Hikes in California

Where can you go for a loop hike in a wilderness area in Orange County? Why, Weir Canyon of course. Weir Canyon Trail provides a 3.8-mile loop over undulating terrain on the side of Weir Canyon in the Anaheim Hills below the Santa Ana Mountains. There is 350 feet of elevation between the high and low points of the loop, but all the ups and downs along the trail make it feel more like a hike with a thousand feet of elevation gain. ...Read more.

The foreboding sounding Tarantula Hill, which also goes by the more welcoming name of Dawn's Peak, is a small, isolated mound in Thousand Oaks that hikers can summit for views over the Conejo Valley and into the nearby Santa Monica Mountains. If your spider senses are detecting pavement, that's because the entire half-mile-long trail up Tarantula Hill is paved. ...Read more.

Newport Bay is a vital stopover for birds migrating across Southern California. Hikers can explore the estuary too, on trails in Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, a 142-acre coastal habitat managed by the Orange County Parks Department. The preserve's West Bluff has a few trails (some open to equestrians and bikers) that provide easy hikes of a mile or more, including the 2. ...Read more.

Oats Peak is the second highest summit in Montaña de Oro State Park, a full 26 feet taller than Valencia Peak, which is probably the park's favorite summit for hikers. Oats Peak is located a couple miles inland of Valencia Peak, sporting smaller ocean views and greater views over the Irish Hills, the canyons and ridges making up the interior of the Montaña de Oro State Park. ...Read more.

Montaña de Oro State Park has every type of hike you could want, ranging from easy oceanfront strolls to difficult summit ascents. If you're feeling like Goldilocks and want something in the middle (just right), check out Reservoir Flats Trail, a 2-mile loop with 200 feet of elevation gain that is conveniently located just behind the park visitor center. ...Read more.

Montaña de Oro State Park preserves a stunning stretch of the California's Central Coast where the Irish hills meet the Pacific Ocean. Picturesque bluffs and sandy coves dominate the coastline. The inland side of the park has charming peaks and canyons. Within the park's largest canyon, Islay Creek Canyon, you'll find Islay Creek Campground. The conveniently-located campground is just a short walk from the beach at Spooner's Cove and can serve as a base camp for hikes on nearby trails like the Bluff Trail, Valencia Peak Trail, Hazard Peak Trail, Islay Creek Trail, and Oats Peak Trail. ...Read more.

On the beautiful coast west of Santa Barbara, you'll find El Capitán State Beach, a 2,600-acre California State Park with a large campground and hiking trails. The park's top draw is the beach, and while you can drive right up to a strip of surf-friendly sand, you may also want to stretch your legs on the park's short nature trail. The Nature Trail loops through a lush sycamore grove bordering El Capitán Creek to approach the rocky shore at the end of El Capitán Point. ...Read more.

Santa Barbara County is famous for its beautiful beaches, and El Capitán State Beach is one worth noting, allowing visitors to camp on a low bluff just above the ocean. El Capitán State Beach is a fun place to camp with family and friends, relaxing by the ocean and falling asleep to the sound of the waves each night. The campground is located on a point 17 miles west of Santa Barbara, between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean. ...Read more.

Crafty mountain bikers have built a playground for themselves in a eucalyptus grove in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains near Cal Poly. It is 1.85 miles from a trailhead on Stenner Creek Road to The Eucs, where bikers can zip down freeride trails with impressive banked turns and jumps. Hikers can enjoy the trail up Stenner Creek Canyon too, taking in views of nearby Bishop Peak and surrounding San Luis Obispo County landscapes. ...Read more.

Are you looking for a hike that's an action-packed adventure? Rarely does a 2.1-mile loop offer as much excitement as the hike to the Cave of Munits and Castle Peak. You'll start with a gradual warm-up across El Escorpion Park to Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve to find a fun vertical cave just begging to be explored. You won't need any ropes or gear to get through the cave, just an adventurous spirit that will lead you out the top of the cave to a tough off-trail ascent to Castle Peak, a panoramic summit towering over the west end of the San Fernando Valley. ...Read more.