10 US National Park hiking trails not to miss: Yosemite Flickr image by Virtous One

Guide to California trekking holidays

Trekkers love California. You’ll never get bored with the state: you can climb mountains, explore deep canyons, take a hike along the ocean-side or walk through wine country. California’s glamorous reputation only tells a small part of the state’s story. Step away from Hollywood and explore the wilderness on a California trekking trip.

California trekking Yosemite Flickr image by Virtous One

Yosemite is California’s big hitter when it comes to trekking, and deservedly so. The park is the size of many European countries and has over 1000 kilometres of trails. These trails run past beaches, over mountains, through wildflower meadows, along rivers, and through forests. Yosemite Valley is perhaps the most stunning place to see, with high granite walls and waterfalls.

California’s Death Valley, a desolate land of salt flats, sand dunes and rocks. Lying below sea level, it is arid and very hot: go in winter. As you need to carry all of your own water, it’s difficult to do a long trek in Death Valley. But it’s definitely worth doing a short one to explore this other-worldly land.

If you’re craving some beach time with your trekking, head for Point Reyes. Just an hour north of San Francisco, this seaside park has wild, untouched beaches and grasslands that are home to thousands of plant and animal species.

And if you want to climb a mountain, go to Mount Shasta. This snow-capped, active volcano can be seen all over the state, and is much photographed and written about. It’s breathtaking. If you’d rather look than climb, you’ll find plenty of great trekking country all around, with lakes, rivers and forests to explore.

A California trekking holiday offers you endless views, and trails through some of the most beautiful, and the most challenging terrain in North America.

Luke Rees

Luke Rees

Luke is the founder, head writer and editor of AdventureSportsHolidays.com. As an award winning winter sports writer he has contributed to various publications including; InTheSnow, Family Traveler Mag, Love the Mountains and Snowboarding Days. Luke's major passions are snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, jogging, paddle boarding and travel. He'll try anything extreme or adventurous and is a qualified diver, can wakeboard, surf, skate, sail, kayak and climb to varying degrees of (in)competence!

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