CA · Pacific Southwest
8 forest guides within driving distance
A 1.3-million-acre national forest in the central Sierra Nevada bordering Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia, featuring the Kaiser Wilderness, Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, and hundreds of miles of trails from foothills to alpine peaks.
6 min read
Complete guide to Inyo National Forest in California's Eastern Sierra. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, Mount Whitney, and trip planning resources.
13 min read
Sequoia National Forest protects 1.2 million acres of southern Sierra Nevada terrain, from the giant sequoia groves of the Tule River watershed to the remote high-country meadows of the Golden Trout Wilderness.
8 min read
A Sierra Nevada national forest covering nearly 900,000 acres from the Central Valley foothills to the Emigrant Wilderness, with 800 miles of trails, the Clark Fork of the Stanislaus River, and high-country access from Sonora Pass.
7 min read
Complete guide to Los Padres National Forest in California. Condor country, Big Sur coastal mountains, Ventana Wilderness, chaparral backcountry, and trail planning for Santa Barbara and Monterey.
10 min read
The Eldorado National Forest spans 616,000 acres of California's Sierra Nevada foothills and high country between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, with granite peaks, volcanic terrain, and year-round recreation.
7 min read
154,000 acres surrounding America's most iconic alpine lake: crystal-clear water, granite peaks, forest ridgelines, and year-round outdoor recreation from South Lake Tahoe to Truckee.
8 min read
Complete guide to Tahoe National Forest in California. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, seasonal tips, and everything you need to plan your trip.
12 min read
A 2.4-mile out-and-back to natural granite swimming pools on the South Fork Kings River in Sierra National Forest, one of the most popular summer destinations in the Shaver Lake area.
4 min read
A 6-mile out-and-back along the Kings River Wild and Scenic corridor in the lower Sierra National Forest, reaching the confluence of the North and South Forks with dramatic canyon views and river access.
4 min read
A 5-mile out-and-back along the rim above Wishon Reservoir in Sierra National Forest, with views into the North Fork Kings River canyon and access to high-altitude conifer forest near the southern Kaiser Wilderness boundary.
3 min read
An 8-mile loop in the Dinkey Creek area of Sierra National Forest through mixed Sierra conifer forest and a classic subalpine meadow, with mountain views and consistent wildlife habitat throughout.
4 min read
A 13-mile loop through the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness visiting four alpine lakes in the central Sierra Nevada, one of the most accessible multi-lake circuits in Sierra National Forest.
4 min read
A 4-mile out-and-back from Huntington Lake to a 150-foot waterfall in a granite canyon in Sierra National Forest, one of the most accessible dramatic waterfalls in the central Sierra Nevada.
4 min read
A 9-mile out-and-back through the Kaiser Wilderness passing three lakes before reaching Doris Lake at 9,400 feet, one of the most lake-rich day hikes in Sierra National Forest.
4 min read
A 10-mile out-and-back to the highest point in the Kaiser Wilderness at 10,310 feet, with 360-degree views of the central Sierra Nevada from a rocky summit accessible without a permit.
4 min read
The Tule River Trail follows the North Fork of the Tule River through a mixed conifer canyon in Sequoia National Forest, passing swimming holes and giant sequoia groves with 800 feet of gradual elevation gain.
4 min read
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
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.
10 min read
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.
8 min read
The East Creek Loop is a 10-mile circuit in Sequoia National Forest climbing through old-growth fir forest to open ridgeline views above the Kern Plateau, with 2,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain.
4 min read
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.
7 min read
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.
9 min read
The Jordan Peak trail climbs 1,200 feet to a staffed fire lookout at 9,100 feet with panoramic views across the southern Sierra Nevada and the Kern Plateau.
5 min read
Portuguese Peak is a demanding 6-mile out-and-back on the Kern Plateau in Sequoia National Forest, climbing 2,000 feet to a granite summit with remote views across the southern Sierra Nevada.
4 min read
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.
8 min read
Guide to the Condor Gulch Trail in Los Padres National Forest, California. A 4-mile out-and-back through chaparral canyon with condor roosting habitat, rock formations, and Salinas Valley views near King City.
4 min read
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.
12 min read
A 12-mile backpacking loop across the Kern Plateau in the Golden Trout Wilderness, crossing high meadows and granite creek drainages between 9,000 and 10,500 feet in elevation.
5 min read
The Kern River Trail follows 8 miles of the upper Kern River through a deep canyon in Sequoia National Forest, offering flat, accessible walking along one of California's last free-flowing rivers.
4 min read
Dome Rock is a short, accessible hike in Sequoia National Forest leading to a granite dome with outstanding views over the Kern Canyon and the forested ridges of the southern Sierra Nevada.
4 min read
The Needles Lookout trail climbs to a historic fire lookout perched on a narrow granite spire above the Kern Canyon in Sequoia National Forest, with 1,100 feet of gain and dramatic views in all directions.
4 min read