Rated Hiking Trails in California

The Lost Coast Trail offers a rare glimpse of Northern California's most rugged and remote coastline wilderness. The trail extends for 34 miles alongside the Pacific Ocean in Humboldt County, nestled in ancient redwood forests several hours' drive north of Mendocino.

Soaring high above all the other mountains in California's Sierra Nevada range, Mount Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 states. Mount Whitney is in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and is the southern endpoint of the John Muir Trail, named after the famous naturalist and advocate of wilderness preservation.

The McCloud River in Northern California is home to a series of stunning waterfalls. These brilliant displays of gravity are approximately seven miles east of McCloud, within Shasta-Trinity National Forest. And while it's hard to say which of the falls is the most scenic, it's a relatively easy four-mile round trip to see all three.

Laguna Coast Wilderness park comprises over 7,000 acres within some of the last remaining coastal canyons of Southern California. Sagebrush and elevation gains define much of the landscape, as well as a vast network of tamped-down hiking trails. And any one of these routes through the wilderness park transports hikers far from the hustle and bustle of the region.

Pinnacles was established as a national park in 2013, making it California's newest national park. It's east of the Salinas Valley, with no road connecting the park's east and west access points, meaning visitors head to the park from either Salinas or Hollister.

At the end of the James Irvine Trail, the path connects with the short (0.6-mile) Fern Canyon Trail, which leads to the beach. Seven different types of ferns blanket the canyon. The dense vegetation absorbs sounds, lending a sense of peacefulness. It's completely quiet here, except for the chirping of birds, the rushing (or trickle) of a freshwater creek, and ocean waves crashing in the distance.

Hikers admire some of the word's tallest and oldest trees at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, which is one of the jointly managed Redwood National and State Parks in northern California. This grove of old-growth coastal redwood trees descends from a primeval forest that existed when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

The Sea Lion Point Trail delights nature lovers who appreciate marine wildlife and ocean views. the 0.6-mile loop trail is a short and easy hike within an especially scenic portion of Point Lobos State Reserve, just south of the Monterey Peninsula.

Leading to Big Sur's most frequently photographed sight, this trail is in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Named after the female pioneer who owned a ranch in Big Sur country in the early 1900s, the park stretches along the mountainous Big Sur coastline, with its forested 3,000-foot ridges that drop off dramatically into the Pacific Ocean. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has two walk-in campsites, which are among Big Sur's best campgrounds.

The majestic, snowcapped Mount Shasta is one of the most inspiring places to hike in California. Many visitors come to Mount Shasta seeking a spiritual experience in nature. Adventurous outdoor enthusiasts come for the challenge of climbing to the mountain's summit. However, Mount Shasta has plenty of hiking trails that are suitable for the average hiker.