The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Hiking Guide
From 1883 to 1923, this canyon belonged to saws, ox teams and steam locomotives. Loggers cleared almost every redwood in…
Portola Redwoods State Park Hiking & Camping Guide
The road makes you earn it. From Highway 35, Alpine Road drops west for three miles, then Portola State Park…
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Hiking Guide
Drive in over the San Lorenzo River, step out of the car, and the air changes before the trees do….
California Hiking Trail Statistics: Most Visited Trails, Parks & Counties
Over the course of researching every trail, county, and park covered across this entire site, a handful of clear patterns…
How to Train for a Difficult California Hike Like Half Dome or Mount Whitney
Every year I hear some version of the same story: someone secures a Half Dome permit or wins the Mount…
Free vs Paid Hiking Trail Maps: Which Should You Use in California?
I get some version of this question constantly: “Do I actually need to pay for a hiking trail map, or…
California State Parks vs National Parks: What’s the Difference for Hikers?
Yosemite and Big Basin Redwoods both have redwoods, granite, and waterfalls within a few hours of each other, and I…
Lost on a California Trail? Here’s Exactly What to Do Next
If you are lost right now, stop walking. If you have any cell signal at all, call or text 911…
The California Hiking Trail Glossary: Every Term You’ll See on This Site, Explained
Every niche has its own shorthand, and hiking has more of it than most. Someone mentions a trail is “Class…
How Trail Difficulty Is Actually Calculated And Why Two 8-Mile Trails Can Feel Nothing Alike
Trail difficulty isn’t a vibe some ranger assigned after a nice walk. It’s usually math. Most rating systems- AllTrails, the…
