If you’re looking for one of the most diverse and breathtaking hiking experiences in Northern California, look no further than these Northern California hiking trails. Spanning from easy to difficult, these hikes offer something for everyone. With incredible views of both the rocky coast and the forested interior, hikers will experience some of the best that NorCal has to offer. So lace up your hiking boots and get ready for an adventure!
Northern California Hiking Trails: Humboldt County
Friendship Ridge Trail to Davison Trail Loop via Fern Canyon
Fern Canyon is one of the most famous northern California hiking trails due to the beauty of this destination. Luckily, the remote nature of this location (way up north at the top of California in Humboldt County) means that it can’t get as crowded as some destinations (like those in Marin, San Francisco, or Santa Cruz).
There are two ways to reach the gorgeous, famed Fern Canyon in northern Humboldt County. The short way (where you park and walk about a mile to the canyon) and the long way (for those who are hikers!). The best hike to Fern Canyon starts from Friendship Ridge Trail (located in Prairie Creek Canyon State Park) which connects to the Davison Trail Loop via Fern Canyon, for a total of 8.5 miles.
This hike starts out underneath the redwoods and meanders through a giant redwood forest along soft, padded red earth trails for the first 3/4 of the hike. The route includes a couple of scenic bridges and a walk through the stunning, lush Fern Canyon before looping back to connect with Davison Loop trail and back to the parking lot. It is common to spot deer or elk in these woods!
A few notes: There is a water station and restrooms at the trailhead parking lot. Dogs are not allowed in the park. Weather can be very wet/rainy during the winter, so summer, spring, or fall are better times to visit.
More ideas for what to do in Humboldt County.
Northern California Hiking Trails: Mendocino County
Fern Canyon and Waterfall Trail Loop (Russian Gulch state park)
There are many different ways to do the Fern Canyon and Waterfall trail loop in Russian Gulch park, ranging in distance from 6-11 miles. If you prefer a shorter hike, you can just do the loop itself or if you’d like to tack on a few more miles you can opt to do the Fern Canyon north and south trail loop.
The trails within Russian Gulch state park are all wonderful and, for the most part, pretty mellow as far as elevation goes. There’s some elevation gain to get to the waterfall but other than that these hikes are average to moderate level as far as difficulty. You’ll start out on red, soft earth trails and end up hiking down to and then back up from a gorgeous waterfall before meandering down wide, open trails lined with giant redwoods.
Something wonderful about this park and its trails is that you almost never hear other people in the park, even if there are a lot of people there. The trees absorb all of the sound!
Insider Tip #1: Don’t miss out on the spectacular views from the headlands in the park. Headlands Trail is located on the other side of the park from the trailheads, so it is good to visit when you have an hour or two free or would like to picnic and enjoy some views. From the Headlands’ trail, you can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and investigate the park’s notorious sinkhole, Devil’s Punchbowl. There are picnic tables located near the parking lot overlooking Panhorst Bridge.
Marin, Sonoma, and Napa County Hiking Trails
Alamere Falls (Palomarin trailhead)
There are a couple of different routes you can take to Alamere Falls, and one of them is only open certain times of year for safety reasons. When it’s allowed, the best way is to walk to the Falls along the beach and then climb up the cliffs to reconnect with the trail for the route back. When that way is closed for safety reasons, it’s necessary to walk to and from the Falls on the beach, which is a pretty long beach walk/great workout! The route starts at the Palomarin trailhead from where you will take the Coast trail and then connect with the Ocean lake loop coast trail to the Alamere Falls trail back to the parking lot. The Alamere Falls via Coast Trail hike from Palomarin Trailhead is a 13.6 mile trail.
Insider Tip: This is an INCREDIBLY popular hike almost year-round so parking fills up early. It’s recommended to get there before 9am if you want to take the whole hike out to the falls. If you just want to do the beginning portion (there are some nice views of the ocean near the beginning of the route, and a trail that heads down to the beach off to the left of the main trail that you can take) there are parking spots that open up later in the day, as people finish the longer hike and leave (around 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, etc.)
Tomales Bay 3 Beaches Hike from Shell Beach
This is a loop trail starting at Shell Beach in Tomales Bay and will include some beautiful scenery including traversing three beaches (Shell Beach, Heart’s Desire, and Indian Beach).
It’s about 10 miles with 1,600 ft. elevation gain . This hike is challenging but not extreme. There are plenty of mellow sections but also a good portion with moderate elevation gain. We will be primarily on open trails but will spend a few miles on tree covered (somewhat shaded) trails. There will be portions of this hike where you will walk across beaches (sand) for a couple hundred or few hundred feet.
Pomo Canyon and Red Hill Loop
The Pomo Canyon trailhead is located across the street from Shell Beach parking lot off of Highway 1. You will park at Shell Beach and walk across the highway to get to the trailhead. There’s a bathroom at Shell Beach but no running water.
You’ll take the scenic Pomo Canyon Trail to Pomo Campground and then loop back over Red Hill, another incredibly scenic trail with stunning views of the bay and the ocean. This is a 6 mile + loop if you go all the way down to the campground before coming back to take the Red Hill trail to loop back. The total elevation gain on this hike is 1,740 feet.
You get everything on this hike- ocean views, Elven type forests looming overhead, scrubby coastal brush, good elevation gain (booty burning hills), and a beautiful scenic drive on the way to/from the Sonoma Coast 🙂
Mount St. Helena
This is one of my favorite fall or winter hikes in Napa County.
This 10.9 mile hike starts from the Mt. St. Helena Trailhead off of Highway 29, north of Calistoga (elevation 2250 feet) within Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. You will begin your ascent on this hike along Table Rock trail, passing the Stevenson Memorial (2590′) and then switching over to the Mount St. Helena Trail, which you’ll take the rest of the way up to the top of the mountain. You’ll reach the summit (4343 feet) at a little over five miles, halfway through the hike. From the top views include landmarks such as Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Diablo, and even downtown San Francisco. On an exceptionally clear day, you might see the Sierra Nevada or even the very distant Laseen Peak.
The first and last mile of this hike are shaded (forest), while most of the rest of the hike is exposed.
Northern California Hiking Trails: East Bay/Walnut Creek
Mount Diablo
Mount Diablo is located in Contra Costa County within the eastern San Francisco Bay Area south of Clayton and northeast of Danville. This park features a series of peaks including the summit at about 3800 feet. You can opt for a shorter route via Summit Trail (7.5-9 miles) that packs in all of the elevation gain into just a few miles and then do a super steep slippery gravely downward trail on the way back or you can opt for the longer way which involves heading out and back again on the same trail (which is what I tend to do, due to not wanting to slip down the mountain and injure myself) and ends up being closer to 12 miles. Either way you’re to get a lot of elevation gain and will experience many spectacular views if you choose to hike all the way to the summit. A lot of people come to this park to train for more challenging summits like Lassen, Whitney, etc. and the trails are typically busy on weekends with both runners and hikers.
For those who aren’t extreme hikers, you can drive up to the summit parking lot and take in the views from the top without hiking all the way there.
Insider tip: This park gets VERY hot in summer and early Fall. Temps can be as high as the very high 90s and even into the 100s in the afternoon. It’s much nicer in winter (the pictures above are from a hike my group took in January) and early Spring when things are green and temperatures are cooler.
Northern California Hiking Trails: Central Coast/Big Sur
Partington Cove Trail (Julia Pfeiffer Burn State Park)
From Meggie at Mindful Meggie
It is easy to drive past the obscure Partington Cove Trail located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The trailhead is in the middle of a California Highway 1 bend with ample shoulder space on both sides of the road for parking, which is free. You can find it on Google Maps with the name “Partington Cove Trailhead” or with GPS coordinates: 36.17701246002215, -121.69377460095309. It is about two miles north of the state park attraction, McWay Falls.
The moderate, 1-mile, out-and-back trail takes about 45 minutes. After you park, walk to the highway’s oceanside where there is a gate marking the trail’s beginning. Enjoy a mindful moment as you descend the steep mountainside with green bushes growing alongside cliffs meeting the ocean. When you reach a trail junction, turn left to cross a wooden footbridge and walk through a 60-foot tunnel. You are following the footsteps of John Partington in the 1880s, who carved this tunnel to transport tanbark-oak to boats parked in the cove to ship lumber to other ports.
At the tunnel’s end, you are rewarded with a narrow trail with a wooden fence hugging the cove. The water brushing against the cove is remarkably pristine and clear despite the groups of chunky seaweed drifting with the water flow. The trail ends at a wooden bench where you can admire where the sea meets the rocky outcropping.
Insider Tip: Before driving to the trail, download the directions and GPS coordinates on your device so you can use them offline. Don’t depend on the poor cell phone reception in this area!
Northern California Hiking Trails: Yosemite and the Sierra Nevadas
Yosemite National Park, the crown jewel of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, welcomes millions of visitors each year. With a lush valley containing waterfalls, towering Sequoias, and plenty of wildlife, there are endless places to hike. One hike in particular, the
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail is easily one of the best hikes in Yosemite National Park and should be on your Yosemite National Park itinerary! At 7.6 miles and 3,218 feet of elevation gain, it is a difficult hike so make sure you are prepared before attempting it. Bring lots of water and check the weather and trail conditions before you go.
The trailhead is located near Camp 4 and Yosemite Valley Lodge. You can park near the trailhead or anywhere in the valley and take the shuttle to the trailhead.
The beginning of the trail is shaded, and you will gain 1000 feet of elevation in 1 mile before reaching Columbia Rock. This point has a great view of Half Dome in the distance. This is also a great turnaround point if you want a shorter hike.
After Columbia Rock, the trail flattens for a bit before ascending up a series of steep switchbacks over a mile. This section of the trail is very exposed to the elements and sun, so start the trail early to avoid the midday sun.
The switchbacks end at about 2.6 miles into the trail. From there it is a little under half a mile to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. There are steep stairs that lead to an overlook of the falls, or you can admire all of Yosemite Valley from far above. For even more of a hike, you can hike the additional 0.8 miles each way to Yosemite Point lookout.
The Four Mile Trail
Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point, takes visitors to soaring heights with an amazing view of the valley below, making this one of the best Northern California hiking trails.
The Four Mile Trail, also known as the Glacier Point trail, is 4.8 miles long one way and has an elevation gain of 3,612 feet. The path was pioneered in 1872 at exactly 4 miles long, but some switch backs were added in the 1920’s, extending the trail length to 4.8 miles. Hikers planning to double back from Glacier Point can expect an out and back journey of 9.6 miles.
Visiting the top of Glacier Point is one of the most popular things to do in Yosemite Valley, and most reach this summit via park shuttle to save energy and time. While the shuttle ride is fun and provides beautiful views, hiking the Four Mile trail to the top is a different experience entirely. Insider tip: Compromise and take the park shuttle up to Glacier Point, and hike the Four Mile Trail down for a less strenuous hiking experience.
The trailhead of the Four Mile Trail begins in the valley near the Infamous swinging bridge. Along the semi-shaded trail, hikers get to see amazing views of the Yosemite Falls, iconic Half Dome, and stunning El Capitan. The Merced River can be seen from above as well. Once Glacier Point is reached, the views of the massive valley below are a surreal and a rewarding experience not to be missed.
Northern California Hiking Trails: The Sierras and Tahoe Hiking Trails
Mount Tallac Trail
The Mount Tallac Trail is one of the best hikes in Lake Tahoe, and also one of the most difficult.
The hike is a grueling climb to the top of Mt. Tallac, which sits at 9,700 feet above sea level, where you’ll be rewarded with unbelievable views out over Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin.
To get there, it’s a 10.5 mile (round trip) hike that climbs 3,300 feet, which is made harder by the fact that the hike starts above 6,000 feet.
This is a difficult hike, and it should not be underestimated. For the second half of the hike, it is very exposed, with little opportunity for shade. Bring plenty of water, especially on warm summer days.
The hike begins from the Mt. Tallac Trailhead (here on Google Maps), which has room for 25-30 cars. Parking along the road leading into the trailhead is prohibited, so make sure to get an early start. There is no bathroom at the trailhead, nor are there any garbage cans or bear boxes to store food.
The trail starts with a short, forested climb that puts you on top of a ridge overlooking Fallen Leaf Lake, which is where the views of Lake Tahoe start. The trail continues climbing through the forest, passing two lakes before the climbing starts.
You’ll find yourself at the base of a neverending set of stone steps, and at the top of those you then begin a steep, rocky climb up the face of the mountain.There will be at least one time during the hike that you think you’ve reached the summit, only to realize you still have several miles to go.
At the top of that climb, the trail levels out a bit and meanders through meadows of wildflowers in the early summer before beginning a steep ascent to the summit for the last half mile or so.
For more Tahoe Hiking trail recommendations visit this post.