California
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California truly has it all. Where else can you find so much pristine coastline, otherworldly desert, epic granite mountains, and giant redwood forests? Take an extended road trip on Highway 1 or 395 and you'll see what we mean.
Top Spots
Alamere Falls via Palomarin Trailhead
Palomarin Trailhead, California
4.5
13.54 mi
/ 1614 ft gain
The hike to Alamere falls is a 12.2 mile out-and-back in Point Reyes National Seashore. Start at the Palomarin Trailhead located in the parking lot near the restrooms. After about 2 minutes on the trail, you'll see a map on your right that lays out the trail to the falls as well as a few campground (Sky, Wildcat, etc.). Don't be afraid to take a picture of the map if you're worried about gettin...
Take in Iconic McWay Falls
Big Sur, California
4.6
McWay Falls is one of the most iconic waterfalls in BIg Sur and can be seen from Highway 1. The trail to the falls is located in Julia Pfeiffer. For all of you history buffs, Mcway Falls is named after Christopher McWay, an early settler and farmer from New York who ventured west in the late 1800s.
To get there, from the parking lot, walk back towards Highway 1 and look for the sign to the Wate...
Sunrise Lakes to Clouds Rest
Mariposa County, California
4.7
18.93 mi
/ 1775 ft gain
Start out at the Tenaya Lake Trailhead, where you can head directly onto the trail for Clouds Rest or you can branch off after 2.7 miles to Sunrise Lakes. This allows you to break up the hike, spend a night relaxing and help you have an early start back on the trail.
Once re-connected to the Clouds Rest trail you begin a brief descent before you come across the only lake on the CR Trail. You d...
Lands End Trail
San Francisco, California
4.7
3.26 mi
/ 500 ft gain
The Lands End Trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a fairly easy 3.26 mile out-and-back hike along the coastline of San Francisco. Entrances to the trail are at both the Visitor Center parking Lot just up from Cliff House or in the Sea Cliff neighborhood off of El Camino del Mar (near the Lincoln Golf Course). The driving directions are for the starting point in Sea Cliff. Becau...
Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail
Big Sur, California
4.2
18.96 mi
/ 7339 ft gain
The trek to Sykes Hot Springs is about 10-miles one way along the Pine Ridge Trail. This is a great backpacking trip, but can be done as an out-and-back hike from the campgrounds at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park if you're really moving.
The trail is moderately challenging, you'll cross the river twice - be careful in the winter and spring months, when the water runs fast. If it looks too fast, w...
Wisdom Tree
Los Angeles, California
4.8
0.95 mi
/ 528 ft gain
In Griffith Park, park along Lake Hollywood Drive and walk the paved quarter mile up Wonder View Drive to the start of Wonder View Trail. Here, walk through the yellow gate and make the first right after the road turns to dirt. Head up this unmarked single track path heading east up the mountain.
The steep, rocky trail ascends to Cahuenga Peak. A Half of a mile from the end of the road, it rea...
Hike Cataract Falls
Stinson Beach, California
4.2
3 mi
/ 1020 ft gain
Cataract Falls is one of the most stunning hikes in the bay area after a recent rain. The drive to the trailhead alone is beautiful as you pass Alpine Lake on Bolinas Fairfax Rd. Cataract is a 3-mile total out-and-back hike that gains 750ft in the first mile. Unlike Alamere Falls, where you trek for 4 miles to get to the falls, you start to see cascading waterfalls early on in the hike, which a...
Explore Muir Woods National Monument
Mill Valley, California
4.7
4.5 mi
While there are other, less crowded redwood groves in the Bay Area, Muir Woods National Monument is easily one of the best. It is a beautifully maintained site, with wooden footpaths meandering between towering redwoods that are between 600 – 800 years old. It’s home to some true giants, with it’s tallest trees reaching over 250 ft in height.Muir Woods contains 6 miles of trails (see trail map)...
Tall Trees Grove, Redwood Creek, Emerald Ridge Loop
Orick, California
4.4
4.41 mi
/ 1043 ft gain
Day 1: Check with the Rangers station before heading up for best camping opportunities. Assuming you've checked with the rangers for approval...if there are openings, off of the main road, there are side streets with access to the beaches. Pull into one of these areas and drive down as far as you can – this may involve squeezing your car through spaces between boulders. If you find such a spot,...
Places to stay
Big Bear Lake, California
Walk to Resort! Summit Basecamp w/ Private Hot Tub
Affectionately nicknamed Summit Basecamp, this inviting 3BR/2BA cabin is within walking distance of the lifts at Snow Summit. After fun-f...
From $155 / night
Big Pine, California
Upper Sage Flat
Overview
Take the family to Upper Sage for a pleasant camping trip along the banks of Big Pine Creek. Here, visitors can experience the b...
Angelus Oaks, California
Heart Bar Equestrian
Overview
The Heart Bar Equestrian Campground is available by reservation and is for equestrian campers only. It provides access to some o...
Bridgeport, California
Trumbull Lake
Overview
Trumbull Lake Campground is located next to its scenic namesake at an elevation of 9,980 feet. The lake is one of ten alpine lak...
El Dorado County, California
Yellowjacket
Overview
Yellowjacket Campground provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun on Union Valley Reservoir. The water plays host to an a...
Foresthill, California
Giant Gap
Overview
Giant Gap Campground is located on the north shore of Sugar Pine Reservoir, in the Tahoe National Forest. It is just 15 miles fr...
Guides and stories
Quick links
- The best hiking trails in California
- The best backpacking in California
- The best camping in California
- Top adventures in California
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