DestinationsBest Beginner Hikes in California: A Season-by-Season Guide
California has nine national parks and 840 miles of coast. Here is how to pick a first hike that matches the season and your fitness.
Hiking in the USA
Hiking is the cheapest way into the outdoors and the easiest to start: most trails ask for nothing more than water, layers and shoes with grip. Almost every US trail is free and needs no booking, which is why this page leads with planning advice and the official sources for permits and conditions.
Outdoor festivals and fairs near the trails
Public trails are free and unticketed, so they do not appear in ticketing listings. These are outdoor festivals and fairs worth building a hiking weekend around — for trails themselves, use the official sources below.
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Browse all activitiesPlan your hiking trip
These are the official and authoritative sources for hiking in the United States — permits, conditions, safety and access.
NPS — Find a ParkOfficial trail maps, closures and alerts for all 63 national parks and 400+ sites.Recreation.govThe federal booking system for permits, timed entry and campgrounds.AllTrailsCrowd-sourced routes with distance, elevation gain and recent trail reports.American Hiking SocietyTrail advocacy, National Trails Day events and beginner guidance.
Hiking guides
All articlesDestinationsFrequently asked questions
Do I need experience to start hiking?
No. Trails are graded easy, moderate or strenuous, and easy or moderate routes assume nothing beyond being able to walk a few miles on uneven ground. Check distance and elevation gain before you commit — elevation is what makes a short hike hard.
What should I bring on a day hike?
Two litres of water, snacks, a windproof layer, sun protection, a charged phone and shoes with tread. Carry a paper map or an offline map on longer routes, because trail signal is unreliable across most of the country.
When is the best time of year to hike in the USA?
Spring and autumn suit most of the country. Desert trails in Arizona, Nevada and Utah are safest between November and March, while high-elevation routes in the Rockies and Sierra Nevada usually clear of snow from late June.
Do I need a permit to hike?
Day hiking rarely needs one, but several popular national parks run seasonal timed entry, and overnight or wilderness permits are common. Recreation.gov handles most federal permits; check the specific park before you travel.