Hiking Archives * The Hunter Gatherer Society

Big Tree Trail Hike in Prairie Creek Redwoods

June 4, 2026 rpolipnick Hiking

Exploring One of California’s Last Ancient Redwood Forests The Big Tree Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is one of those hikes that naturally makes you slow down. This morning, after stopping by the visitor center for trail recommendations, we decided to take the roughly 2.5 mile round-trip walk from the visitor center out to the famous Big Tree and back through the towering redwoods of Redwood National and State Parks. Sometimes the best hikes are not the hardest or longest. Instead, they are the ones that remind you how incredible the natural world really is. The trail itself was incredibly approachable. It was wide, well maintained, and had very little elevation gain. Because of that, it made for[…]

Upper Dungeness Trail: One of Washington’s Most Peaceful River Hikes

May 21, 2026 rpolipnick Hiking

There are some hikes that challenge you.Others simply remind you to slow down. The Upper Dungeness Trail on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula feels like the second kind. Instead of a brutal summit grind or exhausting backpacking trip, this trail offers something calmer. Along the way, you find yourself stopping every few minutes just to listen to the river, look up at the old-growth trees, and remember why getting outside matters in the first place. During our trip, we hiked about 3.4 miles into Camp Handy and back out for just under 7 miles total. Because the elevation gain is minimal and the trail conditions are excellent, the hike feels approachable and relaxing almost the entire way. Even better, the scenery never[…]