The 12 best hikes in California: get outside in the Golden State

08.09.2023 - 17:35 / lonelyplanet.com / Steven Spielberg

If the landscapes of each US state had their own Miss America–style competition, California would be a serious contender for the crown.

Traversing a dramatic coastline, sky-high granite peaks, cascading waterfalls, the world’s tallest trees, translucent blue lakes and desert oases, this state’s eye-popping hikes offer such variety that choosing favorites feels ridiculous. But we’ve done just that.

We’ve covered some popular trails but also a few that lead adventurers away from the crowds and into the wilderness, where experiences with diverse habitats and wildlife await. Here are the best hikes in California.

Best hike for admiring redwood forests
5.5 miles round trip, 3–4 hours, moderate

Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth, stretching more than 350ft high and living for more than 1000 years. California is one of few places in the world to behold their majesty. Though hikers have many redwood trails to choose from, the Boy Scout Tree Trail is a classic. 

Despite its remote, far-north location in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, numerous visitors brave the winding road through the forest and compete for limited parking at the trailhead. For the opportunity to wander this sometimes steep and uneven path among the towering, old-growth giants, it’s all worth it. On clear days, the sunlight filtering through the canopy is pure magic.

Best hike in Northern California
1.1 miles round trip, 1–2 hours, easy

Steven Spielberg filmed scenes for Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World here – and for good reason. The gargantuan ferns climbing the walls of this yawning, 80ft canyon are decidedly dinosaur-sized and so awe-inspiring is the verdant scenery that this place has been designated a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. 

Located within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Fern Canyon gets crowded in the summertime, and the parking lot, accessed via a dirt road through the forest, can fill up. Also, note that the road can become impassable in winter. Bring footwear for walking in water: the trail intersects with a winding, pebble-filled creek, and your lower extremities will likely get wet.

Best hike for mountains and volcanoes
5 miles round trip, 4–5 hours, moderate to challenging

California’s hydrothermal superstar, Lassen Volcanic National Park features four types of volcanoes, including the world’s largest plug-dome. That’s 10,457ft Lassen Peak, which last blew its top less than 100 years ago and remains active today. The most intrepid hikers now climb it. 

Why? The sensational views over all of Lassen, including terrain devastated by eruptions and dotted with crystal clear lakes, for starters. But the trail also features rare alpine plants, snow patches and evidence of glacial episodes.