9 Incredible West Coast Hikes for All Skill Levels
Hiking motivation comes from many places – a refreshing waterfall, a majestic peak, a fitness goal, an invigorating workout, quality time with family and friends. This outdoor inspiration doesn’t have to stop with the change of seasons. Keep the hiking momentum going and build trail time into your monthly schedule all year long with treks in low elevation destinations that offer just as much beauty, wildlife and history as popular summer hikes (and without the crowds!).
From the southern coast of Laguna Beach, to the northern Redwood forests and sprawling desert landscapes in between, we’re spotlighting some of the best hikes in California, plus a must-try trail across the border in Arizona. We have a hike for every region preference and fitness level, so no outdoor adventurer is left behind. Choose your hiking trail and plan your camping trip!
Here are nine West Coast trails to hike any time of year.
1. Hike: Gabrielino Trail
A picnic at Chantry Flats is a great way to start your day of exploration in Big Santa Anita Canyon. Depart the picnic area on the Gabrielino Trail, paved for half a mile before crossing a footbridge and winding deeper into the San Gabriel Mountain range. Rock-hop across creek crossings to a spur trail two miles in that leads to Sturtevant Falls. Return to the trail and continue to Sturtevant Camp, a hike-in only retreat built in 1893 as a resort camp, the last of its kind in southern California. Learn more.
Distance: 8.6 miles
Level: Intermediate
Where: Angeles National Forest, California
2. Hike: Berry Creek Falls Trail
California’s oldest state park, home to the largest stand of coast redwoods south of San Francisco, is your destination for a full day’s adventure. Start on the Sunset Trail at park headquarters and hike in a counter-clockwise direction through the lush, mossy forest. You’ll gain over 2,000 feet of elevation trekking past spectacular waterfalls and massive redwood trees. Reserve a permit to backpack in and camp about halfway through at Sunset Camp. Learn more.
Distance: 11 miles
Level: Strenuous
Where: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California
3. Hike: Hidden Valley Trail
Hike the wide, sandy path through towering boulder formations that form the walls of this desert canyon. An arid landscape of Joshua trees, yucca, creosote bushes and pinyon pines surround you, and plaques along the trail identify them all. Kids will love learning about valley history and how homesteader Bill Keys blasted through the rock here to open up grazing land for his cattle. You can even follow your hike with a guided walking tour of his ranch nearby. Learn more.
Distance: 1 mile
Level: Easy
Where: Joshua Tree National Park, California
4. Hike: Moro Canyon Loop
Start off at the Crystal Cove State Park ranger station to explore the undeveloped coastal backcountry between Los Angeles and San Diego. Crossing a bridge into Moro Canyon, you’ll hike through riparian woodland before climbing 700 feet out of the canyon to sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean along Moro Ridge. Make a day of it by hanging out on the park beach and exploring the World War II-era vacation cottages, tidal pools and historic district along the shoreline. Learn more.
Distance: 5 miles
Level: Intermediate
Where: Laguna Beach, California
Recommended: The Perfect Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary
5. Hike: Cedar Creek Falls Trail
Explore the southernmost national forest on the West Coast, along with a stunning 80-foot waterfall that plunges into one of the San Diego area’s most scenic swimming holes. A wide and well-marked trail descends through a narrow canyon to the Devil’s Punchbowl, an ideal place to cool down and grab a snack before making the climb back to the trailhead. Because of the trail’s popularity, permits are required and a limited number are issued each day. Learn more.
Distance: 6.6 miles
Level: Intermediate
Where: Cleveland National Forest, California
6. Hike: High Peaks Loop
Hit the highlights of this relatively small national park in one day-long hike. Start at the Bear Gulch trailhead to hike in a counter-clockwise loop toward Bear Gulch Cave. Bring your headlamp to navigate the tight passageway all the way to the reservoir at the far end. From here, the High Peaks Trail climbs through a series of switchbacks to over 2,500 feet. Views of the park’s volcanic spires and soaring California condors greet you at the top. Handrails help you navigate your rocky descent, with an optional addition of five miles on an out-and-back lollipop route to the park’s famous talus caves on the Juniper Canyon and Balconies Trails. Learn more.
Distance: 8.4 miles
Level: Strenuous
Where: Pinnacles National Park, California
7. Hike: East Anacapa Island Trail
The stairs leading up the cliff from the ferry landing are the biggest challenge awaiting you on Anacapa Island’s flat, figure-eight trail. One of the lesser-visited islands in the park, East Anacapa offers a self-guided history tour against the dramatic Pacific Ocean backdrop. Visit the lighthouse, bluffs at Cathedral Cove and Pinniped Point, and grassy eastern terraces on the interpretive trail. Look for nesting seabirds like brown pelicans and cormorants at misty Inspiration Point. Learn more.
Distance: 2.5 miles
Level: Easy to intermediate
Where: Channel Islands National Park, California
8. Hike: Mosaic Canyon Trail
Start your hike in a narrow slot canyon of slick, polished marble rock that’s been worn away by the erosive forces of water and wind. The flat trail opens into a wider upper canyon to a turn-around point at a waterfall that runs dry most of the year. Take plenty of water and hike early in the day to avoid dangerously high temperatures, even in winter. Mosaic Canyon is just outside Stovepipe Wells, one of the few communities inside the park. Stay overnight in the village for quick access to an unobstructed view of the Milky Way and night sky over Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes. Learn more.
Distance: 4 miles
Level: Intermediate
Where: Death Valley National Park, California / Nevada
9. Hike: Freeman Homestead Nature Trail
Saguaro National Park was established as a national monument in 1933 to protect the massive cacti that only grow at lower elevations in the Sonoran Desert. One of the best trails for taking in these rare plants is along the family-friendly Freeman Homestead Trail. Interpretive signs identify plants and wildlife, and there’s a good chance of spying owls, raptors, woodpeckers, lizards, snakes and desert tortoise that make their home here. Learn more.
Distance: 1.1 miles
Level: Easy
Where: Saguaro National Park, Arizona
