North California Trails Among Country’s Best

Northern California has more than its share of beautiful day hikes. Most people like giant views, mountain tops, waterfalls, pristine flora, big trees and wildlife. On these hikes, you can get them all:

Panorama Trail, Yosemite National Park.

This is likely the best day hike in America, starting at Glacier Point (7,214 feet elevation), with gorgeous views of Half Dome, Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls, then a downhill tromp to Illilouette Falls, a good look at last year’s historic rock slide from Washburn Point, and onward to Yosemite Valley. Bonus: A hiker’s shuttle bus is available, making it a one-way trip, 8 miles. (209) 372-0200.

Thousand Island Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Inyo National Forest.

From Upper Soda Springs Camp near Devil’s Postpile, you hike along the beautiful upper San Joaquin River, bordered by greenery and wildflowers, a 7-mile hike to Thousand Island Lake. The grand finale is an extraordinary setting, a pristine alpine lake sprinkled with rocks and boulders, with awesome Ritter and Banner peaks in the background. (619) 934-2505 or (619) 934-2500.

Mount Eddy Trail, Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Mount Eddy (9,025 feet) is the mountain directly west of Mount Shasta, and the view from its summit makes Shasta look like a giant diamond in a field of coal. The first 2.5 miles are nearly level to pretty Middle Deadfall Lake, then it’s a 1,700-foot climb over 3.5 miles to the top. (916) 926-4511.

Rubicon Trail, D.L. Bliss State Park, Lake Tahoe.

If Tahoe is the prettiest lake on earth, then the Rubicon provides the prettiest hike. The trail traces the southwest shore near Emerald Bay, the kind of place where you stop, stretch out your palms and soak it all in. (916) 525-7277 or (916) 525-7232.

Pohono Trail, Yosemite National Park.

The Pohono Trail provides a sense of salvation, where you can take in the stellar beauty of Yosemite Valley, the entire length of Yosemite Falls, and the glacier-carved rim and north wall. That is because the Pohono Trail is routed atop the south rim, from Glacier Point on past Sentinel Dome, Taft Point and beyond. Incredible. (209) 372-0200.

Tall Trees Trail, Redwood National Park.

No hike on this planet feels more like gaining entry to an outdoor cathedral than this one, especially with sunbeams pouring through a forest canopy created by massive 300-foot redwoods. The entire setting is softened by a lush understory of fern and sorrel; 2.5-mile roundtrip. (707) 464-6101.

Tuolumne Falls, via Pacific Crest Trail, Yosemite National Park.

From Tuolumne Meadows, it’s a near-flat walk along the Tuolumne River for 4 miles to Tuolumne Falls, getting views along the way of Unicorn Peak, Cathedral Peak and Fairview Dome. Of the 2,700 miles of the PCT, no other section is as beautiful or as easy at the same time. (209) 372-0200.

Berry Creek Falls, via Skyline-to-the-Sea, Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

This is the Bay Area’s No. 1 day hike, starting at headquarters for Big Basin, then hiking through the giant redwoods up and over the Big Basin rim, then meandering down canyon to picture-perfect Berry Creek Falls. Upstream, Silver Falls and Golden Falls cap a perfect day. Figure 11 miles to Golden Falls and back. (408) 338-8860 or (408) 429-2851.

Paradise Meadow, Lassen Volcanic National Park.

This walk is such a surprise, a steady grade along a creek, eventually coming to a series of small cataracts in about 45 minutes. Then in another half mile, you rise to this perfect meadow, lush green, round, sprinkled with lupine, and backed by a granite wall, a setting so sacred that no one would dare walk across. (916) 595-4444.

Tomales Point Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore.

If you want to get a child excited about the outdoors, then try this trail, where anyone can see giant tule elk from a herd that just topped 400 this year.

Want more? Continue the 3 miles from Pierce Ranch out to Tomales Point, with spectacular ocean beauty to the west and emerald-green Tomales Bay to the east. (415) 663-1092.