Gold Country Foothills Hike
Explore the beautiful Gold Country Foothills off-the-beaten track with a MountainGeist Guide! You will explore single track trails as they meander through the oaks and grassy fields with views of local reservoirs and wildflowers. You may want to bring binoculars to view wildlife such as osprey, bald eagles, deer and more along with tracks and scat which your guide can help identify.
With access to several different trail systems, we can tailor the experience to each groups desire from gentle strolls along level trails to longer loops and steeper trails leading to summits with expansive vistas across the foothill range! We can also tailor your experience from a few hours to a full day. Ask about upgrading to a multi-sport experience such as paddling or rock climbing.
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EXPERIENCE
Gold Country Foothills Hike
ACTIVITY
Hiking (multi-sport available)
DESTINATION
Gold Country Foothills
SEASON
Year-Round
DURATION
Half Day: 2-4 hours
CHALLENGE
Easy to Moderate
SOLITUDE
Local Favorite
PRICE
From $60 PP
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Expert Outdoor Guide
Natural, historic and cultural interpretation
Guide will carry all necessary navigational tools: map, compass, GPS
First Aid kit carried by guide trained in wilderness first aid
Water at trailhead (bottle/s)
Water filtration while on trail
Light trail snacks – may contain nuts
USFS permits and guiding fees (does not include park entrance fees)
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Guide Gratuities
Transportation to/from trailhead (we will caravan from a central meeting location)
Personal Park Entry Fees (where appropriate and driving separately)
Please call for equipment rental options for specialized gear (bikes, boats, paddleboards, etc.)
WHAT TO BRING
Highly Recommended
Light day pack
Comfortable hiking shoes with grippy soles
Comfortable outdoor clothing – synthetic, non-cotton is recommended
Sunscreen (SPF 30+) and SPF rated lip balm
Sun hat
Additional top insulating layer of clothing (e.g microfleece or ‘puffy’)
Wind/Water resistant jacket (top shell)
WHAT TO BRING
Optional
Camera
Sunglasses
Small trail binoculars
Personal water bottle or hydration pack: 1-liter minimum recommended
Additional trail snacks (especially those with dietary restrictions or allergies)
Walking poles
Personal medication
Bug spray
Headlamp or small flashlight
Wind/Water resistant pant shell (weather dependent)
Nitty Gritty Details
Scheduled Days of Experience
Gold Country Foothill Hiking experiences are offered year-round as weather allows during weekends and holidays. Call to book. Private experiences may be booked during the week days with prior arrangement.
Meeting Time and Place
Upon booking, you will be provided an exact time and meeting location which will can be tailored to accommodate our guests.
Transportation
All transport to and from the trailhead will be in your personal vehicle. The group will caravan together from the meeting location to the trailhead.
Challenge, Terrain and Duration
The challenge level of this experience is from Easy to Moderate depending on your group. Your guide will lead you on well-established trails which can be uneven at times. The experience can be modified in trail length, duration and elevation to fit the abilities of the group. From those wanting an exciting, fitness-centered, fast-paced hike or others wanting a family friendly adventure for all ages, we can customize the experience for each group. The elevation of the trailheads are all under 1,500 feet.
Solitude
Local Favorite – While you can expect to see a few other locals sharing the trails and views, few out-of-town visitors will find their way to the areas of the trails your guide will take you!
Group Size
You may expect anywhere from three to ten other ‘adventurers’ on your shared experience. Private experiences are also available for an upgrade.
Minimum Age
Generally, we encourage each participant to consider their ability in meeting the “challenge” level outlined in each experience rather than adhering to strict age limits. While we recommend a minimum age of 10 on this experience, we would consider younger ages with relevant hiking experience.
Trip Packet
Shortly before the scheduled day of the experience, a trip packet will be sent to the contact email who booked the experience. You will be provided trip details, trailhead information, weather forecast update, and reminders on what to pack and what to expect. You will also receive a liability waiver and a few other items to fill out prior to the day of the experience which will be returned via email or delivered in person to the guide at the meeting location.
Security
As with parking in any remote location, we encourage you to leave any valuables at home and lock anything remaining of value in your trunk or out of site. Due to wildlife considerations, we discourage leaving food or scented items in your vehicle. There are generally no bear boxes at the trailheads where we will be parking, so leave what you don’t need on the hike at your home, hotel or rental.
Park Entry Fees
Some experiences may take place within parks or recreational areas that require a personal entry fee. When traveling in your separate personal vehicle following the guide, you will be responsible for any park entry fees where appropriate. Most trailheads in the Stanislaus National Forest do not require an entry fee or collect parking fees during non-winter seasons.
Lodging
Need recommendations for lodging before or after your experience? Don’t hesitate to call us and we can help provide information.
Terrain Profile
You will start at a trailhead elevation of TBD feet with terrain variations less than +/- TBD feet throughout the ride.
Pricing Details
This experience is open to the public and single participants will join a larger group.
Pricing per person (PP) based on number of people in booking party (not total group size).
Discounts provided to parties booking with 2 or more people.
“Solo” pricing option available on experiences that do not book multiple participants (it does not refer to a private experience).
Non-refundable deposit required upon booking. $25 per person for open trips or 20% of the total price for private trips.
Private group experience upgrade fee of $200 per group.
Full-Day and Multi-Sport Upgrades are available
Call for details about private groups, corporate events and custom experiences
Cancellation Policy
Refunds offered up to 48-hours in advance of all day or half-day trips (7-days in advance of all multi-day trips) less the non-refundable deposit unless cancelled by MountainGeist in which a full refund or credit will be offered.
Single-participant, non-private experiences (public experiences that only book a single participant), will have the option to either upgrade to a “solo” price experience or cancel 48-hours in advance with a full refund. The “solo” option may be designated at time of booking as well.
Pricing Based on Half-Day
SOLO OPTION
$175
1 PERSON
$95 / PP
2-3 PEOPLE
$75 / PP
4+ PEOPLE
$60 / PP
UNDER 12
15% Discount
TRIPS OFFERED: Gold Country Foothills Hikes
| New Melones Visitors Center | Easy |
| New Melones Glory Hole | Easy |
| New Melones Tuttle Town | Easy |
| Parrotts Ferry Bridge out and back | Moderate |
| Parrotts Ferry Bridge Hike Summit with loop option | Moderate - Advanced |
| Table Mountain with loop option | Moderate with elevation gain |
| Peoria Mountain | Moderate with steep sections & uneven terrain |