I personally hate hiking in sandals. I did it for a season. Where I hike (the Sierra) there are lots of water crossings and when you come out of the water, if there are powdery dirt trails from horses, or sand...the inside of the straps where it touches your skin get coated. Very abrasive. Used to rub the skin right off my feet....ouch! I use tennies...oops, dating myself...running shoes.:)
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http://ndeewoods.com/ and http://wilderstatepark.com/