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Snowshoeing through southwestern Lassen National Park
Snowshoeing through southwestern Lassen National Park 1024 680 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Snowshoe hike through southwestern Lassen National Park Name of area/general location: Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lassen National Forest Land Acknowledgement: This portion of LVNP and LNF is the homeland of the Atsugewi people Permissible trail uses (dogs, horses, mountain bikes, others): Pets are not permitted on any hiking trail, in the park…

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Wildrose Peak Trail
Wildrose Peak Trail 1024 824 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Wildrose Peak Trail Name of area/general location: Death Valley National Park Land Acknowledgement: Wildrose Peak is located on the ancestral lands and in the traditional territories of the Newe Sogobia (Western Shoshone) and Kawaiisu People. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca Trail rating: Moderate/difficult, primarily…

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Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail
Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail 1024 691 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail Name of area/general location: Yosemite National Park Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located in the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Ahwahnechee (Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation), Mono, and Northern Paiute. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca Trail…

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Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail
Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail 1024 657 California Wilderness Coalition

Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail Name of area/general location: Oakhurst, CA Land Acknowledgement: This trail is on the traditional lands of the Me-wuk (Southern Sierra Miwok), Chukchansi, and others. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca Trail rating: Moderate due to modest elevation gain and changes Trail mileage:…

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Dunes and Pacific
Explore Humboldt Bay Trails
Explore Humboldt Bay Trails 1024 623 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Explore Humboldt Bay Trails Name of area/general location: Ma-Le’l Dunes Cooperative Management Area, Samoa, California Land Acknowledgement: These lands are the ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Wiyot People. AllTrails Hike Link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/us/california/manila?b_tl_lat=40.85566005711328&b_tl_lng=-124.17709736334048&b_br_lat=40.84106122480483&b_br_lng=-124.14887095832077&mobileMap=true Trail rating: Easy to moderate Trail mileage: Multiple options available Permissible trail uses (dogs, horses, mountain bikes, others): Dogs,…

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The Mendocino National Forest and the “California Trail of Tears”
The Mendocino National Forest and the “California Trail of Tears” 995 670 California Wilderness Coalition

The 913,000-acre Mendocino National Forest (MNF) is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and it includes land in Lake, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Tehama, and Trinity Counties. The MNF is noted for, among other things, being the only one of California’s twenty National Forests that is not bisected by a paved road. It is also noted…

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PCT / Indian Canyon Trailhead to North Fork Saddle Picnic Site
PCT / Indian Canyon Trailhead to North Fork Saddle Picnic Site 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) – Indian Canyon Trailhead to North Fork Saddle Picnic Site Name of area/general location: Angeles National Forest (ANF) near Aqua Dulce and Acton Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located in the ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Tongva and Fernandeño Tataviam people AllTrails Hike Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/ladder-canyon-and-painted-canyon-trail–4…

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Rainbow Falls Trail
Rainbow Falls Trail 1008 756 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Rainbow Falls Trail Name of area/general location: Devils Postpile National Monument Land Acknowledgement: Devils Postpile sits at a cultural crossroads where the traditional territories of American Indian inhabitants of the east and west slopes of the Sierra Nevada intersect. AllTrails Hike Link: Rainbow Falls via Devils Postpile Trail | Map, Guide – California…

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Pacific Crest Trail near Kangaroo Lake in the Klamath National Forest
Pacific Crest Trail near Kangaroo Lake in the Klamath National Forest 1024 766 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Pacific Crest Trail near Kangaroo Lake in the Klamath National Forest Name of area/general location: China Mountain Wilderness-Eligible Area. Klamath and Shasta-Trinity National Forests Land Acknowledgement: The China Mountain region is in the territories of three different Indigenous peoples: the Wintun on the east, Shasta to the north, and Chimariko in the Trinity…

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Painted Canyon/Ladder Canyon Trail
Painted Canyon/Ladder Canyon Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Painted Canyon/Ladder Canyon Trail Name of area/general location: Mecca Hills Wilderness, approximately 35 miles east/southeast of Palm Springs (about a 1.25-hour drive). Land Acknowledgement:  This trail is located in the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Cahuilla people. AllTrails Hike Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/ladder-canyon-and-painted-canyon-trail–4 Trail rating: Easy to moderate, depending on fitness level. Trail…

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Jamison Creek Trail
Jamison Creek Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Grass Lake via Jamison Creek Trail (Forest Service Trail Number 11E13) Name of area/general location: Plumas National Forest, Graeagle, CA Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Maidu and Wašiw (Washoe). To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca.…

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San Antonio Falls Trail
San Antonio Falls Trail 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: San Antonio Falls Trail Name of area/general location: San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Angeles National Forest Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located in the ancestral homeland and tradition territories of the Tongva. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca Trail rating: Easy, 285ft elevation gain over…

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Bear Lake via Crabtree Trailhead
Bear Lake via Crabtree Trailhead 1024 461 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Bear Lake via Crabtree Trailhead in the Stanislaus National Forest (SNF) – Forest Service Trail Number 20E16 Name of area/general location: Stanislaus National Forest, Pinecrest, CA Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located in the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Wašiw (Washoe) and Me-Wuk (Central Sierra Miwok). To learn more about the…

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Cahuilla Mountain Trail
Cahuilla Mountain Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness: Cahuilla Mountain Trail Name of area/general location:Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness, San Bernardino National Forest Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located in the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Cahuilla people. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca Trail rating: Moderate. 1,361’ elevation gain…

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Fobes Trail
Fobes Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Fobes Trail (Forest Service Trail # 4E04) to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) Name of area/general location: San Bernardino National Forest, Garner Valley Land Acknowledgement: The Fobes Trail is located on the ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Cahuilla People. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the…

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Bear Canyon Loop to Pigeon Spring
Bear Canyon Loop to Pigeon Spring 1024 608 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Bear Canyon Loop to Pigeon Spring Name of area/general location: San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, Cleveland National Forest Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Tongva, Kizh, and Acjachemen. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca AllTrails Hike Link:…

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Cerro Alto Trail
Cerro Alto Trail 648 432 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name:Cerro Alto Trail Loop Name of area/general location: Los Padres National Forest, Atascadero, CA Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Salinan, Obispeño, and Chumash. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca AllTrails Hike Link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/cerro-alto Trail rating and…

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Parker Lake Trail
Parker Lake Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Parker Lake Trail Name of area/general location: Inyo National Forest – Ansel Adams Wilderness Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located in the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Western Mono/Monache Numu (Northern Paiute) people. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca AllTrails Hike Link (if…

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Mt. Baldy-Baldy Bowl-San Antonio Creek Hike
Mt. Baldy-Baldy Bowl-San Antonio Creek Hike 1024 682 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name:Mt. Baldy-Baldy Bowl-San Antonio Creek Hike Name of area/general location: San Gabriel Mountains outside of Los Angeles Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Kizh Tongva. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca AllTrails Hike Link (if applicable): N/A…

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Rancheria Falls National Recreation Trail
Rancheria Falls National Recreation Trail 1024 682 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: : Rancheria Falls National Recreation Trail (Forest Service Trail Number 26E51) Name of area/general location: Sierra National Forest, Lakeshore, CA Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Nim (Western Mono). To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca AllTrails…

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Girard Ridge Proposed Wilderness – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Girard Ridge Proposed Wilderness – Shasta-Trinity National Forest 1024 434 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the Girard Ridge Proposed Wilderness Name of area/general location: Shasta-Trinity National Forest Land Acknowledgement: This trail is located in the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Wintu. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca   Squaw Valley Creek in the…

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Whiskey Flat Trail- North Kern Wild and Scenic River
Whiskey Flat Trail- North Kern Wild and Scenic River 864 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Whiskey Flat – North Kern Wild and Scenic River Name of area/general location: Sequoia National Forest Land Acknowledgement: This public land and trail are ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Tübatulabal people. To learn more about the original residents and stewards of the lands, visit native-land.ca AllTrails Hike Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/whiskey-flat-trail–3 Trail rating:…

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Catfish Lake
Catfish Lake 1024 576 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike Name: Catfish Lake via the Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest (Forest Service Trail Number 18E10 and 18E09) Name of area/general location: Stanislaus National Forest, Pinecrest, CA Land Acknowledgement: This public land and trail are ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Washoe and Central Sierra Miwok. To learn more…

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Thomes Creek Trail
Thomes Creek Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Name of area/general location: Mendocino National Forest Land Acknowledgement: These lands are the ancestral and traditional territory of the Nomlaki Tribe AllTrails Hike Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/thomes-gorge-trail Trail rating: Moderate. Portions of the trail are poorly maintained with encroaching shrubs, including poison oak For more information: Mendocino National Forest, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988, (530)…

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McClure (Antelope Creek) Trail
McClure (Antelope Creek) Trail 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

The beautiful McClure Trail (a.k.a. Antelope Creek Trail) explores the lava-flow studded foothills west of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Accessible public lands in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades are rare, making this hike a special treat in the winter and spring (although this trail is accessible nearly year-round). The McClure Trail provides…

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San Joaquin River Gorge Hike
San Joaquin River Gorge Hike 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

San Joaquin River Gorge Provides Year-Round Recreation Situated on the shared boundary of Madera and Fresno Counties and the ancestral territory of the Dumna and Kechayi people, the San Joaquin River Gorge (Gorge) is comprised of 6,500 acres of federal public land and the namesake of the area, the San Joaquin River. Administered by the…

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Turtle Mountains Wilderness Hike to Mopah Springs
Turtle Mountains Wilderness Hike to Mopah Springs 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

The 177,309-acre Turtle Mountains Wilderness is in southeastern San Bernardino County southwest of the City of Needles. It is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Needles Field Office. The Turtle Mountains Wilderness is an extremely diverse landscape of sweeping valleys and washes, eroded canyons, cliffs, and peaks. The rock formations vary in color…

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Gene Marshall Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail
Gene Marshall Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail 499 336 California Wilderness Coalition

Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1977, the Gene Marshall Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail (22W03) is located in the Sespe Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest, the ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Chumash and Kuyam people.  The trail provides scenic views, beautiful spring wildflower displays, numerous stream crossings, and a…

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Morrow Trail
Morrow Trail 401 301 California Wilderness Coalition

Situated at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains in the Santa Rosa-San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (Monument), this trail will take you from an urban adjacent area through a beautiful desert landscape. Regardless of the time of year, you are likely to see life that may include lizards on sunny days, wildflowers during blooming…

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Dinkey Creek Roof Pendent Geological Area Hike
Dinkey Creek Roof Pendent Geological Area Hike 643 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

This hike packs a lot in over a short hiking distance – a unique geological area, one of the few segments of Dinkey Creek determined eligible for the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and of course, the popular Willow Meadow Trailhead into the beautiful Dinkey Lakes Wilderness. The trick is getting to the trailhead.…

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Wild Cattle Mountain and Mill Creek. Photo: Steve Evans.
Spencer Meadows National Recreation Trail
Spencer Meadows National Recreation Trail 1024 682 California Wilderness Coalition

Courtesy of AllTrails The trail passes through the 4,965-acre Wild Cattle Mountain roadless area adjacent to Lassen Park. About 3,900 acres of the area was recommended for Wilderness protection in the 1992 Lassen National Forest Plan. The area is home to the critically endangered Sierra Nevada red fox, a species known to live in Lassen…

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Pyramid Creek Trail
Pyramid Creek Trail 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Flowing out of the Desolation Wilderness in the western Sierra Nevada, Pyramid Creek tumbles over spectacular Horsetail Falls into a series of smaller but nearly as dramatic cataracts and cascades. The magnificent waterfall is viewable and accessible from State Highway 50, just a short 1.5 hour drive east from Sacramento. The first part of the…

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Caliente Mountain Ridge Trail
Caliente Mountain Ridge Trail 1024 412 California Wilderness Coalition

If one wants to get a feel for what the pre-settled San Joaquin Valley might have looked like, venturing through the Carrizo Plain National Monument would paint a fairly close picture. To get a terrific vantage point of the spacious plain, jumping on the Caliente Mountain Ridge Trail offers a great point of view. Trailhead…

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Cache Creek Ridge Trail Section 2
Cache Creek Ridge Trail Section 2 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Ukiah Field Office oversees extensive areas of public land in the Coast Range where Colusa, Napa, Lake and Yolo counties come together around Cache Creek. Most of the public lands are part of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, but BLM holdings in Colusa County were unfortunately excluded from…

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Chorro Grande Trail
Chorro Grande Trail 800 600 California Wilderness Coalition

The Chorro Grande Trail is for fairly hard-core peak baggers.  It climbs the entire 5.1 miles along the south slope of Pine Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest.  This hike entails a steep, 3,000-foot climb on a pine-dotted slope, unless you are able to arrange a shuttle to do it as a one-way descent…

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South Fork Elk River Trail
South Fork Elk River Trail 1024 818 California Wilderness Coalition

The 7,472-acre Headwaters Forest Reserve (Reserve) was established in 1999 after a decade-long grassroots effort to protect the world’s last unprotected, intact, old-growth redwood forest ecosystem. Several threatened species call the Reserve home, including coho salmon, the northern spotted owl, and the marbled murrelet. The Reserve is the headwaters of the South Fork Elk River…

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Coalinga Mineral Springs National Recreation Trail
Coalinga Mineral Springs National Recreation Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Hike the “earthquake capital of California” The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Central Coast Field Office oversees the stewardship of scattered federal public lands between Monterey on the coast inland to the San Joaquin Desert in western Fresno County. Yes, we did say “desert,” and not “valley,” for the southern San Joaquin Valley is indeed…

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Cooper Canyon/Pacific Crest Trail
Cooper Canyon/Pacific Crest Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

If you would like to do a short section hike on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) in the Angeles National Forest, this hike is for you. The best way to do this hike is by using a car shuttle.  Leave one car at or outside of the Eagles Roost Picnic Area (mile 61.6…

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Willow Creek Petroglyphs Hike
Willow Creek Petroglyphs Hike 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

In the high desert of northeast California, Willow Creek has carved a scenic canyon through lava rimrock. From its source near Eagle Lake, Willow Creek flows southeast past the community of Susanville to the Susan River, which ultimately feeds into the closed basin of Honey Lake. Along the way, the creek flows through the southern…

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Heart Lake National Recreation Trail
Heart Lake National Recreation Trail 800 600 California Wilderness Coalition

The Heart Lake Proposed Wilderness is part of the Lassen National Forest in Lassen and Tehama counties. The 12,000-acre proposed wilderness is on the western boundary of Lassen Volcanic National Park. This volcano and glacier-carved wild land is covered with impressive old-growth forests of pine and fir, as well as meadows, aspen groves, lakes and…

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Kearsarge Pass Trail
Kearsarge Pass Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: The Kearsarge Pass trailhead begins at Onion Valley (9,200 feet) and travels to Kearsarge Pass (11,800 feet). Kearsarge Pass is a popular destination for day hikers. Beyond Kearsarge Pass, the trail enters Kings Canyon National Park, where it joins the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trail. Along the trail, you will be treated to…

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Baker Pt Lookout
Baker Point Trail
Baker Point Trail 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: This short but scenic trail takes you to an old Forest Service fire lookout on Baker Point, overlooking the spectacular canyon of the North Fork Kern Wild & Scenic River and the town of Kernville, more than 5,000 feet below. Baker Point dominates the Stormy Canyon roadless area, which encompasses the entire western slope of…

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Tenaja Trail to Fisherman’s Camp
Tenaja Trail to Fisherman’s Camp 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: There are several hike options located within the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness in southwest Riverside County, the most well-known of which is the Tenaja Falls trail (also featured on our website). However, there are other hikes in the area that warrant exploration. One such hike is on the Tenaja Trail. The Tenaja Trail stretches 8.5…

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Elder Creek and the Angelo Coast Range Reserve
Elder Creek and the Angelo Coast Range Reserve 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: A tributary of the South Fork Eel Wild & Scenic River, Elder Creek can only be described with superlatives.This nearly pristine stream is a National Natural Landmark, Hydrologic Benchmark, and a United Nations recognized Biosphere Reserve. The creek is an important contributor to the South Fork’s anadromous fishery. Federal officials recently identified the creek as…

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Milpitas Wash Wilderness
Milpitas Wash Wilderness 1024 208 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: S. 47, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, protected over 375,000 acres of new wilderness areas in the California desert in March 2019. One of those places is the Milpitas Wash Wilderness in eastern Imperial County just west of the Colorado River. Milpitas Wash is a very large seasonal desert stream…

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North Algodones Dunes
North Algodones Dunes 1024 679 California Wilderness Coalition

Courtesy of the Outdoor Project. Features: The Imperial Sand Dunes, otherwise known as the Glamis sand dunes, are the largest mass of sand dunes in California and have been used as the setting of many films such as “Star Wars” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” Usually this area is known for the OHV scene where in the winter…

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North Fork San Jacinto and Fuller Mill Creek Wild & Scenic Rivers
North Fork San Jacinto and Fuller Mill Creek Wild & Scenic Rivers 669 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Info courtesy of San Bernadino National Forest. Features: This 3.5 mile wild and scenic river system finds its source on the heights of San Jacinto Peak in the Mount San Jacinto State Game Preserve and Wilderness Area. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail crosses its upper reaches. Above the confluence of Fuller Mill Creek and the…

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West Walker Wild & Scenic River
West Walker Wild & Scenic River 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: The West Walker River, from its source in the Hoover Wilderness to where it flows into the Antelope Valley upstream of the town of Walker, was protected as a state wild and scenic river by the California Legislature in 1989. Prior to its designation, the California Natural Resources Agency studied the river and found the…

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Cache Creek
Cache Creek Ridge Trail
Cache Creek Ridge Trail 680 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

[content courtesy of the Tuleyome] Features: A moderate, easy-to-access hike that exemplifies the grasslands, chaparral, and oak woodlands of the Cache Creek area, which is protected as federal wilderness as part of the Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Monument, and as a state Wild and Scenic River. Driving Directions: For a 10mi one-way trip, take 2 cars.  From…

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Siretta Trail-Domeland Add photo by Steve Evans
Domeland Wilderness
Domeland Wilderness 768 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

[content courtesy of the Outdoor Project] Features: South along the Pacific Coast Trail from Kennedy Meadows lies the Domeland Wilderness, a vast area of over 130,000 acres traversed by the South Fork of the Kern River. Most of the wilderness is sparse chaparrel; the western side has more trees and meadows that extend into the higher elevations. In the…

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Klamath River Overlook via Coastal Trail
Klamath River Overlook via Coastal Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

[courtesy of U.S. National Park Service] Distance: This hike is an out and back, totaling roughly 8 miles. It is one section of the longer Coastal Trail, which is around 70 miles along the Northern Coast of California. Time: 3-5 hours, depending on speed and if you explore the spur trails to the tide pools. Elevation Gain/Loss: The…

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Sisquoc WSR
Sisqouc River Trail
Sisqouc River Trail 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

(Paraphrased from “Day Hikes Around Santa Barbara” by Robert Stone, Day Hike Books Inc, 2010) Distance: 11.1mi to Sisquoc River Trail intersection (from there out and back to your desired length of the Sisquoc River Trail—if you follow recommendations below, length to Mormon Camp and back is approximately 16 miles). Time: 8-16 hours (or best…

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Underwood Proposed Wilderness Hike
Underwood Proposed Wilderness Hike 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Distance (one way): Approximately 3 miles to the South Fork Trinity River, and 7 miles to the end of the trail at Mule Bridge. Features: The Underwood Proposed Wilderness is located along the boundary of Humboldt and Trinity counties in the Six Rivers National Forest 4 miles east of the town of Willow Creek. The South…

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Merced River hike.JPG
Merced River Hike
Merced River Hike 1024 693 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: The Merced River Canyon downstream of Briceburg on Highway 140 is a great destination for spring camping and hiking. The Merced River Wild and Scenic River leaves Highway 140 and flows west through the Bureau of Land Management’s Merced River Recreation Area.  The BLM manages three small but cozy campgrounds along this stretch of the…

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Amargosa Hikers
Amargosa River Hike
Amargosa River Hike 779 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Due to its low elevation and desert environment, fall, winter, and spring are excellent times to visit the Amargosa River. Hiking opportunities along the Amargosa abound near the small towns of Tecopa and Shoshone, south of Death Valley National Park. The Amargosa in this area is a rare watered oasis in an otherwise dry desert.…

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Sacramento River. Photo by Steve Evans.
EVENT: Sacramento River Bend Area hike, March 10th
EVENT: Sacramento River Bend Area hike, March 10th 1024 749 California Wilderness Coalition
Cottonwood Springs. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor Tyson Gillard
Cottonwood Springs
Cottonwood Springs 1024 684 California Wilderness Coalition

[content courtesy of the Outdoor Project] Features: The climate here doesn’t support Joshua trees, which deters a number of people from making the trek. Consequently, this relatively lesser-trodden hike is perfect for those with limited time or for travelers staying in or passing through the Coachella Valley. The beginning of this loop is nestled into the…

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Owl Canyon-Rainbow Basin-byJess Beauchemin 2
Owl Canyon
Owl Canyon 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

[content courtesy of the Outdoor Project] Features: Located in the Rainbow Basin Natural Area (and recently designated as a California Desert National Conservation Land), Owl Canyon is a big bang-for-your-buck hike. In only 2 miles you’ll discover a myriad of geological formations, scramble through a little slot canyon, enjoy seasonal wildflowers and end up at an expansive…

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whitewaterxing by raisethestakeseditions.com
Canyon View Loop
Canyon View Loop 1024 512 California Wilderness Coalition

[content courtesy of the Outdoor Project] Features: The Canyon View Loop begins and ends at the ranger station in the Whitewater Preserve, and it crosses one of the few year-round rivers in the Mojave Desert at multiple points. The trial traces the wash before it joins a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail for a climb up…

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Granite Lake by Steve Evans.
Granite and Hidden Lakes
Granite and Hidden Lakes 683 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Granite and Hidden Lakes are scenic gems nestled in a broad rocky and forested slope stretching from Silver Lake on Highway 88 up to a ridge the forms the northern boundary of the Mokelumne Wilderness. Granite Lake is an easy day hike destination for people who want to stretch their legs for 1.5 miles and…

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photo by Jack Schlinkert.
Gaviota Peak
Gaviota Peak 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: (from Hikespeak.com) Gaviota Peak sits at the lofty west end of the Santa Ynez Mountains behind Santa Barbara. The 2,458-foot peak is just two miles from the Pacific Ocean, putting it in prime position to offer eye-popping views. There are two routes to the summit from the trailhead in Gaviota State Park. The traditional Gaviota Peak…

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Leopard Lily, Pacific Valley by Steve Evans.
Pacific Valley
Pacific Valley 1024 682 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Anyone exploring the beautiful Pacific Valley must wonder why this 10,500 acre roadless area contiguous to the upper portion of Highway 4 in Alpine County was inexplicably excluded from the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness when the wilderness was established by Congress in 1984. The 160,000-acre Carson-Iceberg Wilderness protects a big chunk of the Sierra Nevada crest…

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Silver Fork, by Steve Evans
Caples Creek
Caples Creek 693 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Cascading waterfalls, cool swimming holes, lush meadows, old growth forests, and dramatic rock formations – the Caples Creek roadless area on the Eldorado National Forest has it all. Features: Located north of Highway 88 and south of Highway 50, the Caples Creek area is a short 90- minute drive east of Sacramento. The area consists of…

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North Yolla-Bolly. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor Jason Mandly
North Yolla-Bolly
North Yolla-Bolly 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

[content courtesy of the Outdoor Project] The Yolla-Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness anchors the southern extent of the Klamath Mountains and covers over 151,000 acres of land that is rather hard to access. The remoteness of the wilderness combined with the fact that the showier wildernesses to the north tend to attract more people grants a…

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Bristlecone pine by Linda Castro
Methuselah Trail
Methuselah Trail 768 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

The Methuselah Trail is located in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains in the Inyo National Forest, northeast of Bishop. From the trail you will see the oldest Great Basin Bristlecone pine – Methuselah. Features: Methuselah is more than 4,840 years old.  Compare that to the oldest known giant sequoia, which is only…

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Cozy Dell Trail (Sheldon Canyon/Cozy Dell Canyon)
Cozy Dell Trail (Sheldon Canyon/Cozy Dell Canyon) 1024 456 California Wilderness Coalition

Here’s a great sunset or half day hike for you Central Coast fans with great views of the Ojai Valley. The moderate hike will lead you through oak groves that provide you with plentiful shade along the way. It’s approximately a 2 hour hike with 700 feet of elevation gain.  Hiking directions: From the parking…

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Mariposa Lily by S Evans
Hite Cove Trail – Proposed Devil Gulch-Ferguson Ridge Wilderness
Hite Cove Trail – Proposed Devil Gulch-Ferguson Ridge Wilderness 1024 689 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: There’s no better place in the central Sierra Nevada foothills to view a spectacular wildflower display than a hike along the scenic Hite Cove Trail on the Sierra National Forest. A spring hike along this scenic trail is also a great introduction to the proposed Devil Gulch-Ferguson Ridge Wilderness and a great outing to enjoy…

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NewRiver3 Jeff Morris
New River and Virgin Creek
New River and Virgin Creek 885 499 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Are you interested in putting your feet on-trail in some of the most rugged and remote country in California?  A day hike (or an overnighter) to the New River and Virgin Creek in the Trinity Alps Wilderness could be a great fit for you and your hiking compadres. Located off of Highway 299 in Northwest…

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Trona Pinnacles
Trona Pinnacles 1024 611 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: More than two million people visit Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park each year.  While there are many beautiful and interesting places to visit in each of those parks, there are many desert treasures that can be found outside of those national parks.  One of those treasures, Trona Pinnacles, is located about…

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Tenaja Falls
San Mateo Canyon Wilderness: Tenaja Falls Trail
San Mateo Canyon Wilderness: Tenaja Falls Trail 768 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: A rare chunk of wilderness surrounded by the southern California mega-cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and the “Inland Empire” of Riverside County, the more than 37,000-acre San Mateo Canyon Wilderness is located in the Santa Ana Mountains and Cleveland National Forest. Its primary feature is the rugged canyon of San Mateo Creek, which flows…

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Ishi Wilderness. Photo by Steve Evans.
Ishi Wilderness: Deer Creek Trail
Ishi Wilderness: Deer Creek Trail 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: This unique 41,000-acre area in the Mount Lassen foothills on the Lassen National Forest is named after Ishi. His tribe, the Yahi Indians, formerly lived in the area before being decimated by cattle ranchers in the late 1800s. The Ishi Wilderness is cut by the rugged lava rimrock canyons of Deer and Mill Creeks. These…

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California Wilderness Act Anniversary Hikes
California Wilderness Act Anniversary Hikes 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

September 28, 2016 marked the 32nd anniversary of the California Wilderness Act, which was approved by Congress and signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. This landmark legislation protected more than three million acres of wilderness on federally managed public lands throughout the state and represents one of CalWild’s first major legislative achievements. It was…

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Asa Lake
Asa Lake 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Elevation gain: Almost none Features: Before 1984, a big chunk of the Sierra Nevada between Ebbetts and Sonora Passes north of Yosemite Park was unprotected and open to development. The California Wilderness Act filled in this threatened link with the establishment of the more than 158,000-acre Carson-Iceberg Wilderness on the Stanislaus and Toiyabe National Forests. Encompassing…

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West Fork National Scenic Bikeway – San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
West Fork National Scenic Bikeway – San Gabriel Mountains National Monument 1024 696 California Wilderness Coalition

  Features: The West Fork National Scenic Bikeway offers a unique bicycling and walking experience in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in southern California. It follows a paved utility access road from the trailhead on Highway 39 to a point downstream of Cogswell Dam. The entire trail parallels more than eight miles of the lower West…

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Potrero John Trail
Potrero John Trail 683 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

(Taken from “Day Hikes around Santa Barbara” by Robert Stone 2010) Hiking Time: 2 hours Elevation gain: 600ft Features: Potrero John Canyon is tucked into the southern face of Pine Mountain in the Sespe Wilderness. The trail is lightly used and directly located off Hwy. 33 and starts at an elevation of 3,655 feet at the…

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South Fork Trinity River National Recreation Trail
South Fork Trinity River National Recreation Trail 450 600 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Looking for a new hiking experience? One of California’s most beautiful stretches of river, the Upper South Fork Trinity, could be a great fit for you and your hiking compadres. Located just off of Highway 36 in Northwest California the South Fork National Recreation Trail parallels the South Fork Trinity River, whose headwaters flow…

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Gene Marshall/Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail
Gene Marshall/Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail 1024 416 California Wilderness Coalition

(Paraphrased from “Day Hikes Around Santa Barbara” by Robert Stone 2010 Day Hike Books Inc) Distance: 6.4 Miles round trip Time: 3.5 Hours Elevation Gain: 600 ft. Best Map to Use: USGS and USFS Map: Sespe Wilderness Hiking Directions: From the signed path past the Kiosk and restrooms, walk toward the river gorge.  Descend the…

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Whitney Portal National Recreation Trail
Whitney Portal National Recreation Trail 683 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Outstanding views of Mount Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States) and the eastern Sierra escarpment, Lone Pine Creek, the Alabama Hills, and the White and Inyo Mountains are the key features of the Whitney Portal National Recreation Trail. The trail begins in the Lone Pine Campground at 5,900 feet elevation in the…

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photo by Cheryl Frei
Lower Manzana Creek
Lower Manzana Creek 1024 741 California Wilderness Coalition

Distance: 5.6 Miles (3 hours) Elevation Gain/Loss: 250 ft Best Map to Use: USGS and USFS Map: San Rafael Wilderness Features: (Paraphrased from “Day Hikes Around Santa Barbara” by Robert Stone 2010 Day Hike Books Inc) Manzana Creek is a proposed Wild & Scenic River addition in Central Coast Heritage Protection Act (HR 1865 and S. 1423)…

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Kings River
Kings River Trail
Kings River Trail 691 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Spring is the perfect time to hike the Kings River National Recreation Trail. The trail follows six miles of the magnificent Kings River, through one of the deepest canyons in North America. Below 2,800 feet in elevation, the National Recreation Trail is best hiked in the spring, when the foothills are green and spangled with…

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Whitewater River
Whitewater River 683 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: The Whitewater River flows freely from the 11,499 foot- high summit of Mount San Gorgonio in the San Bernardino Mountains for more than 30 miles to the Coachella Valley. An area of high ecological significance, the Whitewater River is one of the most pristine and remote watersheds in southern California. A critical biological link…

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South Fork Trinity Trail in Underwood
South Fork Trinity Trail in Underwood 1024 710 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: This 8-mile round trip hike provides access to the proposed Underwood Wilderness, which straddles a segment of the South Fork Trinity Wild & Scenic River between Hyampom to the north and the Trinity River confluence to the south. With relatively easy access from Highway 299, this trail is popular with hikers and hunters. Because…

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Surprise Canyon
Surprise Canyon 685 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Surprise Canyon is a rare perennial desert stream flowing through the spectacular Panamint Mountains. The narrow slot canyon’s year-round stream flow, spring seeps, waterfalls, and riparian vegetation offer outstanding scenery and primitive recreational opportunities. The long day hike or overnight backpack up Surprise Canyon to the abandoned gold mining town of Panamint City in…

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South Fork Trinity River
South Fork Trinity River 662 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: This trail provides access to the proposed South Fork Trinity Wilderness, which straddles a segment of the South Fork Trinity Wild & Scenic River between Forest Glen and Highway 36 in the north and the town of Hyampom to the south. Recently rebuilt by the Watershed Center in Hayfork, the trail offers a great…

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Sespe
Sespe 1024 683 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Sespe Creek flows from the wild Topa Topa Mountains in northern Ventura County. Because most rivers and streams in southern California have been dammed, diverted, and channelized, the free flowing Sespe is a significant low-elevation stream with a relatively high potential for maintaining its ecological integrity, primarily because it flows through public lands (Los…

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San Antonio Creek Falls
San Antonio Creek Falls 669 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: San Antonio Creek rises from the sub-alpine heights of the scenic Baldy Bowl and drains the south face of 10,064-foot high Mt. San Antonio (a.k.a. Mt. Baldy). The Forest Service identified a four-mile segment of San Antonio Creek from its source to Mt. Baldy Village to be eligible for National Wild & Scenic River…

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Middle Fork Lytle Creek
Middle Fork Lytle Creek 669 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Hike through the Cucamonga Potential Wilderness Area and the Middle Fork Lytle Creek Potential Wild & Scenic River. Flowing from the sub-alpine heights of the Cucamonga Wilderness, the Middle Fork Lytle Creek supports a naturally reproducing rainbow trout population prized by anglers and its canyon is home to regionally significant populations of Nelson’s bighorn…

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East Fork San Gabriel
East Fork San Gabriel 551 759 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: The East Fork San Gabriel River is formed at the confluence of Vincent Gulch and the Prairie Fork. From there, this major fork of the San Gabriel River flows south through the rugged Sheep Mountain Wilderness and potential Wilderness Addition. At Heaton Flat, the East Fork parallels a road all the way to the…

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Deep Creek
Deep Creek 682 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Deep Creek flows from the mixed conifer forests of the San Bernardino Mountains through unique, diverse, and spectacular scenery to the the Mojave Desert. Along the way, the creek carves a rugged canyon, tumbling over granite cliffs and around house-sized boulders, and forming limpid pools lined with willow, alder, and cottonwood. The creek supports…

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Trail Canyon Hike – Condor Peak
Trail Canyon Hike – Condor Peak 683 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: The proposed 17,084-acre Condor Peak Wilderness is located on the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains, just minutes away from the LosAngeles metropolitan area. The proposed Wilderness encompasses several canyons and creeks flowing into Big Tujunga Canyon from the north. Elevations range from 2,000 feet in Big Tujunga Canyon to about 6,000…

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South Fork Trinity- Chinquapin Proposed Wilderness
South Fork Trinity- Chinquapin Proposed Wilderness 684 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: This 15-mile trail provides access to the proposed Chinquapin Wilderness, which straddles a segment of the South Fork Trinity River between Forest Road 30 (a.k.a., the Wild-Mad Road) to the north and Highway 36 to the south. Because of its length, the trail offers an ideal backpacking adventure, as well as shorter day hikes,…

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Borrego Palm
Borrego Palm 600 800 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Borrego Palm Canyon is a stunning oasis tucked into a rocky gorge. Once the site of over one thousand palms, a flash flood in 2004 wiped out 70 percent of the palm population. You will notice toppled palms along the hike. There are still numerous palms left, and a seasonal waterfall to boot. Early…

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Blue Creek Hike
Blue Creek
Blue Creek 683 1024 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: The immense diversity of plants and animals in this region sets it apart from most other California wild areas. Unusual soils, great rises and drops in elevation, and plenty of water all combine to offer a refuge for literally thousands of life-forms, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. A few years…

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Fish Canyon
Castaic Potential Wilderness (Fish Trail)
Castaic Potential Wilderness (Fish Trail) 428 648 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Fish Canyon is part of the nearly 70,000 acre potential Castaic Wilderness, which stretches down from Liebre and Sawmill Mountains to the rugged canyons of Castaic Creek and Fish Canyon in northern Los Angeles County. The forested upper ridges support rare California spotted owl and one of the most diverse oak forests in southern…

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Mad River Buttes
Bug Creek Trail
Bug Creek Trail 800 600 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: Ample ancient forest, outstanding wildflower displays, and great views from atop Board Camp Mountain greet visitors. You are also almost guaranteed solitude. Directions: From Highway 101 in Arcata, drive east on Highway 299 for 28 miles to Titlow Hill Road. Turn right (south) on Titlow Hill Road (Forest Highway 1) and drive 19.7 miles…

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Crater Lake
Amboy Crater
Amboy Crater 1024 768 California Wilderness Coalition

Features: This is a short but scenic hike in the newly designated Mojave Trails National Monument. Amboy Crater was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973, due to is visual and geological significance. Although Amboy Crater is not unique, it is an excellent example of a very symmetrical volcanic cinder cone. Due to the often…

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