Monte Vista Trail Loop Hike
	Trip Date:  12/29/2014 Distance: 3.0 Miles Vertical Gain: 285' Group Size: 1 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate   Hard   Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   N 38 44.867, W 121 03.603     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates   Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Salmon Falls Road north from El Dorado Hills.  Just past FredLena Ln and Easy Ln on your left, you will see a sign for Falcon Crest on the left hand side at the coordinates provided.  This is the area to park.  There is no charge to park here. Hazards of Note:   Rattlesnakes, ticks, poison oak, mountain lions. Crowd Factor:   Moderate to busy.  On the weekends especially this is a popular hiking, mountain biking and equestrian destination.   General Notes: The hike starts out at a signpost near the left side of the parking area.  You will come to a junction very early in the hike, and turn right following the signs to "Potable Water" to ensure you take the loop the correct way.  If you go left, you can very easily wind up hiking around the lake area and extending your trip significantly.
	This is the sign at the location where you will park for this hike.
	This area is very different in the wintertime, with green grass everywhere.  Summertime will see this brown and probably full of stickers and poison oak.
	Myself near the area for Potable Water for horses and the like, with Flagstaff Hill across the lake in the background.
	The weeds and stickers surrounding this picnic bench indicate it doesn't get much use.
	There are many pleasant views across the lake from much of the trail when you get alongside the water.
	The water is low during this season, but no boaters or wildlife on it makes for  glassy surface.
	Some of the only elevation change occurs when you head on down toward the lake.
	The signage at the junctions is helpful, but only where it exists.
	GPS Track of the full hike.