so my parents let me do some research to decide which park we could visit. The reason I wanted to go to this park was that we hadn’t had an experience like this before, and I wanted an adventure. Plus, some breathtaking views and animals only live on that island, such as this island fox.
The Channel Islands were a great destination for the whole family. My little sister said, ‘I enjoyed seeing wildlife in the ocean.’ We saw some pretty cool creatures in the ocean.
We saw sea lions, dolphins, and even a Humpback Whale.
We went to Santa Cruz, one of the five islands in the park.
We went to Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Ranch in the Channel Islands National Park. I would suggest this part of the island because of its amazing views.
There were many hikes to choose from, and we chose one that was five miles long. It is called the Potato Harbor Lookout. I enjoyed this hike because it wasn’t too hard, but it had a beautiful lookout! I would suggest this hike for anyone who likes spectacular views of the ocean.
This is a glimpse of how beautiful the views are. There are many on this island.
Helpful Links
I think Cecy did an amazing job with this post! Here are a few links to things referenced in her article.
Fourth grade free pass – Also called the Every Kid Outdoors Program which provides Fourth Grade Students with Free Entrance to Public Lands.
Channel Islands National Park website. Be sure to check out the park’s video narrated by Kevin Costner.
Island Packers Cruises in Ventura, California. I was nervous about the ride to and from the island, but the ocean cruise was incredible!
We started our summer on a high note by climbing to the highest point in the state of New Mexico. We hiked to Wheeler Peak via the Williams Lake Trail, located near Taos, New Mexico, an area known for snow skiing and hiking.
This hike starts at 10,200 feet and gains 2,961 feet over 4.1 miles. We acclimated to the high elevation by staying a couple of nights in Santa Fe, New Mexico, before attempting this trek.
High ElevationHiking Tips:
If you are from a lower elevation state like we are, make sure to start out slow. Don’t attempt a high elevation hike without acclimating.
Make sure to bring lots of water, snacks, and sunscreen. We also wore hats and long sleeves to protect from the elements. Layers are always helpful.
Check the weather conditions before going. We checked recent trail reports on Alltrails.com to see if the trail had wintery conditions. It’s also a good idea to start hikes early in the day because afternoon storms pop-up in the mountains. When you are above the tree line, lightning storms are dangerous.
Don’t be afraid to turn around if conditions don’t feel right. You can also choose a shorter hike. For example, I would love to complete the shorter hike to Williams Lake in the future.
The well-defined path follows the Williams Lake Trail, but veers off before arriving at the lake. (We visited the lake on our way back down – pictures below). You traverse several scree fields on the way up, so horses aren’t allowed on the trail, but we saw many families with dogs.
Despite being acclimated, this hike felt very challenging due to the quick elevation gain. Alltrails.com rates this hike as ‘hard’ while the Forest Service rates this hike ‘Intermediate to Expert’.
We completed this hike in early June. We lucked out on the weather with a calm, blue sky, warm day. There were just a couple of snow patches that we had to navigate. As the afternoon went on, the snow melted and made it harder to pass without losing a hiking boot.
My older daughter (age 10) says this hike is ‘hard, but a great accomplishment.’ Her advice to kids wanting to hike it is ‘keep looking up because soon you will be at the top. Don’t give up!’
I agree this was a great accomplishment for our family. This is the highest summit we have hiked together so far. We felt confident they could do it because of the hikes they’ve completed in the past in Rocky Mountain National Park and other destinations.
At the top, we made sure to sign the register log and take a picture by the summit marker.
As I mentioned above, we stopped by Williams Lake on our way down the mountain to get a snack and spot wildlife. PS: I recently got Invisalign, and snacking while hiking with my new braces was not an easy task.
There are a lot of things to love about this hike, and I’m not ashamed to admit that one of my favorite things was ending at this Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant!
They even served Andechs beer, which is brewed in a monastery near Munich, Germany. We were able to ‘hike’ to the monastery a decade ago, so it holds a special place in my heart. Check on their site if you are interested.
Another reason this hike was very special was that my family and I hiked up these mountains when I was a kid. I had fun reminiscing with my Dad and looking at old maps and pictures.
Thanks for reading about our hike to Wheeler Peak! I’d love to know if you’ve hiked in this area and what your experience was like.
Francis Cabrini is an American saint who founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She built schools and orphanages all over the world and later was named a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1946. Cabrini made such an impact on the Colorado area that ‘Frances Xavier Cabrini Day’ is celebrated each October as a state holiday.
One of her projects was a summer camp for orphans in the foothills outside of Denver which is where you can visit the Mother Cabrini Shrine.
The site includes a spring that was discovered after the sisters working on the land complained about the lack of water. According to the shrine’s website, Mother Cabrini told the sisters to “Lift that rock over there and start to dig. You will find water fresh enough to drink and clean enough to wash.” The spring continues to run today and you can even drink from it when you visit.
The grounds also have a Stairway to Prayer which encourages guests to follow the Stations of the Cross as they climb 373 steps to the top the Mount of Sacred Heart where a twenty-two foot statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands.
When our family visited last summer, we attended Mass in a meeting room. This past fall a newly renovated and expanded chapel opened along with a bigger gift shop.
Tomorrow, July 7, 2024 there will be a celebration for Mother Cabrini’s canonization and legacy with Masses at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. (Spanish). The shrine is located at 20189 Cabrini Blvd in Golden, Colorado.
It’s pretty rare to visit a place where a saint worked and prayed. We found the shrine educational and inspiring. Saint Mother Cabrini, pray for us!
What happened to the water at Lake Haiyaha in Rocky Mountain National Park?
A summer rock slide above the lake ‘exposed glacier sediment in Chaos Canyon’ and summer rains washed the sediment into the lake which changed the color to ‘a milky shade of turquoise’ according to a report from The Denver Post.
We were excited to witness the color transformation in person over Labor Day weekend. The Lake Haiyaha hike is 4.2 miles round-trip and gains 745 feet of elevation. The trail begins at Bear Lake.
Haiyaha is an indigenous word that means “rock” or “lake of many rocks”, or “big rocks”, depending on the translation according to the National Park’s website. Hikers must walk over and around big boulders to get a good view of the lake.
An ancient tree near Lake Haihaya is one of the oldest in the park according to a park ranger I asked after our hike. After doing a little more research, I believe that this tree is a Limber Pine. According to the National Forest website, Limber Pines grow in ‘some of the park’s most exposed rocky sites, the trees’ gnarled trunks give testimony to fierce winds that buffet them in winter. Limber pines live to great ages, with some in the park exceeding 1,000 years.’
1,000 years old! Can you imagine all that this tree has stood watch over on the shores of Lake Haihaya over the last millennium? Altogether, this was an adventurous and rewarding hike that I hope to do again soon.
rocky mountain tot 