HIKING
Hiking in Northern California
Here are some of our favorite hikes around Northern California. Whether you're looking for a short day hike to a scenic waterfall or a longer trek of a multi-day backpacking adventure, you'll find many options here.
We've been doing day hikes in the Northern California area since around 2005. We started backpacking regularly every year since 2015. We embarked on a few showshoeing trips around 2017 and took our inagural snow camping trip in 2019.
This page is meant to serve as a portal to various hikes in the Northern California area. We are fortunate to live in an area where the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Pacific Crest Trail are both in our backyard.
Hike Highlights
Echo Lake
This lovely hike just outside of South Lake Tahoe is one of our favorite hikes. It can be as short as 3 miles or you can continue on to Aloha Lake and make it a longer trek. You could make this an overnight backpacking trip by staying the night at Susie or Heather Lake and then hike out via the Glen Alpine trail to Fallen Leaf Lake.
Mt. Lassen
This National Park features every type of volcano. This is not only a hiker's paradise, it's for the geology buff, too. Day hikes are possible all over the park and the amazing geological features can be taken in (including steam vents, mudpots, and boiling springs). The area is also features beautiful ecology. From trees to shrubs and falcons to woodpeckers and meadows to lakes and streams - Mt. Lassen offers a wide diversity on and off the trail.
Carson Pass Area
If seeing lakes, wildflowers, and a physical challenge are things you fancy on a hike, this is your venue. The Pacific Crest Trail runs through part of this area. There are several beautiful lakes in the area including Caples Lake, Silver Lake, Blue Lakes, and others. There are also strenuous hikes in the area like Thunder Mountain, you could hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Carson Pass to Echo Summit and see some magnificent wildflowers, depending on the time of year.
Squaw Valley/ Granite Chief
If your idea of a fun day is to sweat your booty off on a hike up challenging, granite terrain over not incredibly well-marked trails, have lunch (and a beer!) at the lodge up top, and then ride the gondola back down - this hike is a must! This trail connects with several others, including the Pacific Crest Trail (you could continue your adventure from the top of the Granite Chief Trail out to either Donner Pass or Barker Pass, depending on how far you want to go.