Hiking Trails & Parks in California
36,428 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 2,258 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across California. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in California
California has 36,428 mapped hiking trails and 2,258 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 79 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 79 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in California
A spatially-sampled view of 561 trail and park locations across California’s counties.
California Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 79 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in California
Parks & Campgrounds in California
Longest Trails in California
Curated Guides for California
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in California?
Yes — we have 36,428 mapped hiking and walking trails in California, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in California?
After Six Scramble Descent near Yosemite National Park is rated expert — the toughest classification among California's mapped trails.
What hiking trail in California has the most elevation gain?
Lower Lindsey 97-036 Dam near Alleghany has the most mapped elevation gain in California at 6,240 ft. (Elevation gain, not summit altitude — OSM doesn't tag peak elevation.)
What is the best hiking trail in California for families?
ADT - Nevada - S - Seg 1 near Baker is one of the best family picks in California — easy difficulty and 0.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for California?
Each of the 36,428 trails in California has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in California?
California has 2,258 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (402 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in California?
Yes — 286 of California's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is Tuolumne Meadows Campground with 308 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for California
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in California, Ranked
California's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Sergei AkulichCalifornia's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten California trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in California
Ten gentle, well-marked California trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Holly MandarichThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in California
California's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in California
Federal parks and recreation areas in California ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleBest Waterfall Hikes in California: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
California's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.