Tinsel Town, gorgeous beaches, and Silicon Valley—that’s what California is known for. But as the “Land of Opportunities”, it’s no surprise that California has a lot more to offer than we know.

When it comes to gorgeous hiking trails, The Golden State doesn’t shy away from offering some of the most scenic views for a grand adventure.

If you’re planning a backpacking venture, here are the best hiking trails in California to visit:

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is heaven on earth for hikers! You’ll get a grand view of its majestic waterfalls and amazing valley floor. Make sure to visit Columbia Rock which is a 3-hour hiking trip. From there onwards, you’ll get a beautiful view of the Yosemite Valley meadows.

Columbia Rock is perfect for first-time hikers. But if you’re a daredevil, you can also hike up Yosemite Waterfalls. But beware; trekking up the waterfalls isn’t easy, it’s quite dangerous!

The entire trail is 7 miles long and ascends 2,425 feet. The terrain is rocky and slippery.

The best time to hike in Yosemite Falls is during spring and August when the water levels are lower. It’s also recommended that you begin your hike early in the morning because it gets hotter during the daytime.

Mount Shasta

The best thing about Mount Shasta is that’s peaceful and quiet. It’s perfect for hikers who want a more “spiritual” experience. Its snow-capped peaks are a sight to behold.

We recommend hiking up the Gray Butte Trail, which has an impressive elevation of 7,500! It’s four miles and will take 2 hours to complete.

The trail continues to the Lower Panther Meadow and goes all the way up to the stunning forest of Red Fir Trees.

The best time to hike Mount Shasta is during June and October.

McWay Waterfalls

If you really want to explore the true beauty of California, hit up McWay Waterfalls! It’s a part of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and takes 30 minutes to complete. But you get a spectacular view of the 80-foot waterfall.

But be careful! You might end up admiring the view more than hiking!

In Conclusion

This list doesn’t contain all the hiking trails in California. If you have a trail you love and want to add to the list, feel free to drop a comment below!

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