Are you on the lookout for an absurdly laborious day hike in California? A quad destroying, foot pummeling, pre-dawn begin, all-day sufferfest rewarding and difficult journey? Or maybe just a few vicarious inspiration?
California is house to a lot staggeringly stunning terrain, from desert to excessive alpine and typically each in a single very lengthy day. I’m a lifelong Californian who likes to put down large miles now and again. I’ve hiked 4 of those trails, some as day hikes and a few as backpacking journeys, and the final remains to be on my bucket listing.
What makes a day hike laborious sufficient to qualify for this listing? Sometimes it’s a mixture of lengthy miles and large elevation achieve, typically combined with different challenges like excessive altitude, warmth, and restricted water. After all you can also make something into a tough day hike just by packing in additional miles. For this listing I’ve caught to hikes of round 25 miles or much less that may be accomplished in a single (very lengthy) day at strolling tempo, centered round a notable summit to make all of the laborious work worthwhile.
Phrase of warning: These difficult California day hikes make for nice inspiration, however please don’t try them until you’re well-trained and totally ready. All these trails may be harmful should you haven’t accomplished your analysis or aren’t ready to go the gap. All the time carry the mandatory security necessities for an bold hike and know how you can make the powerful resolution to show again early if needed. The path will nonetheless be there later!
Mt. Whitney
Location: John Muir Wilderness, Japanese SierraTrailhead: Whitney Portal, close to city of Lone PineDistance: 21 miles (out and again)Highest elevation: 14,505 feetElevation achieve: 6600 feetHiking season: July to SeptemberPermit: required, and aggressive
Summiting Mount Whitney is an iconic super-hard day hike to the summit of the best California 14er and tallest peak in the complete contiguous 48 states. It’s so lengthy and laborious that many individuals choose to deal with it as an in a single day backpacking journey. If you will deal with Whitney in a single push you’ll want to begin effectively earlier than daybreak and comply with the climate forecast carefully. The mountain climbing route is non-technical however you’ll must be well-acclimated and skilled to deal with so many miles of rocky uphill at excessive altitude. As soon as on the summit your work isn’t over… Don’t underestimate the quad-busting impression of the endless downhill!
Map and hike reviews: Mt. Whitney Path (AllTrails)
Highlights: summit the tallest mountain within the contiguous United States, unparalleled views of the Excessive Sierra
Challenges: very very lengthy day; stormy climate poses hazard; excessive altitude makes for sluggish progress; patches of ice and snow frequent in early summer season and late fall; common path with a lot of hikers; permits are through lottery system and laborious to get
Suggestions: Spend a pair days and nights at average altitude beforehand to acclimate and keep away from altitude illness. A pre-dawn alpine begin is strongly really useful to provide you adequate time to summit and hike down, in addition to greatest possibilities to keep away from harmful afternoon thunderstorms. Carry heat layers for the highest; I used to be completely freezing up there in September! In the event you’re not on monitor to summit by your predetermined turnaround time, make the powerful resolution to show round anyway.
Cactus to Clouds (Skyline Path)
Location: Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness, southern CaliforniaTrailhead: Palm Springs Artwork Museum trailhead, on the town of Palm SpringsDistance: 20 miles (out and partial again, ending at tram)Highest elevation: 10,834 feetElevation achieve: 10,715 feetHiking season: spring (ideally Might) or fall (Oct – Nov)Allow: free self-issued wilderness allow at Lengthy Valley
Map and hike reviews: Skyline Path (AllTrails)
This absolute beast of a day hike, referred to as Skyline Path or Cactus to Clouds, is exclusive for a number of causes. You’ll expertise each the desert flooring (cacti and all) and an alpine summit in the identical day. The elevation achieve per mile is almost unparalleled within the US; this hike is ALL concerning the climbing. Restricted water and scorching temps on the backside make this a committing route; you principally must outrun rising desert temps because the solar rises. Mercifully you may select to take a tram down as a substitute of mountain climbing the majority of the descent, which your exhausted legs will certainly thanks for as you relax and benefit from the dramatic views over the desert flooring you simply hiked up from.
Highlights: mountain climbing from desert to forest to alpine summit in a single day; expansive views over the desert flooring; the most important vertical achieve you’ve most likely ever skilled in a day hike; taking the tram down
Largest challenges: excessive and relentless elevation achieve; restricted consuming water and intense warmth; committing (turning round not suggested because of warmth); slim seasonal window because of warmth down low and snow up excessive
Suggestions: Today hike completely requires a pre-dawn begin, as a result of mid-day temps on the trailhead can simply prime 100 F even in spring and fall. Carry no less than 6 liters of water; there’s no refill till Lengthy Valley. In the event you get drained, your greatest wager is to proceed as much as the tram fairly than threat descending into the mid-day desert warmth. On the day we hiked it topped 110 F down on the desert flooring!
Be taught extra: Cactus to Clouds Climbing Information
Half Dome
Location: Yosemite Nationwide ParkTrailhead: Joyful IslesDistance: 16.5 miles (out and again)Highest elevation: 8805 feetElevation achieve: 5305 feetHiking season: Might – October when cables are upPermit: required (lottery) to proceed previous subdome to cables
Map and hike reviews: Half Dome through JMT (AllTrails)
Highlights: gorgeous Yosemite surroundings; distinctive and thrilling cable ascent
Largest challenges: Cables to summit require a head for heights and a little bit of higher physique stamina. Getting a allow is difficult and the path may be very busy.
Suggestions: Carry snug grippy footwear and work gloves to guard your palms on the cables. Do your analysis on how you can safely deal with the cables part; there may be deadly fall potential. You don’t should ascend the cables should you’re not feeling it; even attending to the subdome is a giant accomplishment! A brief alternate route is to take the steeper (a lot of stone stairs) Mist Path both up or down for waterfall views.
Cone Peak (Sea to Sky)
Location: Ventana Wilderness, coastal central CaliforniaTrailhead: Vicente Flat Trailhead, at Kirk Creek CampgroundDistance: 22 milesHighest elevation: 5157 feetElevation achieve: 6272 feetHiking season: year-round relying on climate; spring is idealPermit: none required
Map and hike reviews: Cone Peak from Freeway 1 (AllTrails)
The Sea to Sky route up Cone Peak is one in every of my private favourite difficult California hikes. Sometimes it’s important to go to the Sierra for such spectacular elevation achieve, however Cone Peak is the best coastal mountain within the contiguous 48 states. It stands at over 6200 toes elevation, lower than 5 miles (because the crow flies) from the coast! The mileage and elevation achieve of this hike are similar to summiting Mount Whitney(!) although the decrease elevation makes it really feel simpler. Like Whitney, Cone Peak is extra typically accomplished as a multi-day backpacking journey to take the stress off.
Highlights: summit the tallest coastal mountain within the contiguous 48 states; dizzying views over the scenic California shoreline close to Large Sur; comparatively uncrowded path with no allow necessities
Largest challenges: path is overgrown in locations, together with poison oak; very lengthy mileage
Suggestions: Verify Freeway 1 standing earlier than going as landslides regularly shut the street. Put on lengthy pants and sleeves to guard you from scratches and poison oak on overgrown sections, and examine path circumstances earlier than mountain climbing. Refill with loads of water at Vicente Flat as a result of there may be none after throughout dry seasons. Verify your physique and garments for ticks after ending.
Be taught extra: Cone Peak: Sea to Sky Close to Large Sur
Shorty’s Effectively to Telescope Peak to Mahogany Flat
Location: Dying Valley Nationwide ParkTrailhead: Shorty’s Effectively Street / Hanaupah Canyon RoadDistance: 22 miles (level to level)Highest elevation: 11,043 feetElevation achieve: approx. 11,500 feetHiking season: spring (may be scorching) or fall (ideally suited)Allow: none required
Map and hike reviews:
That is it, the BIG one. Don’t do that crazy-hard day hike till you’ve accomplished all of the others! Beginning in Badwater Basin at 243 toes under sea degree, you’ll hike and scramble your method to the tallest summit in Dying Valley Nationwide Park. This route shares some aesthetics with Cactus to Clouds in that you simply’ll be mountain climbing from a desert flooring to an alpine peak, however this one is even more durable with loads of off-trail journey and nobody else round. For the hike described right here you’ll want two autos, one parked on Westside Street close to Shorty’s Effectively and the opposite at Mahogany Flat Campground. You might additionally do an out-and-back from Mahogany Flat (simpler) or from Shorty’s Effectively (even more durable, not suggested!).
Highlights: hike from hear the bottom level in North America to 11,000+ toes; nearly as a lot elevation achieve as climbing Everest; distant and solitary expertise
Largest challenges: two automotive shuttle required to hike level to level; excessive temperature distinction; quick mountain climbing window because of warmth at backside and snow at prime; restricted water; potential for difficult climate at prime; lengthy sections of grime street strolling; off-trail route discovering; very distant with probably no different hikers
Suggestions: In the event you’re taking this hike on, you must already know all the ideas! Begin very early, take dependable GPS navigation for the off-trail sections, put together for excessive temperature variations backside to prime, and good luck.
Different Laborious Day Hikes in California
The 5 hikes highlighted above are well-known and bucketlist-worthy, however they’re removed from the one difficult hikes in California. For these searching for extra under-the-radar choices, listed here are some lesser-known however nonetheless completely beastly choices.
San Antonio Ridge: One of many burliest routes within the rugged San Gabriel Mountains close to Los Angeles, this unimaginable traverse consists of some critical scrambling and cross-country journey with a mind-blowing 11,000+ toes of achieve in 22 miles!
Previous Mt. Baldy to Three T’s Loop: One other San Gabriel Mountains route, however extra approachable than San Antonio Ridge. You may as well discover different methods to hyperlink up the numerous formidable peaks within the space, resembling this route.
Mount Shasta through Avalanche Gulch: Extra of a mountaineering route than a hike, Shasta requires technical gear and expertise and shouldn’t be tried with out them. Nonetheless, when you’ve got the abilities or rent a information this route takes you over 7000 toes as much as the highest of a singular volcanic California 14er.
This listing is a piece in progress. Have your personal favourite laborious hike so as to add? Let me know within the feedback under!
Important Gear for Laborious Day Hikes
It’s at all times vital to pack thoughtfully for mountain climbing, however particularly when tackling bold mega-hikes like those above. Trails like these are likely to span huge temperature ranges, require mountain climbing at the hours of darkness, and carry a threat of by accident being caught out in a single day. Right here’s the gear I like to recommend at minimal for a protracted day hike:
mountain climbing poles to assist with rocky trails and drained legswater filter so you may refill from pure sourcesheadlamp and spare batteriesGPS navigation (might be a smartphone app), backup navigation, and probably an influence bankadequate water capability (typically as much as 6 liters)electrolytes for decent hikeslots of foodsatellite communicator: Garmin InReach or SPOTwarm and rain layerssun safety: sunscreen, hat, sunglassesemergency bivy in case of unhealthy climate or unplanned night time outsmall first support package
Extra Climbing Assets
Concerning the Writer
Hello there, I’m Alissa, founding father of Exploring Wild. I’ve had the pleasure of mountain climbing the Arizona Path, Colorado Path, John Muir Path, Tahoe Rim Path, and numerous shorter wonderful trails all through the US and overseas. I really like solitude, large views, and a great light-weight gear setup. Be taught extra right here.
