Hikes in California

California is blessed with a variety of beautiful landscapes. You can stroll along beautiful coastlines, summit 14,000-foot peaks, or hike up desert canyons. California has so much to offer!

Hikespeak has write-ups for over 450 hikes in California (including over 175 Los Angeles area hikes). California also has campgrounds and other outdoor attractions that you can learn about on hikespeak.com. California trails have been organized into a few hiking regions. Pick a region from the map below to see a page with a list of trails in that area that can be searched and sorted. These lists offer links to individual write-ups packed with photos, GPS maps, directions, and other useful details. Hiking in California is a wonderful thing!

California Hiking Regions

Want to visit one of California’s national parks? Jump straight to Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles, Sequoia, or Yosemite.

Interested in other states? See where else hikespeak has been by switching over to the US page.

Not sure where you want to hike? Check out the latest trail reports below.

hikespeak

Latest reports in California (page 1)

Los Angeles

Fallen Leaf Campground
in Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands

Campgrounds | Lake Tahoe

While Lake Tahoe's deep blue waters are the region's biggest draw for summertime visitors, the under-the-radar Fallen Leaf Lake is a jewel in its own right. Fallen Leaf Campground is a great basecamp for exploring both lakes, thanks to its central location about 1/4 mile from the north end of Fallen Leaf Lake and a mile from the south end of Lake Tahoe. ...Read more.

By: Seth Smigelski Published: September 11, 2024 Last updated: April 17, 2026

Sierra Nevada

Moraine Trail to Fallen Leaf Lake
in Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands

Lake Tahoe | Trails

Trail Rating:

Moraine Trail to Fallen Leaf Lake in Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands

What's better than hiking by a lovely creek - maybe hiking by a lovely lake. You can do both on Moraine Trail, visiting Fallen Leaf Lake and Taylor Creek in the Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands near South Lake Tahoe. This easy and level loop is 1.1 miles long, including a short side trail to Fallen Leaf Lake Dam. The mountain-cradled Fallen Leaf Lake is located just south of Lake Tahoe. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Free Trails · Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands · Lakes · South Lake Tahoe

Distance: 1.1 miles · Elevation change: 35 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: July 26, 2023 Last updated: April 18, 2026

Sierra Nevada

Way of the Mono Trail
in Sierra National Forest

Sierra NF | Trails

Trail Rating:

Way of the Mono Trail in Sierra National Forest

Interpretive trails are usually good places to appreciate the finer features of a forest, but they tend to lack grand vistas. This is not the case with Way of the Mono Trail, which rises to a splendid view over Bass Lake, a beauty in the Sierra Nevada Mountains south of Yosemite National Park. Way of the Mono Trail is a 0.6-mile loop with 140 feet of elevation change. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Bass Lake · Free Trails · Lakes · Morteros · Native American Heritage · Nature Trails · Oakhurst

Distance: 0.6 miles · Elevation change: 140 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: June 30, 2021 Last updated: April 12, 2026

Los Angeles

“Social Distancing” hikes around Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Most trails around Los Angeles have now closed. You are about to read an unusual post for a hiking website, written during the coronavirus pandemic. Hikespeak.com is in no way qualified to offer medical advice. If the government issues any rules or guidelines that contradict something written here, ignore hikespeak and follow the recommendations of government and medical professionals. ...Read more.

Tagged with · San Gabriel Mountains · Santa Monica Mountains

By: Seth Smigelski Published: March 17, 2020 Last updated: April 8, 2026

Central Coast

Lemon Grove & “M” Trails Loop on Cerro San Luis
in San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo | Trails

Trail Rating:

Lemon Grove & “M” Trails Loop on Cerro San Luis in San Luis Obispo

The mountain named Cerro San Luis is one of the top places to hike in San Luis Obispo, and its trailhead is actually in walking distance from downtown SLO. If you're drawn to the large white “M” on the side of the mountain, you're in luck! Not only is the “M” reachable as an extension of the hike to the summit, but thanks to trail created in 2017, hikers can touch the “M” at the top of a loop. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Free Trails · Morros

Distance: 2.4 miles · Elevation change: 560 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: April 2, 2019 Last updated: April 18, 2026

Central Coast

Creek Bypass Trail Loop
in Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve

San Luis Obispo | Trails

Trail Rating:

Creek Bypass Trail Loop in Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve

During the late teens of the 22nd century, San Luis Obispo has developed Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve into a versatile hiking destination, with upgraded trails and features. Reservoir Canyon Trail and Summit Trail deliver great half-day hikes. However, a shorter option exists that packs Reservoir Canyon into a one-mile experience with 150 feet of elevation change. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Free Trails · Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve · Waterfalls

Distance: 1 mile · Elevation change: 150 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: February 12, 2019 Last updated: April 18, 2026

Northern California

Hedge Creek Falls
in Dunsmuir

Northern California | Siskiyou | Trails

Trail Rating:

Hedge Creek Falls is a 35-foot waterfall pouring over a basalt overhang into a wooded ravine above the Sacramento River south of Mount Shasta. A short trail leads to the waterfall from a trailhead right beside an Interstate 5 offramp in Dunsmuir, so this waterfall hike makes a great break from highway travel. The fun trail actually passes behind the waterfall, going underneath the overhang, and continues down to a Sacramento River Overlook, resulting in a never-a-dull-moment 0. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Dunsmuir · Free Trails · Mount Shasta · Waterfalls

Distance: 0.6 miles · Elevation change: 130 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: February 4, 2019 Last updated: December 5, 2025

Los Angeles

Longridge Park
in Sherman Oaks

Los Angeles | Trails

Trail Rating:

The Santa Monica Mountains have significant parks with great hiking getaways. Often overlooked are smaller undeveloped pockets within the mountains that offer quick escapes from the stresses of Los Angeles. Longridge Park in Sherman Oaks is the latter, a 50-acre park with a 0.2-mile long use-trail. Longridge Trail has ridge-top views throughout its short run, like perspectives north across the San Fernando Valley and east toward the Griffith Park end of the range. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Longridge Park · Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority · Sherman Oaks · Dog-Friendly Trails · Mountain Biking Trails · Santa Monica Mountains

Distance: 0.4 miles · Elevation change: 75 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: January 14, 2019 Last updated: April 8, 2026

Northern California

Haystack Trail
in Klamath National Forest & Mount Shasta

Northern California | Siskiyou | Trails

Trail Rating:

Haystack Trail in Klamath National Forest & Mount Shasta

The Haystack is a diminutive volcanic dome with great views of the enormous, snowy mass of Mount Shasta. Haystack Trail presents a 2.55-mile lollipop loop hike that tours the Haystack's summit plateau, boasting broad views in all directions that include Mount Shasta, the Klamath Mountains, and Shasta Valley. This high desert hike passes through juniper and sage that get embellished by spring wildflowers like lupines and Indian paintbrush. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Buttes · Free Trails · Klamath National Forest · Montague · Mount Shasta · Weed

Distance: 2.55 miles · Elevation change: 375 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: March 7, 2018 Last updated: December 5, 2025

Los Angeles

Las Virgenes View Trail
in the Santa Monica Mountains

Los Angeles | Trails

Trail Rating:

Las Virgenes View Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains

Las Virgenes View Park preserves nearly 700 acres of the Santa Monica Mountains adjacent to Malibu Creek State Park. The park has one established trail, Las Virgenes View Trail, which rises to a panorama-boasting ridge. The trail traverses grasslands and oak woodlands near Las Virgenes Road and then runs up a canyon to a ridge where it forms a small loop with mountain views in all directions. ...Read more.

Tagged with · Free Trails · Las Virgines View Park · Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority · Dog-Friendly Trails · Mountain Biking Trails · Santa Monica Mountains

Distance: 4.95 miles · Elevation change: 520 feet

By: Seth Smigelski Published: March 2, 2018 Last updated: April 18, 2026

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