Norcal Maggots - Where should I hike on Saturday?

As most of the Norcal Maggots know, I'm a recent transplant to the Sacramento Area. As such, I'm still very unfamiliar with my new surroundings.

So, my brother's coming up for the weekend, and he wants to go on a hike. I'd prefer to make a trek back up to Lassen and do some more skiing, but he's not a skier. He prefers to play outdoors on solid, dry ground. I'm more then willing to abide. As for a hike, here's what I'd prefer:

• Somewhere between 5 and 10 miles round trip
• A hike with a destination of some sort, preferably a mountain top
• Less then 3000 vert. feet - I don't want to have an all day, entirely draining hike to where we'd be too drained to go and do something later that night.
• Within 2 hrs drive of where I live (I'm about a 45 min drive northeast of Sacramento - north shore of Lake Tahoe is probably about a 1 3/4 hr drive)

I was thinking of Sierra Buttes out west of Sierraville ('cause I read about 'em in a guide book). The book says it's just over 5 miles RT and about 1700 verticle feet. It's not a very strenuous hike, but sounds like it'll fit in well for me and my brother's plans.

Wherever we go, I'll try to bring some pics back to show at Telenater's party on Sunday.

Any other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance!

You could do the Stevens Trail...go North on Hwy. 80 from your house, and get off on the "Colfax" exit. Take an immediate left after getting off the freeway, go down the road, and the trail is at the end of the road on your left. No mountaintop, but breathtaking views of the river valley. Ends up at the river. 9 miles roundtrip. The trail will fork off at about 3 miles, you can go in either direction, don't worry. Have fun, and see you on Sunday!!

Edit: Here is a link - http://www.ca.blm.gov/folsom/stevenstrail.html

Actually, this trail is perfect to go trail running on. I've hiked it twice, and did the trail run once. Fun, fun. Anyway, just in case you two wanted to step it up ;)

Sierra Buttes could be fun, but check to see if the trail is clear of snow (It probably is, but I don't have any solid info).

There's also a fair amount of hiking around Auburn down by the river.

Go up 80 and take the Big Bend exit. Go past the Rainbow Lodge, a couple of hundred yards and you'll see a trailhead. The trail(s), there are several, take you up the ridge and over the RR tracks. There are two Lakes, the first is about 3mi, the second about a half mi. more. trails are well marked and used.

Can't remember name of lakes/trail; but a nice hike.

A beer after at the Rainbow is good.


Edit...here it is: Loch Leven Lakes

Aren't you living in Stinkin' Lincoln? From there, it would be just over an hour to the Big Bend exit.

DG - my roomate said that the Steven's Trail was real nice. Now it's confirmed. I'll look into it more. If it's hot out, I doubt I will since it's at such a low elevation. Same goes with the American River trails, Nater. (Besides, the last time he was out, we traipsed around there with my mother - it was the same weekend that you, DG and Lego came over for the barbeque and then got trapped in by the fallen oak tree.)

irul - I'm not much of a fan of hiking to lakes. They just don't do it for me like a mountain top or a waterfall. Thanks for the advice, tho!