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ForestMatters, LLC

The Golden State

California

More national forests than any other state: from giant sequoias to alpine granite to coastal redwoods.

2Forest Guides
16Trail Guides
2.5MAcres Covered
14,505 ftHighest Peak

California at a Glance

Most National Forests

California has 18 national forests, more than any other state, covering over 20 million acres

Extreme Elevation

Mount Whitney (14,505 ft) and Death Valley (-282 ft) are just 85 miles apart, the greatest elevation range in the contiguous US

Pacific Crest Trail

The PCT crosses 1,692 miles through California, more than half the trail's total length

Giant Sequoias

Sequoia National Forest protects groves of the largest trees on Earth, some over 2,000 years old

Diverse Ecosystems

California's forests range from coastal fog forests to alpine tundra, desert oases, and volcanic landscapes

Fire Management

California leads the nation in prescribed burn programs, with fire as a natural part of the forest cycle for millennia

When to Visit

June through October for the Sierra Nevada. Coastal ranges and southern forests are accessible year-round. High passes above 9,000 ft may hold snow into July.

National Forests in California

San Gabriel Mountains and Mount San Antonio in Angeles National Forest, California

Angeles National Forest

700,386 acresOctober through May

Complete guide to Angeles National Forest in Southern California. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, mountain peaks, and trip planning resources for LA's backyard wilderness.

12 min read

Banner Peak and Island Pass Lake in Ansel Adams Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, California

Inyo National Forest

1,837,190 acresJune through October

Complete guide to Inyo National Forest in California's Eastern Sierra. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, Mount Whitney, and trip planning resources.

13 min read

Trails in California

moderateout-and-back

Bridge to Nowhere

10 mi1,200 ft gain
CaliforniaOctober through May

Guide to the Bridge to Nowhere trail in Angeles National Forest, California. A 10-mile out-and-back along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River to an abandoned 1930s bridge.

5 min read

easy-moderateloop

Crystal Lake Loop

2.6 mi400 ft gain
CaliforniaMay through November

A 2.6-mile loop around Crystal Lake in Angeles National Forest, California, the only natural lake in the San Gabriel Mountains, at 5,800 feet with views through a ponderosa pine forest.

5 min read

easy-moderateout-and-back

Eaton Canyon Falls

3.4 mi400 ft gain
CaliforniaNovember through May

Guide to the Eaton Canyon Falls trail near Pasadena, California. An easy 3.4-mile hike to a 40-foot waterfall just minutes from the LA metro area.

5 min read

moderateout-and-back

Josephine Peak via Colby Canyon

5.5 mi1,500 ft gain
CaliforniaOctober through May

A 5.5-mile out-and-back to the 5,558-foot summit of Josephine Peak in Angeles National Forest, California, with sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding San Gabriel peaks.

5 min read

strenuousout-and-back

Mt. Baldy via Devil's Backbone

11 mi3,900 ft gain
CaliforniaMay through November

Guide to summiting Mount San Antonio (Mt. Baldy) via the Devil's Backbone in Angeles National Forest, California. The highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains at 10,069 feet.

6 min read

moderateout-and-back

San Gabriel Peak

6.2 mi1,300 ft gain
CaliforniaOctober through June

Guide to San Gabriel Peak in Angeles National Forest. A 6.2-mile out-and-back from Red Box Junction climbs to the highest point in the front range of the San Gabriels with panoramic views of Los Angeles.

6 min read

easy-moderateout-and-back

Sturtevant Falls

3.6 mi500 ft gain
CaliforniaNovember through April

Guide to Sturtevant Falls in Angeles National Forest. A 3.6-mile out-and-back from Chantry Flat drops into Big Santa Anita Canyon, passing historic backcountry cabins to a 50-foot waterfall.

5 min read

moderateout-and-back

Trail Canyon Falls

4 mi800 ft gain
CaliforniaNovember through May

Guide to the Trail Canyon Falls hike in Angeles National Forest, California. A 4-mile out-and-back to a 30-foot waterfall in a lush canyon above Tujunga.

5 min read

strenuousout-and-back

Bishop Pass Trail

12 mi2,600 ft gain
CaliforniaJuly through September

Guide to the Bishop Pass Trail in Inyo National Forest. A 12-mile out-and-back climbing through alpine lakes to an 11,972-foot pass with views into Kings Canyon National Park.

11 min read

easyloop

Convict Lake Loop

2.8 mi200 ft gain
CaliforniaMay through October

Guide to the Convict Lake Loop Trail in Inyo National Forest. An easy 2.8-mile lakeside walk with stunning mountain scenery, great for families and fall color photography.

8 min read

moderate-hardout-and-back

Duck Pass Trail

9.6 mi2,500 ft gain
CaliforniaJuly through September

Guide to the Duck Pass Trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. A 9.6-mile out-and-back hike climbing past alpine lakes to a 10,797-foot pass in the John Muir Wilderness.

9 min read

moderateout-and-back

Hilton Lakes Trail

8 mi1,600 ft gain
CaliforniaJuly through September

An 8-mile out-and-back into the John Muir Wilderness above Rock Creek in Inyo National Forest, California, reaching a chain of glacially carved lakes above 11,000 feet with strong trout fishing and light traffic.

6 min read

strenuousout-and-back

Kearsarge Pass

8.4 mi2,600 ft gain
CaliforniaJuly through September

Guide to Kearsarge Pass in Inyo National Forest, California. An 8.4-mile out-and-back climbing to an 11,760-foot pass on the John Muir Trail with views of the Kearsarge Lakes, Bullfrog Lake, and the Kings Canyon backcountry.

7 min read

moderateloop

Methuselah Trail

4.5 mi800 ft gain
CaliforniaJune through October

Guide to the Methuselah Trail in Inyo National Forest, California. A 4.5-mile loop through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains, home to the oldest trees on Earth.

8 min read

moderate-hardout-and-back

Mono Pass Trail

8.4 mi1,800 ft gain
CaliforniaJuly through September

An 8.4-mile out-and-back from Mosquito Flat to the 12,060-foot Mono Pass in Inyo National Forest, California, climbing a historic Sierra crossing used by miners and Native Americans through the Rock Creek drainage.

7 min read

strenuousout-and-back

Mount Whitney Trail

22 mi6,100 ft gain
CaliforniaJuly through September

Complete guide to hiking Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous US at 14,505 feet. Route details, lottery permit system, altitude tips, and planning advice for this 22-mile day hike.

11 min read

Trip Planning Guides

Best Hikes Near Los Angeles, California

Best Hikes Near

The best day hikes within 2 hours of Los Angeles, California. From Angeles National Forest canyon waterfalls to strenuous summit climbs on Mount Baldy, these are the trails worth your weekend.

6 min read

Did You Know?

1

The Inyo National Forest contains the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to the oldest known living trees on Earth (over 4,850 years old).

2

Shasta-Trinity is the largest national forest in California at over 2.1 million acres.

3

Angeles National Forest sits directly above Los Angeles, providing watershed protection for 17 million people.

4

The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles through some of California's most spectacular Sierra Nevada scenery, passing through three national forests.

5

Six Rivers National Forest in northern California gets over 80 inches of rain per year, making it one of the wettest national forests in the country.