I parked at the small lot at 4th Crossing (3 other cars on a Monday morning at 9, although the Paradise lot was full) and headed up the trail first to Mazama ridge, which was beautiful with fall color and no other people. Then I went up the Paradise Glacier trail, to about ¾ mile beyond the end of maintained trail sign. There is still a small snowfield up there, with Stevens Creek running beneath it, making some neat looking caves. Just a few other people were on that trail. Finally, I went back to the Skyline trail and completed the loop counter clockwise, which seems to be the opposite way most people hike it. This was where I found the crowds! I saw ravens, a bald eagle, an osprey, a mountain goat and ground squirrels. If you like hiking in crowds, choose the Skyline loop. If you want solitude, choose one of the other two. You can't go wrong--it's all beautiful!
#HiketheState
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