EISPIRATEN

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good hikes near the Chilao recreation area.

I liked Mount Hillyer a lot, there are some real cool boulders in the area that are fun to try to climb (bouldering).
http://www.gpsmountaineering.com/mounthillyer

Bare Mountain is just down the road and is also a nice hike.
http://www.gpsmountaineering.com/baremountain

Mount Pacifico is also a nice destination. There was some a discussion earlier regarding a good route from the east.
https://eispiraten.com/viewtopic.php?t=28

Also, a little ways down the road at Charleston Picnic area is Vetter Mountain Lookout. There is an actually staffed Lookout on the summit (weekends).
http://www.gpsmountaineering.com/vettermountain

Lots of Options in the area!

Another nice one is Devil's Canyon: http://www.dankat.com/advents/dvloop.htm

Be aware that it's an "upside down hike" (you descend first and then ascend to return).

I hiked there last September (I didn't have a car shuttle available, so we just did it out and back). Good amount of scrambling over boulders and a bit of minor bushwacking. There is some poison oak, but it's avoidable.

The pool at the end of the hike really is quite nice with myriad fingerlings in it. I found the descent to pool at the base of the falls to be a little tricky despite the fact that it's class 3; the rock is crappy, and you have to really test your hand holds well. Oh, and I did bring a length of webbing as Brennan suggested, and I did find it comforting. The class three section is pretty close to vertical.