California

Where will you

Explore?

Weekend Getaways

Week-Long Adventures

Gritty Expeditions

Backpacking Trails in California

Home to over 14 million acres of wilderness, California is every outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Visit the great state and experience well-known backpacking trails through northern California like the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) or adventure through the best backpacking trails in southern California in San Bernardino National Forest. With so many landscapes and trails to choose from, hikers of every skill level can find easy backpacking trails in California to create long weekend getaways or more difficult journeys for gritty expeditions. Pack your bag and start planning your trip west!

*Our information may not always be current and should be used for trip planning / selection purposes only. Always call ahead for the most current information before setting out on your trip.

Weekend Getaway

Weekend Getaways

Castle Crags Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 28

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1-3 nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Crystal Cove State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 17

Group Size Limit: 4 per campsite

Best For: 1 night

Permit/Reservation: Required

Mount San Jacinto State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 31

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-3 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Week-Long Adventures

Anchor 1

Point Reyes National Seashore

Number of Miles of Trail: 150

Group Size Limit: 14

Best For: 1-6 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail

Number of Miles of Trail: 33

Group Size Limit: 6

Best For: 1-4 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Number of Miles of Trail: 63

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-6 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Anchor 2

Gritty Expeditions

Angeles National Forest - San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Number of Miles of Trail: 550+

Group Size Limit: Keep groups small

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Ansel Adams Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 350

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 200

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Channel Islands National Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 100+

Group Size Limit: 16

Best For: 1-14 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Cleveland National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 350+

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Death Valley National Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 184*

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

*Estimate

Desolation Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 71*

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-10 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

*Estimate

Eldorado National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 350

Group Size Limit: 8

Best For: 1-10 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Emigrant Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 150

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Henry W. Coe State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 250

Group Size Limit: 8 per campsite

Best For: 1-35 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 100+

Group Size Limit: 6

Best For: 1-13 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Inyo Mountains Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 100+

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-13 nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Inyo National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,200+

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-∞ nights; varies by wilderness area

Permit/Reservation: Required

John Muir Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 590+

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Joshua Tree National Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 100+

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-14 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Klamath National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,000+

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Lassen National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 92*

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

*Estimate

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 150

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1-21 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Los Padres National Forest Main

Number of Miles of Trail: 900+

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Los Padres National Forest North

Number of Miles of Trail: 300+

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Marble Mountain Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 600+

Group Size Limit: 25

Best for: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Mendocino National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 98*

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

*Estimate

Modoc National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 98*

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

*Estimate

Mokelumne Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 350

Group Size Limit: 8

Best For: 1-10 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Plumas National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 300

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Redwood National & State Parks

Number of Miles of Trail: 200+

Group Size Limit: 8

Best For: 1-28 nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 98*

Group Size Limit: 8

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

*Estimate

Russian Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 100

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

San Bernardino National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 400+

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Optional

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Number of Miles of Trail: 800+

Group Size Limit: 15 (less in some areas)

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

Sequoia National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 850

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,500+

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Sierra National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,000+

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-20 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Siskiyou Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 100+

Group Size Limit: 25

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Six Rivers National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 250

Group Size Limit: N/A

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required

South Warner Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 80

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-11 nights

Permit/Reservation: Not required

Stanislaus National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 1,100

Group Size Limit: Variable

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Tahoe National Forest

Number of Miles of Trail: 98*

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Not required

*Estimate

Trinity Alps Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 600+

Group Size Limit: 10

Best For: 1-13 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

Yosemite National Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 800+

Group Size Limit: 15 (8 off-trail)

Best For: 1-14 nights (hard limit)

Permit/Reservation: Required

California

Where will you

Explore?

Weekend Getaways

Week-Long Adventures

Gritty Expeditions

Backpacking Trails in California

*Our information may not always be current and should be used for trip planning / selection purposes only. Always call ahead for the most current information before setting out on your trip.

Weekend Getaways

Week-Long Adventures

Gritty Expeditions

Looking for more, short trips near California? Explore Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona state pages for more close trips!

Don't see your favorite place? Found an error on the site? Let us know and help backpackers everywhere!

California

Where will you

Explore?

Weekend Getaways

Week-Long Adventures

Gritty Expeditions

Backpacking Trails in California

*Our information may not always be current and should be used for trip planning / selection purposes only. Always call ahead for the most current information before setting out on your trip.

Weekend Getaways

Week-Long Adventures

Gritty Expeditions

Looking for more, short trips near California? Explore Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona state pages for more close trips!

Don't see your favorite place? Found an error on the site? Let us know and help backpackers everywhere!

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