Where to Stay Near Joshua Tree: A Hiker’s Guide to Every Gateway Town
Stay in the town of Joshua Tree if you’re headed for the West Entrance: it has the shortest drive and…
Best GPS Watches for Tracking California Hikes
Before recommending GPS Watches for Hiking Trails, it’s worth asking honestly whether you need one at all. If your phone…
AllTrails vs. NPS: How to Read a CA Trail Difficulty Rating
AllTrails rates the standard route up Half Dome as “Hard”, not even its highest tier. The National Park Service’s own…
Where to Stay Near Lake Tahoe: A Hiker’s Guide to Every Shore, Sorted by Trailhead
Stay in South Lake Tahoe if Desolation Wilderness is the plan: Eagle Falls, Echo Lake, and Mt. Tallac are all…
Where to Stay Near Yosemite: A Hiker’s Guide to Every Entrance, From Valley Hotels to Budget Cabins
Stay inside Yosemite Valley if you want zero drive time to the Mist Trail and Half Dome trailheads. Stay in…
Best Hydration Packs for Hot-Weather California Hikes
A water pack for hiking isn’t optional gear once temperatures climb into California’s summer desert range; it’s the difference between…
Best Trekking Poles for California’s Steep, Rocky Trails
Trekking poles are one of the more polarizing pieces of hiking gear; some hikers wouldn’t touch a steep trail without…
Best Wheelchair Accessible Hiking Trails in California
A trail labeled “easy” online is not the same thing as a trail that’s actually accessible, and conflating the two…
Best Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in California
Dog-friendly” gets used loosely online, so I built this list of dog friendly hiking trails in California around one question:…
Best Backpacks for Day Hikes in California
Most of the best hiking packs on the market are overbuilt for what a California day hike actually needs. You…
