8 Low-Key Hikes In Northern California With Amazing Payoffs Sometimes you’re in the mood for getting out and experiencing the great Northern California outdoors, but you’re short on time. Falls tend to be the driest and sunniest time of the year, though, and summers have less rain but tend to be foggy. Not picked the perfect travel backpack yet? Following the Mist Trail will take you to both the top of Vernal and Nevada Falls and leave you with the option to loop back via the John Muir Trail. I have narrowed my long, long list of the top hikes in California down to 13 of the very best. The best route to the top is via the Mist Trail (below). We’ve spent hundreds of hours testing, reviewing, and abusing gear that we hike and travel with for years on end. From the ancient coast redwoods of the north to the Big Sur coastline, from Lake Tahoe to the Eastern Sierra, and from Joshua Tree National Park to the coastal chaparral covered mountains of Southern California, the diversity of hiking zones in the golden state runs deep. 5 Great Day-hikes in Northern California Earlier this year, when I was in Big Sur for an adventure summit with Bota Box , we would find ourselves on and around these very doable trails that would end at the most incredible places—and then we’d toast with a glass of wine. Ever heard of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) – the 2,650-mile thru-hike on the West Coast, made mainstream famous by Cheryl Strayed’s book, Wild? California has some of the most diverse landscape in the US. Feel the cool mountain breeze on your cheek upon waking up as they also offer you a free breakfast. Invest in quality items and you’ll find that the best hikes in California will only get better. The JMT requires serious planning because resupply points are few and far between and large sections of this trail are vast wilderness areas. Many people tackle the TRT in sections over years, and others complete the rim trail in one go. best hikes in the world to put on your bucket list part 2. your essential guide to hiking arches national park. Keep in mind that many of the best hikes in California are located in the elements, where rain and snow-storms, wind, cold, and heat can all be potential factors, sometimes all in one hike. Photo by Luis Escalante. Whitney, a tough climb and endeavor in itself. For more inspiration, check out our comprehensive Adventure Packing List! Long Lake is a good place to turn around, for a five miler. However, be smart. She spends most of her "down-time" out in the wilderness, climbing, hiking, and beyond, and is feverishly passionate about travel and health. Continue north until Sir Francis Drake Boulevard becomes Pierce Point Road, and then continue driving until you reach the Pierce Point Ranch. Mount Baldy (officially called Mount San Antonio) is one of the best and most challenging day hikes in Southern California. There’s parking there if you’re driving, and it’s a much more peaceful beginning to the walk. The official trailhead is at Saratoga Gap at the intersection of Highways 9 and 35. But I understand that there are an overwhelming amount of options for hiking in California. You will start in the forest, cross the PCT, and then eventually end at the base of a massive granite dome. The trailhead to Fern Canyon is about 1/4 mile from the canyon. It is as beautiful as beautiful gets, but the most important thing to consider is the tide schedule; you will have to time your hike according to the tide. Slick rock, thunderstorms, and freezing nights are possible all year round. Writer and Editor, Ana Pereira is a California native, inspired by Earth exploration and introspection. Yosemite National Park is the most famous national park in California, if not the USA. Reduce (or eliminate!) You could hike this trail in as little as two days, but it would be exhausting, and why rush visiting such a spectacularly beautiful place in the States? Moreover, the permit system is extremely competitive and requires a 6-month reservation, if you can get it. Often times there is a reason you must stick to the trails, especially in protected reserves, parks, and lands. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. Wherever your hiking path leads you, please be respectful to the environment along the way. Grab some supplies (as this is the last major town on the route) before transferring to the Yosemite Area Regional Transit (YARTS) HWY 120/395 bus which will take you to the Yosemite Valley (close to Curry Village and the trailhead). Recently, she spent several months exploring Africa and South Asia. Before starting your hike, pick up an overnight permit in the town of Lone Pine. Camping is allowed along the entirety of the trail except in section 7, Desolation Wilderness, where you must obtain an overnight permit at the Tahoe Basin National Forest Information Center. Baldy’s sumit via Register Ridge or Old Mt. This means that if you book your accommodation, buy a book or sort your insurance, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. At the next intersection, turn left onto Wintoon Way (northerly direction again) followed by the next right onto Hotlum Drive. Also, keep in mind that much of the Sierra Mountains and northern areas of California are bear country! There are buses that run from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point. If you have a car, there’s parking about one mile from the trailhead, or you can park with a daily fee at Glacier Lodge. This place is as close as you can get to the national park without actually staying inside but also giving you the same experience as if you were camping. It’s the least technical route to the summit of Mt Shasta, but it is still dangerous and deaths have occurred. Failing that, you’ll just be trekking back down the hill. A true American classic of a canine hike. Since the trailhead can be started from either Avalon or Two Harbors, heading to either will work: While you can walk the track either direction, most people start the hike from Avalon town itself. If you are not feeling up to the demand of the rest of the hike, this makes for a great 2.4 mile round trip day hike. If you are hiking and camping overnight, you will need a bear canister! I mean, even narrowing down the best hikes in Yosemite into one list is no small feat. Given that it’s the Tahoe Rim Trail is actually a loop walk and has 10 official trailheads (plus all the sneaky unofficial ones), you’re really swimming in options! I mean, what more could you ask from a coastal California hike? Second Lake isn’t too far from here and a great place to camp for the night. To qualify these hikes we asked ourselves the following two questions: The majority of the listed hikes below can be done in a half day or less. At the T-intersection, turn right onto Widow Springs Drive and follow this until a 4-way intersection where Widow Springs Drive continues on the left branch (again, northerly). We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Mount Baldy. With an early rise the next morn, you can reach the next designated campsite (Black Jack Campground) with plenty of daylight left and even make a side-hike to the summit of Mt. You can make this as long or short of a hike as you want to. Bring a picnic and watch the elk graze with the Pacific Ocean stretching out behind them. Starting in the town of Orick, head north on Highway 101 about 2.5 miles. Once you get to the High Peaks area, the views are nothing but sensational in all directions. So far I have covered some of the best hikes in California that take you through mountain ranges, on top of sheer granite faces, alongside rugged coastlines, and even circumnavigate an island. With its countless stacked boulders and … Your small efforts will be infinitely rewarded as you walk through a carved canyon covered in ferns and mosses with water dripping from the walls. 18. At the end of this road is the main trailhead for the Big Pine Creek North Fork Trail. And certainly, most definitely, please… get insured! Well, first you actually have to get to Catalina Island. Alternatively, you can combine this hike with the moderate five-mile James Irvine Trail that begins at Prairie Creek Redwoods State visitor center, which is where we decided to camp. You might want to add Villager and Rabbit Peak In Borrego Desert. - See 71 traveler reviews, 66 candid photos, and great deals for Eureka, CA, at Tripadvisor. Consider making this a longer hike 9-mile total hike, which my boyfriend decided to casually run like the show-off he is. Sometimes there's just no substitute for the therapy gained from a nature walk. Lost Coast Trail: Best 3 day hike ever! You’ll find that the trails we’ve detailed below are even further north than those NorCal hotspots. Pick one up when you get your permit and talk to the experts to learn more about safety in the wild. Don’t be a rookie and bring a brand new pair of hiking boots or too big of socks that give you blisters, use your smartphone as a flashlight, or pack a summer tent for the rain. I recommend starting as early as possible for this strenuous hike. Trinity Lake is situated along the trail, so disconnect and meditate as you overlook its azure waters. Starts at 10,200 ft elevation, so don’t do it on your first day in the mountains, but mostly flat (about 500 ft elevation gain on granite stairs in a few places), and all along a creek and multiple lakes. The next day, make an alpine start to the summit to allow for enough daylight. Its namesake tree, with its spindly branches and spiky leaves, can be seen everywhere. Please make sure to let us know which are your favorite California day hikes in the Comments section below. The Solstice Canyon Trail is among the most popular hiking trails in Southern California, as well as one of the best places to visit and admire nature in the Santa Monica Mountains. Between the Sierra Nevada mountains, rugged coastline, desolate deserts, ancient forests, and everything in between, you are (too) spoilt for choices when it comes to hiking in California. The north to south Lost Coast hike begins from the Mattole Beach Trailhead to the Black Sands Beach Trailhead respectively, and you’ll have to organise a shuttle transport (unless you have two hiking parties walking opposite directions with a car parked at each end). 1. A predominantly downhill walk, it’s a fairly easy long-distance hike in California presenting some of its best sights. © 2020, The Broke Backpacker. Get to know some of the state’s beautiful landscapes and hikes in greater detail: Yeah, it’s easy to get carried away when everything is just damn nice to look at! From redwoods to banana slugs, this trail takes you through beautiful redwood forests in the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, ending at the Pacific Ocean. 99.9% of hikers are firmly in the day-hike only camp, and usually it’s just a matter of not knowing how to start and where to go to gain some backpacking experience. This is the Southernmost glacier in North America! your amount of single-use plastic. Drivers will find long-term parking in Curry Village close to the trailhead, but be sure to check in first and clear everything with the ranger. Before we get to the good stuff – the list of the best long hikes in California – we want to remind you to be a responsible hiker. For those just tackling Fern Canyon, you can hike into the canyon and back in just a few hours. The Sempervirens Falls Trail is a perfect way to hike through the redwoods, and it also incorporates a lovely waterfall along the way. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Most park offices and visitor centers will rent you a bear canister for free. If you didn’t catch on, the trail is named after the environmentalist/author/naturalist, John Muir, who fell in love with the Sierras and spent much of his life fighting to protect the wilderness among this mountain range. Make sure to book your permit online far in advance if you are hiking in summer or on a weekend. I have yet to hike the entire thing personally – only sections – but the full hike is high on my bucket list. Shoutout from Will – The OG Broke Backpacker: Have fun on your backpacking adventure, but please do get insurance – take it from someone who has racked up tens of thousands of bucks on an insurance claim before, you need it. While there is a nearly endless list of great hiking destinations throughout the country, perhaps no land mass holds more diversity for day hikes in terms of terrain type, ecology and climate variety than the state of California. Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, California. The Panorama Trail is the perfect California day hike for nature lovers. Shasta town or move onwards to McCloud which is en route to the trailhead. Instead, the Highway 1 must cut inland, and leave the Lost Coast undeveloped and lost to civilization, unless you hike, that is. The Trinity Lakeshore Trail—recognized as one of the best hikes in the Shasta-Trinity Forest—winds through an old-growth forest. The hike out to Tomales Point has everything you could want from a California beach hike: jaw-dropping coastline, wild elk, and hills so green you will wonder if you are actually hiking in Ireland, not California. The second and third days hike through ancient redwoods in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, including a side trip to Berry Creek Waterfall. Expect to gain about 2,000 feet to Second Lake and about 5,000 total to Palisades Glacier! Happy Trails! Hope you can join us! You can have a taste of the wildlife and some quirky town vibes while staying at this home. Cucamonga Peak via Icehouse Canyon. Continue on Widow Springs Drive road without turning off until you reach the very end; you’ll be at the trailhead – congrats! This hike is possibly the highlight of your stay in Yosemite National Park. Picking just one day hike in Lake Tahoe was pretty difficult for me, what between Fallen Leaf, the jaunts around Eagle Lake, Desolation Wilderness, and Incline Village, but ultimately, I think the Rubicon Trail has some of the best views of Lake Tahoe, and a little bit of everything. While this is a year-round hike, it may be limited after rains, so consider avoiding the winter months. More information. You do not want to get stuck behind a bunch of hikers at the cables. There’ll be a left-hand (westerly) turn onto Davidson Road. The village is close to the market and cafes, but don’t worry! ", "Despite their popularity, what day hikes exemplify the unique qualities of this region? By itself, this is one of the best hikes in Kings Canyon, taking visitors to the 100′ waterfall. The JMT stretches 211 miles from Yosemite to Sequoia country and ends at the highest peak in the continental United States, Mount Whitney at 14,496 ft. This home is for solo and couple travelers who enjoy the simple life near the mountains. You’ll have to pay $8 for day use at the state park; there are campsites around here too. And have fun! Keep on reading for my list of the 13 best hikes in California. You should reach First Lake about4.5 miles in. No matter what your hiking experience or fitness level is, you’ll find the right hike on this list for you. Possible for one day but very strenuous and it is the desert so you need to be prepared and have desert hiking experience. If you are afraid of heights, then this hike is not for you. Parking at one trailhead and organizing transport to the other is the method most hiker use. Lee is amazing. Enjoy a peaceful private room right outside of the National Park. If you can make it though, keep on hiking to reach the top of the 594-foot Nevada Falls. The first third of the trail tracks are along the highway, however, so try to just start at Castle Rock State Park instead if you can. Really, this full-day hike is all about enjoying Lake Tahoe, with endless views around every corner. When I lived in the Bay Area, Castle Rock and Big Basin Redwoods State Park were my sanctuaries, and where I went to get away from the city action. We know that’s not a priority, but it sure is nice to kick back and catch a flick if you’re taking a break some camping or trekking. best hikes in zion national park Rose Wilderness, Desolation Wilderness, and Granite Chief Wilderness as well as other state parks and protected lands. 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