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Image by Mick Haupt

California

46

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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 .jpg

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 Sea Trail.jpg

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.jpg

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 Mo

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.jpg

Ansel Adams Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 350

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required 

Carson-Iceberg Wilderness .jpg

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 .jpg

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.jpg

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,.jpg

Death Valley National Park

Number of Miles of Trail: 184* 

Group Size Limit: 12

Best For: 1-∞ nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required 

*Estimate

Desolation Wilderness .jpg

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.jpg

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 .jpg

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 .jpg

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.jpg

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 .jpg

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.jpg

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 .jpg

John Muir Wilderness

Number of Miles of Trail: 590+

Group Size Limit: 15

Best For: 1-∞ nights

Permit/Reservation: Required 

Joshua Tree National Park.jpg

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.jpg

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 Fores.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

Redwood National & State Parks

Number of Miles of Trail: 200+

Group Size Limit: 8

Best For: 1-28 nights 

Permit/Reservation: Required 

Rogue River .jpg

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 (.jpg

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.jpg

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.jp

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.jpg

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.jpg

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 .jpg

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.jpg

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 .jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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.jpg

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 

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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