Lassen Volcanic National Park, in northeastern California, provides a geologic smorgasbord of hikes, many of them suitable for families with children. Childs Meadows, in the less-traveled eastern section of the park, is surrounded by trails that lead to bubbling hot pots, geysers, cinder cones, lava fields, and sparkling alpine lakes. Mount Lassen itself is a favorite "walkable" peak.
Lake Tahoe, a cobalt jewel that is one of California's largest lakes, is a good base for more than 50 day hikes in the Sierra Nevada range, as well as access points to the famous Desolation Wilderness, an area of jagged granite peaks and glacier-carved lakes. The Tahoe Rim Trail represents 70 miles of spectacular views. Also close to Tahoe are the picturesque Sierra Buttes, with hikable peaks reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, and a vast system of short, but scenic, trails studded with lakes of all sizes, in the appropriately named Lakes Basin.
In central California, the John Muir Wilderness, near the town of Mammoth Lakes, extends for 100 miles along the backbone of the eastern Sierra and includes the John Muir Trail and Mount Whitney, California's highest peak. Although this mountain is walkable, its 10.7-mile trail to the summit (14,495 feet) is strenuous, and thunderstorms can be a hazard, especially in summer.
In the northernmost section of the state, the Mount Shasta area provides excellent hiking and backpacking opportunities, generally at lower altitudes than in the Sierra. Pristine mountain lakes teeming with frisky trout lure backcountry explorers to the Trinity Alps Wilderness, the Marble Mountain Wilderness (with nearly 90 lakes!), and Castle Crags State Park.
Some of California's least-crowded hiking trails are in the remote King Range National Conservation Area, a dramatic union of land and sea located 70 miles south of Eureka on the state's north coast. This region, administered by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, rises from sea level to 4,087 feet in less than a mile. The Lost Coast National Recreation Trail, which winds for 26 miles along isolated and rugged coastline, is definitely worth the effort for hikers seeking a unique experience.
Other coastal hiking trails with ocean views are suitable for short jaunts. Among them, from north to south, are trails at Salt Point State Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Lobos State Reserve, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and, near San Diego, the magnificent Torrey Pines State Reserve.
You don't need to drive far for a brisk hike. Near San Francisco, popular hiking trails are located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Mount Diablo State Park, and the East Bay Regional Park District - all within a 30-minute drive from the city. South of San Jose, near the town of Hollister, Pinnacles National Monument is a bouldering delight for novices, as well as for anyone who likes to scramble through caves and across odd-shaped but smooth, weathered rocks.
Within the boundaries of Los Angeles is sprawling Topanga State Park, with 36 miles of trails on 11,000 acres in the rugged Santa Monica Mountains. A couple of hours east of downtown L. A., the San Bernardino National Forest is a hiker's haven, especially near the resort communities of Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead. If you have strong legs and a set of lungs to match, you might tackle San Bernardino Peak, elevation 10,624 feet, or what many believe to be the finest high-elevation hike in Southern California - San Gorgonio Peak. At 11,499 feet, this is the tallest mountain in the region, and the main trail (South Fork) requires two days to negotiate its 21 miles. The San Jacinto Wilderness and Santa Rosa Mountains are popular hiking places, and many trailheads begin in or near the town of Idyllwild.
Those who want to explore California's deserts should bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat, then head for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This sprawling, 600,000-acre chunk of the Colorado Desert is filled with palm oases, high-walled canyons, and weird, eroded badlands. Sheep Canyon is one of the popular half-day hikes; others are accessible mainly by four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Beyond Palm Springs, desert aficionados will find trails to their liking in Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, Saddleback Butte State Park, and the East Mojave Scenic Area.
Whenever you embark on a hike in California, especially in the high country, be sure to obtain any necessary documents in advance. In Wilderness Areas, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and National Park Service require a Wilderness Permit, which is free and is usually available at trailheads or wilderness centers. At other locations, sign in on trail logs if they are provided. Be sure to leave word with someone about where you are going and when you expect to return. Because weather can always change, it's wise to carry a sweater, a rain shell, plenty of water, a flashlight, matches, and snacks.
