In the calm caused by the pandemic, many people come up with something to occupy themselves with. Some of them are eager to plan long-awaited trips in 2021 or even 2022, but all of this sounds too far. What if I told you that a unique journey awaits you around the corner and can happen here and now? It can be spontaneous, easy to plan and cannot be disappointed. The pandemic has shown us, travelers, that to see the world, to discover something new, possibly even «on a backyard».
Coming to California for a couple of months, before the pandemic, I dreamed about Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. But soon these trips were complicated and it became difficult back to home. Tourist organizations have called on those who wish to travel to stay at home or to travel to a place where the regulations permit. A lot of things got shut down. It turned out that my route led me to a small town between Orange county and Riverside. And as I sat on the backyard, surrounded by thick green bright flowers and palm trees, my thirst for travel and my instinct for discovery prevailed. I started exploring the terrain around me and admiring its wonders. I believe that we leave some part of ourselves in the path that we go.
A trail with a glimpse of skyline also tends to be close to the city. Located near Corona, California a network of 8 trails can be found in this area of the city. Every route is a gateway to an adventure in the open air. And no matter how many steps were made on Appalachian Trail in the US or on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the best one is the first step. In this article, we’re going to talk about the most accessible, but no less picturesque. Rumor has it that the popular routes are not spectacular, but they are not. The trail goes west from Skyline Drive to Tin Mine Canyon.
I felt a kinship with this unfamiliar terrain, with the people who preceded me, even before the creation of the picturesque trails. I was trying to imagine where the journey had taken them. Like this mild hike, it leads to landscapes of imagination: hillsides, rocky lines, valleys. A trail of 2.5 miles or 7.2 km. The first few miles involve an asphalt road. The rest of the trail is sand. It is therefore very important to pay attention to hiking shoes and clothing.
During my hike, the trail was mostly well-marked. The Skyline Drive offers great panoramic views of the city and the Orange County Valley. The route is wide, but there are some alternatives, one can take a step away from the paths laid out, for those who want privacy. The main trail is hot in summer with zero water sources, so bring your own water. The maximum height of the route is 132 meters above sea level, which means that even an untrained person can do this kind of walk.
Although the hike begins on a paved trail, the road then passes into a regular dirt trail. And even though the hike starts in the urban area, it quickly becomes secluded. During the summer season, the ideal option will be at the end of the day or early in the morning. Follow the dirt road to the pointer, which means the actual start of the Tin Mine Canyon Trail, it does will tell you there’s 1.25 miles to go. This canyon is under the jurisprudence of the Cleveland National Forest. Continuing the route, you can get to the real mine. There aren’t many places in Southern California to walk to an abandoned tin mine near a residential area. In Tin Mine Canyon it is, as well as oaks and sycamores and an amazing view of the surrounding mountains of Santa Ana. Next, a small passage through the streams from which, in a few feet, the official end of the trail will be, as the pointer indicates.
In this area there are snakes, mountain lions, rabbits, cayots and other native fauna, which is warned by the sign at the beginning of the journey. Wild flowers and other beautiful desert flora, which unfortunately dries up in the summer. In the winter, however, the green generosity of nature was demonstrated. Lustfulness reminded me of Hawaii. The trail turns eventually into Blackstar Canyon Road and meets up with the Main Divide Road shortly after Beeks Place.
It’s always worth looking around the corner. To avoid crowds on the way, go camping on weekdays. So you can be alone with nature. And this is going to be a kind of meditative session. The path is doing its magic. The steps turn into dots on the map, the notes in the guide to real places, the dots become real memories.
Every trail is the essence of the place that it goes. Walking along it tells about history and culture. Every moment on the road is a gift. Also if you doubt something, just remember the «golden rule» - treat other travelers along the path as you want to be treated and respect the wildlife. We want to leave places better than we found them, so it’s very important to avoid the garbage. Let the wildlife last for a long time. And we can still find that transformative magic in her.
© Krasyuk Victoria