California Hiking and Backpacking Vacations

Anaheim/OC, CA
- Family Guide
Laguna Beach, CA
- Beach Guide
Santa Monica, CA
- Beach Guide
Encinitas, CA
- Beach Guide
Half Moon Bay, CA
- Beach Guide
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, AZ
- Active and Adventure Guide
Huntington Beach, CA
- Beach Guide
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
- Parks and Outdoors Guide
- Active and Adventure Guide
Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest, OR
- Parks and Outdoors Guide
San Simeon Beach State Park, CA
- Beach Guide

Top California Hiking and Backpacking Destinations

Photo Galleries

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California's Secret Stash
outside
The Big River's been saved—and just in time. Here's how to enjoy the northern coast's newest playground and its spectacular environs.
City Without Limits
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San Francisco
Yosemite National Park
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Hike to Sweet Solitude in the Sierra
Sky-high Intoxication
Take the annual celebrations to new heights
A National Park for All Seasons
Summer

More California Hiking and Backpacking Feature Articles (181)

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Backyard Playgrounds
Whether it’s for a few hours or a few days, we’ve all got to get away sometime. Since we can’t always explore the Amazon after work or trek Tibet in a weekend, we bring you an inspired list of the country’s best city-centric, all-natural playgrounds—ones within city limits, and ones just beyond the suburban sprawl—tailor-made for bite-sized bursts of urban adventuring.
High-Sierra Majesty: Inyo National Forest, California
GORP's Top 10 Autumn Escapes: Fall's Best Forests

A Trekking Primer
GORP - Getting on Course - Learning Compass and Map Basics
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Backpacking: A Packing List
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Day Hiking: A Packing List
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Adventure Travel 101
GORPTravel’s Kate Tucker and Linda Long answer our burning questions about the tao of adventure travel

Sequoia High Sierra Camp
Sequoia High Sierra Camp
from $250, 7 days
The Sequoia High Sierra Camp, located in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, combines the best aspects of a wilderness tent camp adventure - with...
San Francisco to the Wine Country Trek
Wine Country Trekking
from $2450, 10 days
Enjoy a ten day signature trek vacation where you will see and experience the best of the San Francisco Bay Area. This vacation takes you to San...
Backpacking the John Muir Trail
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
from $3450, 23 days
The John Muir Trail is one of the most famous trails in the world. It is 212 miles long, beginning in Yosemite, following the spine of the Sierra...
Ansel Adams High Sierra Camp - Hiking with Pack Mules
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
from $965, 5 days
The Ansel Adams Wilderness is filled with high peaks, crystal clear alpine lakes, dense forests, glorious meadows, and amazing panoramas. We begin in...
Yosemite - Sierra Multi-Sport
The World Outdoors
from $1898, 6 days
Cascading rivers, lofty peaks, and stands of giant sequoia trees constitute the landscape of Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks....

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Complete Gear Archives: Day-Hiking, Backpacking, and Trekking
From in-depth gear review articles and Gear Guy Q&A highlights to the latest—and past—entries in Outside magazine’s award-giving Summer and Winter Buyer’s Guides, a detailed overview of all things hiking.
Women’s Running Gear Essentials
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Waterproofing Innovations
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A new way to waterproof
The Goods: Hiking
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Mountain Sense
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Some helpful backcountry tips from mountaineering guru Conrad Anker