moon northern california hiking: best hikes plus beer, bites, and campgrounds nearby

Pack a lunch, lace up your boots, and head out to discover the rugged coastline, towering redwoods and best hiking trails in NorCal with Moon Northern California Hiking. Inside you’ll find:

• Diverse Hiking Options: Whether you plan to take leisurely seaside walks or challenging journeys around the Sierras, enjoy outdoor getaways ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips
• Find Your Hike: Looking for something specific? Choose from strategic lists of the best hikes for breathtaking waterfalls, spring wildflowers, or hiking with your dog, plus a breakdown of the best hikes by season
• The Top Outdoor Experiences: Wander the terraces of the Ecological Staircase in Mendocino, hike up granite domes and through the high meadows of Yosemite. Hear the waves crash as you walk to a majestic tide fall in Point Reyes National Seashore. Conquer the summit of Lassen Peak, roam through vineyard-covered hills in Napa and Sonoma or look out upon Lake Tahoe’s crystal waters.
• Nearby Fun: Relax post-hike at a local brewery, savor a plate of fresh oysters or stargaze before bed at a nearby campground
• Essential Planning Details: Each hike is described in detail and marked with round-trip distance and hiking time, difficulty, terrain type, elevation gain, and access points
• Maps and Directions: Find easy-to-use maps, driving directions to each trailhead, and details on where to park
• Expert Advice: Longtime hikers Ann Marie Brown and Felicia Kemp shares their local secrets, unique tips, and honest opinions of each trail
• Tips and Tools: Advice on gear, first aid, and camping permits, plus background information on climate, landscape, and wildlife

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell--and they can’t wait to share their favorite places with you.

Ann Marie Brown made her first solo trip to Yosemite at age 22. Like many first-time visitors, she was immediately inspired by the Valley’s sheer granite walls and shimmering waterfalls. Parking her car at the first trailhead she saw, she set off on the Four-Mile Trail. Carrying nothing but a water bottle, she intended to hike only a short distance but was so wowed by the scenery that she kept on walking. Two hours later she found herself at Glacier Point, considered by many to be the grandest viewpoint in the West. Scanning the scene, she noticed tourists dressed in everything from high heels to a nun’s habit, and realized that she could have driven to Glacier Point instead of walking. Ann Marie vowed she’d never again go hiking without a map.

Felicia Kemp has been hiking since as long as she can remember. She started her blog, Family Trail Time in 2015 to share tales of hiking and travel. She and her family have hiked all over the West Coast, but she has a special love for Northern California. She’s an advocate for diversity in the outdoors, and has organized NorCal hikes for beginner hikers, BIPOC families, and women. She has spent more than a decade writing about Northern California.