Hiking is a beautiful way to connect with nature and destress while getting physical activity. We also love that it is free or low cost (parking can be a few dollars). With the incredible diversity of scenery on the west coast, there are hiking trails in Northern California for every season so you can hike year-round. Some trails run parallel to the ocean, high-elevation trails, scenic hikes through marshland, and so much more. So bring your walking stick and a camera! Check out our list of the best hikes in Northern California – one of each month of the year. 

  1. January – Trinidad Head Trail Loop

Brad Hallock/AllTrails Enjoy this scenic hike and stop to whale watch along the way. The best time for whale watching in Northern California is December to May. Since this area has a mild climate, you can hike here anytime of year. Compared to the mountains and foothills, the January weather here is mild. But pack a poncho just in case it rains during your hike. Trinidad Head Trail, 925 Lighthouse Rd, Trinidad, CA 95570, USA

  1. February – Mount Tallac Trail

Kenneth Messick/AllTrails Before the snow melts, while it’s still packed tightly, put on your hiking boots or snow shoes and visit Mount Tallac Trail. The 10 mile out-and-back trail takes you up a mountain with loose rocks up to a vista with incredible views of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Frequent hikers suggest you bring a lunch and eat at the top while enjoying the view. Some hikers suggest bringing hiking poles to make the uphill climb easier. Mount Tallac Trail, California 96150, USA

  1. March – Burney Falls Loop Trail

Gurbinder Kalkat/AllTrails This must-see Burney Falls Loop Trail in Northern California gets packed with visitors starting in April. Jump ahead of the crowds and visit in March. These spring-fed falls are a stunning site to behold anytime of year. You can get there on this easy one-mile loop trail. Burney Falls, California 96013, USA

  1. April – Drury-Chaney Trail

Kakapo Kiwi/AllTrails This easy 2-mile loop is right off of the Avenue of the Giants that runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. With 9 days of rain on average in April, this is the perfect month to trek this short hiking trail. Surrounded by enormous redwoods, a little rain drizzle would only add to the mystical and magical atmosphere of this forest. Drury-Chaney Trail, 30780-30784 Avenue of the Giants, Scotia, CA 95565, USA

  1. May – Alamere Falls Trail

Cori Strathmeyer/AllTrails This nearly 14 mile trail takes you down to the beach where you can view something truly worth a long hike– a waterfall that cascades onto the beach. This is a tough one, but mostly due to the distance. Don’t take the Alamere Falls Trail, which is not park maintained and could be unsafe. Take the popular Palomarin Trailhead, which will take you down to the beach.

The Bay Area has been experiencing increasingly warm summers, but May is a smart time to hike this trail since the average high temperature is only 76 degrees. Also, the water flow should be strong in May since the previous months were rainy. Palomarin Trailhead, Palomarin Trail Head, Bolinas, CA 94924, USA

  1. June – Lands End Trail

Qingbo Zhang/AllTrails This 3.5-mile trail is on the northwest side of San Francisco. You can escape the heat throughout the valley and the foothills while enjoying the stunning views from this trail. Meandering through the Presidio in San Francisco and ending at Lands End Lookout where you’ll find views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean. Lands End Trail, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA

  1. July – Lower Yosemite Falls Trail

Cappy Cammpers/AllTrails As far as hiking trails in Northern California go, this one might be one of the most popular yet. This one mile loop in Yosemite Valley is a must-do for any hiker or nature lover. You’ll see the iconic Lower Yosemite Valley waterfall that is 320 feet tall. It is a popular trail so you’ll run into other hikers any time you visit, so why not visit during the warm summer months when you can comfortably camp, too? Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead, Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, California 95389, USA

  1. August – Frog Lake Trail

Jenn Baluyot/AllTrails Work up a sweat on this 2.3 mileincredible mountain hiking trail and end with a quick dip in the chilly mountain water. By the time August rolls around, the snow has long since melted in most areas. Temperatures will be in the 60s and maybe breaking into the low 70s during the day, but overall very cool. Frog Lake, California, USA

  1. September – Stinson Beach to Mount Tamalpais via Matt Davis Trail

Kuma Xiong/AllTrails Take advantage of the sunlight before the days start to get much shorter. This 15 mile trail is considered a challenging hike with incredible views. It takes around 8 hours to complete. The first two miles of the scenic hike in NorCal are uphill, but once you reach the top of the mountain you’re in for some incredible vistas. Matt Davis Trail Head, Matt Davis Trail, Stinson Beach, CA 94970, USA

  1. October – Kelsey Creek Trail

Peggy Taylor/AllTrails The Kelsey Creek Trail is an out-and-back trail that is roughly 1.7 miles. Located in Clear Lake State Park, this trail traverses through marshlands. Many visitors have taken pictures of wildlife they have seen on the trail, so keep your eyes peeled. The trail is not very crowded and is great for bird watching. The average temperature in this area in October is 76 degrees, with only 3 days of rain per month on average– a perfect time to walk this easy trail. Clear Lake State Park, 5300 Soda Bay Rd, Kelseyville, CA 95451, USA

  1. November – Ano Nuevo Trail

Chase Carter/AllTrails Located next to the beach in Pescadero, south of Half Moon Bay, this unique hiking trail takes you past sunbathing elephant seals. The four mile trail is pretty easy and is sandy at some points. You’ll need a free visitor permit which you can obtain between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the entrance station. Visitors must be out of the park by 5 p.m. so plan for enough time to complete the hike and view the seals. Año Nuevo Trail, California 94060, USA

  1. December – Big Meadow Tahoe Rim Trail

Arun Sood/AllTrails Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing is popular at Big Meadow. Move through this snow covered meadow in a valley while gazing up and ahead at the mountains in the distance. This trail is open year round but it’s really incredible to experience during the winter months after a heavy snowfall. Hikers with cleats can probably manage walking through this snowpack. Roads to the trailhead are subject to seasonal road closure so be sure to check the Forest Service website. It’s a crowded trail in the summer months, which is why we love visiting in the winter when there are fewer hikers. Big Meadow Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA

There are so many beautiful and scenic hiking trails in Northern California, this list is just a small fraction of them. What other trails would you recommend? Tell us in the comments.

Brad Hallock/AllTrails

Enjoy this scenic hike and stop to whale watch along the way. The best time for whale watching in Northern California is December to May. Since this area has a mild climate, you can hike here anytime of year. Compared to the mountains and foothills, the January weather here is mild. But pack a poncho just in case it rains during your hike.

Trinidad Head Trail, 925 Lighthouse Rd, Trinidad, CA 95570, USA

Kenneth Messick/AllTrails

Before the snow melts, while it’s still packed tightly, put on your hiking boots or snow shoes and visit Mount Tallac Trail. The 10 mile out-and-back trail takes you up a mountain with loose rocks up to a vista with incredible views of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Frequent hikers suggest you bring a lunch and eat at the top while enjoying the view. Some hikers suggest bringing hiking poles to make the uphill climb easier.

Mount Tallac Trail, California 96150, USA

Gurbinder Kalkat/AllTrails

This must-see Burney Falls Loop Trail in Northern California gets packed with visitors starting in April. Jump ahead of the crowds and visit in March. These spring-fed falls are a stunning site to behold anytime of year. You can get there on this easy one-mile loop trail.

Burney Falls, California 96013, USA

Kakapo Kiwi/AllTrails

This easy 2-mile loop is right off of the Avenue of the Giants that runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. With 9 days of rain on average in April, this is the perfect month to trek this short hiking trail. Surrounded by enormous redwoods, a little rain drizzle would only add to the mystical and magical atmosphere of this forest.

Drury-Chaney Trail, 30780-30784 Avenue of the Giants, Scotia, CA 95565, USA

Cori Strathmeyer/AllTrails

This nearly 14 mile trail takes you down to the beach where you can view something truly worth a long hike– a waterfall that cascades onto the beach. This is a tough one, but mostly due to the distance. Don’t take the Alamere Falls Trail, which is not park maintained and could be unsafe. Take the popular Palomarin Trailhead, which will take you down to the beach.

The Bay Area has been experiencing increasingly warm summers, but May is a smart time to hike this trail since the average high temperature is only 76 degrees. Also, the water flow should be strong in May since the previous months were rainy.

Palomarin Trailhead, Palomarin Trail Head, Bolinas, CA 94924, USA

Qingbo Zhang/AllTrails

This 3.5-mile trail is on the northwest side of San Francisco. You can escape the heat throughout the valley and the foothills while enjoying the stunning views from this trail. Meandering through the Presidio in San Francisco and ending at Lands End Lookout where you’ll find views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean.

Lands End Trail, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA

Cappy Cammpers/AllTrails

As far as hiking trails in Northern California go, this one might be one of the most popular yet. This one mile loop in Yosemite Valley is a must-do for any hiker or nature lover. You’ll see the iconic Lower Yosemite Valley waterfall that is 320 feet tall. It is a popular trail so you’ll run into other hikers any time you visit, so why not visit during the warm summer months when you can comfortably camp, too?

Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead, Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, California 95389, USA

Jenn Baluyot/AllTrails

Work up a sweat on this 2.3 mileincredible mountain hiking trail and end with a quick dip in the chilly mountain water. By the time August rolls around, the snow has long since melted in most areas. Temperatures will be in the 60s and maybe breaking into the low 70s during the day, but overall very cool.

Frog Lake, California, USA

Kuma Xiong/AllTrails

Take advantage of the sunlight before the days start to get much shorter. This 15 mile trail is considered a challenging hike with incredible views. It takes around 8 hours to complete. The first two miles of the scenic hike in NorCal are uphill, but once you reach the top of the mountain you’re in for some incredible vistas.

Matt Davis Trail Head, Matt Davis Trail, Stinson Beach, CA 94970, USA

Peggy Taylor/AllTrails

The Kelsey Creek Trail is an out-and-back trail that is roughly 1.7 miles. Located in Clear Lake State Park, this trail traverses through marshlands. Many visitors have taken pictures of wildlife they have seen on the trail, so keep your eyes peeled. The trail is not very crowded and is great for bird watching. The average temperature in this area in October is 76 degrees, with only 3 days of rain per month on average– a perfect time to walk this easy trail.

Clear Lake State Park, 5300 Soda Bay Rd, Kelseyville, CA 95451, USA

Chase Carter/AllTrails

Located next to the beach in Pescadero, south of Half Moon Bay, this unique hiking trail takes you past sunbathing elephant seals. The four mile trail is pretty easy and is sandy at some points. You’ll need a free visitor permit which you can obtain between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the entrance station. Visitors must be out of the park by 5 p.m. so plan for enough time to complete the hike and view the seals.

Año Nuevo Trail, California 94060, USA

Arun Sood/AllTrails

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing is popular at Big Meadow. Move through this snow covered meadow in a valley while gazing up and ahead at the mountains in the distance. This trail is open year round but it’s really incredible to experience during the winter months after a heavy snowfall. Hikers with cleats can probably manage walking through this snowpack. Roads to the trailhead are subject to seasonal road closure so be sure to check the Forest Service website. It’s a crowded trail in the summer months, which is why we love visiting in the winter when there are fewer hikers.

Big Meadow Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Hiking Trails In Northern California December 17, 2022 Megan Todaro Can I hike to historical sites in Northern California? Some of the best hiking trails in Northern California lead to historical sites. NorCal has several scenic hikes that lead to either abandoned or historic spots.  A few of these historic trails to consider include:

Tower House Historic District Loop Punta Gorda Lighthouse Petroglyph Point Trail, Lava Beds National Monument Old Shasta City, Shasta State Historic Park Donner Train Tunnels The Elk River Trail to Falk The Point Reyes Shipwreck Chemung Mine

Always remember when you’re enjoying Northern California hiking to these historical spots, to always respect the history of each trail. Remember to leave these areas as you found them, and use the “pack it in, pack it out” mindset. What is the best waterfall hike in Northern California? The best hikes in Northern California often end up with a waterfall finish. While NorCal has quite a few scenic hikes to waterfalls to consider, there is one trail that always seems to top the list. Within the Whiskeytown Recreation Area, the “Whiskeytown Waterfall Challenge” challenge encourages hikers to reach all four waterfalls within one trail. Guests obtain a free Waterfall Challenge Passport at the visitor center before heading out to tackle four waterfalls and nine miles in five hours. Does Northern California have any natural wonders? Northern California hiking can be elevated when involving natural wonders. But there are also plenty of ways to enjoy these NorCal natural wonders, even without hiking! We have 11 incredible natural wonders in Northern California hiding in plain sight. Some of our favorites include:

Lake Helen, Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway 1 Mount Shasta Sierra Valley Trinidad The Cypress Tunnel at Point Reyes McCloud River

The OIYS Visitor Center

Hiking Trails In Northern California

December 17, 2022

Megan Todaro

Can I hike to historical sites in Northern California? Some of the best hiking trails in Northern California lead to historical sites. NorCal has several scenic hikes that lead to either abandoned or historic spots.  A few of these historic trails to consider include:

Tower House Historic District Loop Punta Gorda Lighthouse Petroglyph Point Trail, Lava Beds National Monument Old Shasta City, Shasta State Historic Park Donner Train Tunnels The Elk River Trail to Falk The Point Reyes Shipwreck Chemung Mine

Always remember when you’re enjoying Northern California hiking to these historical spots, to always respect the history of each trail. Remember to leave these areas as you found them, and use the “pack it in, pack it out” mindset. What is the best waterfall hike in Northern California? The best hikes in Northern California often end up with a waterfall finish. While NorCal has quite a few scenic hikes to waterfalls to consider, there is one trail that always seems to top the list. Within the Whiskeytown Recreation Area, the “Whiskeytown Waterfall Challenge” challenge encourages hikers to reach all four waterfalls within one trail. Guests obtain a free Waterfall Challenge Passport at the visitor center before heading out to tackle four waterfalls and nine miles in five hours. Does Northern California have any natural wonders? Northern California hiking can be elevated when involving natural wonders. But there are also plenty of ways to enjoy these NorCal natural wonders, even without hiking! We have 11 incredible natural wonders in Northern California hiding in plain sight. Some of our favorites include:

Lake Helen, Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway 1 Mount Shasta Sierra Valley Trinidad The Cypress Tunnel at Point Reyes McCloud River

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Some of the best hiking trails in Northern California lead to historical sites. NorCal has several scenic hikes that lead to either abandoned or historic spots.  A few of these historic trails to consider include:

  • Tower House Historic District Loop
  • Punta Gorda Lighthouse
  • Petroglyph Point Trail, Lava Beds National Monument
  • Old Shasta City, Shasta State Historic Park
  • Donner Train Tunnels
  • The Elk River Trail to Falk
  • The Point Reyes Shipwreck
  • Chemung Mine

Always remember when you’re enjoying Northern California hiking to these historical spots, to always respect the history of each trail. Remember to leave these areas as you found them, and use the “pack it in, pack it out” mindset.

What is the best waterfall hike in Northern California?

The best hikes in Northern California often end up with a waterfall finish. While NorCal has quite a few scenic hikes to waterfalls to consider, there is one trail that always seems to top the list. Within the Whiskeytown Recreation Area, the “Whiskeytown Waterfall Challenge” challenge encourages hikers to reach all four waterfalls within one trail. Guests obtain a free Waterfall Challenge Passport at the visitor center before heading out to tackle four waterfalls and nine miles in five hours.

Does Northern California have any natural wonders?

Northern California hiking can be elevated when involving natural wonders. But there are also plenty of ways to enjoy these NorCal natural wonders, even without hiking! We have 11 incredible natural wonders in Northern California hiding in plain sight. Some of our favorites include:

  • Lake Helen, Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Highway 1
  • Mount Shasta
  • Sierra Valley
  • Trinidad
  • The Cypress Tunnel at Point Reyes
  • McCloud River