Our family loves spending as much time as possible outdoors enjoying nature. Living in Northern California, God’s great beauty is everywhere. Our family enjoys spending our time exploring new-to-us trails. We love hiking, biking, camping, walking, running, climbing, and just taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
One of our more recent favorite family hikes is the Mountain Quarry Railroad Trail to Black Hole of Calcutta Falls. It is a relatively easy trail for all ability levels and the views are gorgeous.
I love that these hiking trails are in our own backyard… we can simply drive a few miles up the mountain and get out to explore nature. I also love that my boys are free to roam, explore, be loud, and learn as they roam the trails together. Hiking and exploring the great outdoors teaches our boys to appreciate and fall in love with nature and the great outdoors.
Hiking instills in my boys the value of taking care of nature and the wilderness. It also teaches them that they can do hard things. When the hike gets long and challenging, they can overcome and keep moving forward even when their “legs are tired”. They can press on and finish… even when they want to quit.
Before we knew it, we got to the main part of our hike. We enjoyed the slow trickle (California is in a drought) of the Black Hole of Calcutta Falls. They were doing construction around this part of the trial, so of course there was fun things for the boys to look at in addition to the beautiful nature.
Just as quickly as we arrived at the falls, we turned around back to the trail head. We stopped for a quick snack and pause to enjoy the view of the American River.
Our boys love the water and more importantly, love throwing rocks in bodies of water. We hiked down to the river and enjoyed an hour or so listening to the relaxing flow of the river while the boys climbed, threw rocks, dug, and explored.
We love being out in nature. I love being goofy and annoying my husband who just wants to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
I also love the history that many of the local hiking trails provides along the trails. The photo above is the no hands bridge and was an old train bridge. So many fun history facts abound in this area. I am thankful that we are able to explore and learn… for free!
One of the many things our family loves about living in northern California is the abundance of outdoor activities we can do as a family. Hiking and exploring new-to-us trails is our favorite past time.
I was given the opportunity to team up with MomDot Media and The Trust for Public Land to help spread the word about the new #OurLand campaign whose mission is to create and help protect parks and other natural places, right in our own backyard… like the hike I shared above or the park you and your kids frequent.
“The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. We protect the places people care about and create close-to-home parks—particularly in and near cities, where 80% of Americans live.”
The TPL (Trust for Public Land) is running a virtual postcard campaign on their website that encourages all nature lovers to share a photo of themselves enjoying the outdoors using the #OurLand hashtag. You can join me and others by submitting a virtual postcard where you share your story to help protect the places you love.
I am thankful to live in an area where we have an amazing park system, beautiful hikes, outdoor nature trails to explore, and sights and monuments to explore. I know that the boys and I will be bummed to leave this place… but know that were are looking forward to seeking adventure and finding new land to explore.
The trust for my children’s land… we want to protect our local parks and land so that we can be free to explore and learn about new areas. Learning and falling in love with nature while taking care of it is something that our family loves and enjoys doing together.
Join me and many others on the Trust for #OurLand campaign. Submit your reason why nature matters to you by clicking on Trust for Public Land: Our Land.
This post has sponsored content. All photos, stories and the love of nature are all mine and 100% true.
Holly says
It looks like you guys had so much fun out hiking. We have a natural ponds that we go to down the road from us.
Denine Anderson-Regan says
The views are spectacular. We live in Long Island, NY – so it’s mostly flat, but we have some pretty fantastic parks here too. We love the ones where you can pop out on the water too. 🙂
NJ @ A Cookie Before Dinner says
It is currently freezing in New England, but we like to hike with our kids when the ground isn’t covered in snow. I was only about two weeks postpartum with my 2nd before we hit the trails again! We love spending time outdoors!
Stephanie says
I love hiking. We don’t have much hiking where we live but lots of spots within a few hours drive.
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
Wow! Look at those gorgeous pictures you took. That is definitely a place I would love to take my family and go exploring!
Colleen says
Looks beautiful, what a fun time for the family. We don’t have a lot of mountains here in our area.
Avry says
Growing up with mountains around me I have always loved them and loved the great outdoors. There is so much beauty in them that we take for granted. Such pretty pictures and PERFECT bonding time with your family 🙂
Crystal says
I know that I developed my love of nature from my childhood experiences. It’s so wonderful you are able to share that with your children. I have never been to Black Hole of Calcutta Falls, but it looks just breathtaking.
Liz Mays says
You’re so lucky that you have that in your backyard practically! It’s really a beautiful area, and I love that you let the boys have some exploring and rock tossing time!
Virginia @thatbaldchick says
Oooh, I want to come hike in your back yard! What a gorgeous place. We love taking the kids to the state park that is local to us.
Donna says
Wow, what a beautiful hike! Love your photos! I live near the Great Smoky Mountains and we love to hike them as often as we can. Hiking is our favorite family (physical) activity! 🙂
Stephanie Keeping says
Oh Wow! The pictures look amazing! I can only imagine seeing it in person.
Kecia says
We live near Fort Mountain here in Georgia, and it’s so beautiful! I love being able to go up and enjoy the walking trails and lake. It’s pretty and I am grateful the area is being preserved for visitors to enjoy nature.
LyndaS says
That is so awesome! I wish that I had a place to hike and explore – in my backyard.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says
One of the things that I miss the most about living in California is the abundance of outdoor activities. It’s interesting watching my kids grow up as complete city kids which makes me realize how important it is to make sure that they get to spend lots of time outdoors and how important it is to protect the outdoors.
Tammy Litke (@threedifferent) says
That definitely is some beautiful country you get to hike in! Texas is in a severe drought too and it has really changed the landscapes around here, there’s a lot more brown than green these days.
MCM Mama says
What a beautiful area! We have lovely areas around here, but it’s all quite a drive, usually in traffic, so we don’t hike as much as I’d like. Sounds like an awesome campaign.
Angela says
I am feeling a sense of calm and peace, just looking at your beautiful photographs. I’m so glad you and your family got to experience this. I think I need a bit of nature this weekend.
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club says
You are lucky to have some beautiful outdoors. I recently found some nice nature trails in my own urban backyard. You would not be able to tell these trails were in an urban area just by looking at photos. It is truly amazing. Maryland takes its parks very seriously and they spend good money to preserve them and keep them beautiful. #wowlinkup
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
Wow! What beauty! My stepson lives in Northern California too. He’s always sending us gorgeuos pictures.
melisasource says
Looks and sounds like you all had a great time! I would love to take my family one day!
Debi says
What a beautiful hike. My family and I love going for hikes together.
HilLesha says
That is such a gorgeous place to hike and explore!
Penelope says
Oh my gosh, these views are glorious! What a wonderful way to enjoy nature, get exercise, and enjoy time together as a family too!
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs says
I really need to head up that way and check out the area more. I’ve never even heard of this place. At least it looks like there was some water in that part.
Ty says
Wow, what an amazing place to take the whole family! We don’t live too far, so I’ll definitely be checking this out once the weather clears up a bit.
Raijean says
I’m not into hiking but that place looks so peaceful and serene. I would almost be willing to try it.
vanessa: thequeenofswag says
I will have to check this place out one day. It looks absolutely beautiful!
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
Such beautiful pictures! I’d love to visit there one day.
HilLesha says
I love to go hiking with my family. This would be a gorgeous place to hike!
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