37,206 mapped trails and 2,301 federal parks across 2 states. A complete regional guide.
California compresses more hiking terrain into one state than most countries — Sierra Nevada granite, Mojave and Death Valley deserts, redwood coast, Cascade volcanoes in the north, and chaparral oak woodland through the central valley. Hawaii adds six hikeable islands ranging from sea-level beach walks to the 13,800-ft alpine deserts of Mauna Kea and Haleakalā. Together they hold ten national parks (more than any other region) and the densest trail inventory in the country.
Most American long-distance hiking traditions started here. The Pacific Crest Trail runs 1,700 miles through California. The John Muir Trail covers 211 miles of the High Sierra. The Sierra High Route is the country's most demanding non-technical multi-day. The Lost Coast Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail, and the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains are all California originals.
What makes California unique is the year-round hiking calendar. There's never a wrong season — coast and low elevation work in winter, foothills in spring, Sierra in summer, desert from fall through spring. Hawaii compresses the same range vertically: trade-wind days in any month, but storm windows shift by season.
By the numbers
37,206Mapped trails
2,301Federal parks
2States covered
Advertisement
Sub-regions by hiking character
High Sierra (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Inyo NF): July through September. Granite domes, alpine lakes, the country's highest concentration of 14,000-ft peaks. Permits required for many wilderness entries.
Sierra foothills and Tahoe basin: April-November practical, with Tahoe winter access via snowshoe/ski. Less permit-heavy, easier logistics than the high country.
Coast Range and redwoods: year-round. Cool, foggy summers; mild wet winters. Point Reyes, Big Sur, Mendocino, and the Redwoods all hike best November-May when crowds drop.
Mojave and Sonoran desert: October through April only. Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Anza-Borrego, and Mojave National Preserve are unsafe for hiking in summer.
Northern California (Cascades, Trinity Alps, Lava Beds): June-October. Underrated and far less crowded than the Sierra.
Hawaii — windward (rainforest, falls): May-October driest, but year-round hiking with rain gear. Slipperier on wet days than mainland trails.
Hawaii — leeward (drier, sunnier): year-round. The Big Island's Kona side and Maui's Lahaina coast favor this window.
Hawaii — alpine (Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Haleakalā): summer-fall most stable; freezing temperatures and snow possible at any altitude over 11,000 ft.
Permits and reservations: California specifics
Yosemite Valley requires a timed-entry reservation during peak season (May through September generally; check current year). Mount Whitney has a permit lottery for the Main Mortar Trail. The John Muir Trail has a permit lottery for southbound entries. Many Sierra wilderness areas have daily entry quotas.
Plan your California summer trip in February-March of the same year. Late-arriving hikers consistently underestimate the permit competition for marquee Sierra destinations.
Wildfire and smoke
California's fire season runs May through November and increasingly extends past Thanksgiving. Active fire closures can shut down entire wilderness areas with 12 hours notice. Always check inciweb.gov and the specific forest's website 48 hours before any backcountry trip in the dry season.
Wildfire smoke routinely degrades air quality across the Sierra and foothills even when the fire is hundreds of miles away. Check EPA AirNow for the target trailhead.
Hawaii-specific hazards
Flash floods in narrow valleys (especially Kaua'i's Nā Pali Coast and the Big Island's Kohala) are the leading cause of hiking deaths in Hawaii. Slot canyons can flood from rainfall happening miles upstream. Never enter a narrow valley with active rain in the watershed.
Volcanic gas (vog) on the Big Island can spike to hazardous levels during eruptions. Cliff-edge trails (Kalalau, Diamond Head, Lanikai pillboxes) have caused fatal falls — stay back from the edge in wet conditions.
States in this region
Each state page is a hub for county-level, city-level, and individual trail detail — plus state-specific ranked guides.
Both California and Hawaii reward hikers who plan around season and permit windows. The state pages below link through to county and individual trail detail pages. Our blog catalog includes ranked lists for each state — longest trails, steepest climbs, family hikes, waterfall hikes, and dog-friendly options.
