Explore 6 Best Places in California With Hiking Trails for Beginners and Pros

Hitting hiking trails is one of the best ways to explore a new area. And California has some of the best places for hiking. From deserts to mountains and Lakes to waterfalls, it has everything. Whether you are a pro hiker or just starting out, California has it all. It hosts the toughest hiking trails of Yosemite and Death valley and at the same time it offers easy treks of Angora Lake and Rainbow Trail. All the places highlighted in this post comes with a package of easy as well as tough trails. If you are looking for a destination with hiking trails then you are in the right place. In this post we are going to explore the 6 best places for hiking in California for everyone.

What does it mean when I say for beginners and pro-hikers? How to determine how difficult a hiking trail is? How to know if the trail is suitable for you? So, before knowing the places with amazing Hiking Trails, let’s know about the levels of hiking, pro-hiker and beginner-hiker first.

How to know if the Hiking Trail is for me or not? Level of Difficulty of a Hiking Trail: Trails for Beginners and Pros

There is a very advanced way of calculating the level of hiking. The formula that I found on the website of NPS(NATIONAL PARK SERVICE) is like this:

The square root of (Elevation Gain × 2 × distance (in miles)) is the numerical rating of the hiking trail.

Let’s not get very much into this mathematical calculation. Frankly speaking, if somehow you get to know the numerical value of a hiking trail then remember this.

A Hiking Trail with a numerical rating of less than 50 is the easiest.

Anyone with no skills in hiking at all can enjoy this kind of hiking trail. You don’t need any kind of experience or anything to enjoy hiking on such a trail. These hikes are generally less than 2-3 miles with a very slight incline.

A hiking Trail with a numerical rating between 50 – 100 is moderate.

People who have not hiked before but they believe they can do it well then can opt for these kinds of hiking trails. California has a lot of them. These trails are mostly 3-5 miles long with slight inclines. Anyone with a healthy body can try to hike on these trails.

Hiking Trails with a numerical rating of 100 to 150 are considered moderately exhausting

Only an experienced hiker should attempt these kinds of trails. These include steep inclines, steady terrain and longer trails. A person with an unconditioned body should not start their hiking journey with such kinds of trails. Moderately exhausting trails can be long up to 8 miles which can be very exhausting for some.

Exhausting Trails with a numerical Rating of 150 to 200

Only pro hikers should attempt to hike exhausting trails with a numerical rating of 150 to 200. These include very steep inclines, elevated terrain, low human intervention areas and even more tough conditions.

Very Exhausting hiking trails with a numerical rating above 200

You can just guess how well-conditioned and well-trained you need to be to even think of attempting such trails. You would be amazed to know that there are such hiking trails in California. These require proper training and brushing up before the hiking no matter how expert you are.

You need to be familiar with the condition of the trail in advance to counter when you are there. It may seem more like a mission than a fun adventure. Beginners or people without well-conditioned bodies and experience should never attempt hiking on these trails.

In Short

Levels	Numerical Rating	Features
Easiest	Below 50	Very slight inclination or no inclination, no steep rocks, best for new timers, beginners, no experience or no hiking skills, less than 3 miles, few hours of hike
Moderate	50 – 100	Slight Inclination with a few steep rocks in the way, best for beginners, needs some level of hiking knowledge, best for fit people to try for the first time, between 3 to 5 miles, few hours of hike
Moderately Exhausting	100 – 150	High level of inclination, low human intervention, hiking risks come in place, need a pro level of skills and experience, requires well-conditioned body, between 8 to 10 miles of the hike, almost a full day hike
Exhausting	150 – 200	The very slight inclination or no inclination, no steep rocks, best for new timers, beginners, no experience or no hiking skills, less than 3 miles, few hours of hike
Very Exhausting	above 200	Highly inclined trails, rock climbing, stream crossing, dessert trails, forest trails, national parks, tough weather conditions, risk of wild animals, thrilling moments, more adventure, need skilled and experienced hiker, training or brush up before the hike, proper knowledge of the trail prior to the hike

These 6 best places that we are going to discuss have almost all these kinds of trails. You can choose trails based on your level of experience and skills. Few of them are hours long, some are half days and some of them are just full-day long hikes. There are hikes which last for days. Therefore. it is completely up to you to opt for the best suitable trail and California will offer it to you.

Discover the Top 6 Best Places in California crowded with Hiking Trails for All Levels – Beginners to Pros

1. Yosemite National Park

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Featuring some of the most beautiful flowers, green meadows, falls, valleys and landscapes; Yosemite National Park has so much to offer. It has the highest waterfall in the USA. And the valleys are the result of melted glaciers. The Half Dome and El Capitan are also some of the most iconic spots. It is very popular among hikers. Snowshoeing is popular during winter. Filled with incredibly amazing hiking trails with waterfalls, there are places with all levels of treks in California. Like the trekking sites in Manali, Yosemite National Park is also filled with greenery and scenic sites.

Best Hiking Trails for Beginners at Yosemite National Park

1. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail
   • 1.9km/24min
2. Mirror Lake paved Trail
   • 3.2kms/41min
3. Wawoona Meadow Loop Trail
   • 5.8km/1hr16min

Best Hiking Trails for Pros at Yosemite National Park

1. Four Mile Trail
   • 15.6km/6hrs23min
2. Eagle peak
   • 18km/8hrs
3. Yosemite Grand Tour
   • 26.7km/10hrs

If you really liked Yosemite National Park and are eager to go hiking then check out this video to know in depth about the hiking trails in there.

2. Joshua Tree National Park

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Joshua Tree National Park is a great spot for rock climbing, hiking, star gazing and astral photography. It is a desert full of Joshua trees and has a lot of amazing locations having hiking trails in the state of California. This place is suitable for beginners to advanced rock climbers. You can also hike up the canyons using ropes and ladders.

Best Hiking Trails for Beginners at Joshua Tree National Park

1. Oasis of Mara
   • 0.8km/10min
2. Jumbo Rocks Campground Loop
   • 2.6km/30min
3. Dessert Queen Mine Road
   • 3.9km/50min

Best Hiking Trails for Pros at Joshua Tree National Park

1. Brooklyn Mine Road
   • 18km
2. Quali Mountain Trail
   • 19km
3. Geology Tour Road
   • 29km

3. Death Valley National Park

It is a very diverse area with sand dunes, salt flats, cool caves, and canyons. It is the biggest National Park in the USA. And it has the lowest point in the whole of the USA. They have the tallest sand dunes in America. Because of the sand dunes, it has, there are many places having hidden hiking trails in the state of California.

Best Hiking Trails for Beginners at Death Valley

1. Zabriskie Point
   • 0.6km/10min
2. Badwater Basin Salt Flats Trail
   • 3.1km/33min
3. Devil’s Golf Course
   • 4.2km/50min

Best Hiking Trails for Pros at Death Valley

1. Telescope Peak Trail
   • 19.6km
2. Surprise Canyon Trail
   • 20km
3. Pyramid Peak
   • 15km

4. Mammoth Lake

This is a great area for snowboarding. There is a huge ski and snowboarding resort in the nearby places makes California a popular hiking destination. The sunrise here is the most sought-after activity for photographers and travellers as well. The slopes, hot springs, and Mammoth Creek Geological Site are all popular spots for tourists.

Best Hiking Trails for Beginners at Mammoth Lake

1. Devils Postpile Loop
   • 2.1km/40min
2. McLeod Lake Trail
   • 3km/1hr
3. Inyo Craters Trail
   • 2.6km/50min

Best Hiking Trails for Pros at Mammoth Lake

1. Duck Pass and Pika Lake Trail
   • 16.3km/5hr
2. Mammoth Crest Loop
   • 20.8km/7hr
3. Hiltons Lakes Trail
   • 19.5km/6hr

5. Lake Tahoe

During spring and summer, the lake has beautiful blue waters. In winter these places become even more suitable for hiking. It has incredible mountain views along with snow-capped peaks and trees laden with snow. You can also go for skiing and snowboarding there. There are a lot of options for accommodation.

Best Hiking Trails for Beginners at Lake Tahoe

1. Angora Lakes Trail
   • 2kmkm/34min
2. Rainbow Trail
   • 1km/12min
3. Tahoe Keyes Loop
   • 2.3km/24min

Best Hiking Trails for Pros at Lake Tahoe

1. Mount Tallac Trail
   • 17km
2. Clyde Lake
   • 24km/7hr
3. Glen Alpine Loop
   • 19.5km

6. Redwood National Park

It can be visited all year round. It has enormous places for hiking and biking in the whole of California. Ancient ferns, lush green forest and giant trees mark this place as one of the most beautiful spots for travellers and hikers. In fall and winter, you will get to see low-hanging fog, frequent rains and moody weather but it would be a great time to visit if you expect less crowd.

Best Hiking Trails for Beginners at Redwood National Park

1. Yurok Loop Trail
   • 1.9km/27min
2. Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail
   • 2.4km/32min
3. Coastal Trail and Yurok Loop
   • 3.7km/50min

Best Hiking Trails for Pros at Redwood National Park

1. Dolason Prairie Trail
   • 14.6km/5hr
2. Tall Trees Access Road
   • 19.3km/5hr30min
3. Mill Creek Horse Trail
   • 15km/4hr40min

Explore some of the above hiking trails in California with this video.

If you still can’t figure out which one is the best for you then this part of the article may help you out. California has every kind of trail with different levels of hiking. No matter whether you are a pro or a beginner, there will be something for you in California for hiking.

Beginners

• Level 1.
  • This is the easiest kind of hike without any inclines at all. It is like strolling in a park or any tourist destination.
  • It is best for First timers and beginners.
  • Generally, it is fine to bring kids, teens and dogs on these hikes.

• Level 2.
  • The 2nd level in the beginner hikes includes some inclined trails and a few tough terrains.
  • Best for First timers, beginners
  • Most kids will be okay to bring with them, okay for teens and dogs.

• Level 3.
  • Best for fun and adventurous hikes. It requires some hiking experience still okay for first-timers.
  • Best for beginners with some basic knowledge of hiking.
  • A few Kids can be brought up with, okay for teens and dogs.

Moderate

• Level 1.
  • This will include a moderately high inclination in the trails with tough trains. May include wet trails, rocky paths and such.
  • Best for beginners with some knowledge and experience in hiking
  • Okay to bring Teens and some dogs

This is how the levels of hikes are decided. The above detailing was to provide you with an idea of how the levels of hikes are determined. And by that how can you decide which one is best for you.

Conclusion

Hiking is one of the most sought-after activities in California. From super popular to super silent spots there is no end to it. The places of California mentioned above have endless hiking trails and that too of various difficulty levels. People of all age groups participate in Hiking in California. Families, friends, couples, groups etc can go hiking and have a great time with their loved ones. While this list may not contain even half of the Hiking Trails in California, we surely have tried to put up the best on this list from South California, Central California to Northern California.