168 1 Day Treks to Explore in California

Brushy Peak, also known as Brushy Knob or Las Cuevas, is a summit in Alameda County, California that overlooks the Livermore Valley. North of the valley, it is part of the Diablo Range. It rises to an elevation of 1,686 feet and is the location of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve; there are guided tours to the peak itself. Historically, the peak and its immediate surroundings were used for some outdoor events, like picnics

Southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula. It commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. This event marked the first time a European expedition had set foot on what later became the West Coast of the United States.

This majestic 4,471 acre park is nestled in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Two distinct areas define this park: Calero reservoir, which offers a host of water-oriented recreational activities, and the adjoining "back country" which reveals to the visitor California Oak woodland, chaparral, riparian plant communities and associated wildlife habitats.The back country offers 18.9 miles of trails available to hikers and equestrians.

The Carson–Iceberg Wilderness is a federal wilderness area located 80 miles northeast of Stockton, California. It encompasses 160,000 acres and was designated by the California Wilderness Act of 1984. It protects an area of High Sierra landscape with elevations from 4,800 feet to 11,462 feet along the Sierra Mountains from Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass in the south. The wilderness supports large herds of mule deer and there is also good habitat for black bear

Castle Rock State Park is a 5,242-acre state park of California, United States, located along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It embraces coast redwood, Douglas fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that are a popular rock climbing area. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles of hiking trails.

Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve is nestled in the Berkeley and Oakland hills behind the historic Claremont Hotel. There are a lot of scenic views in the area, but this one is especially good because it’s high, yet it’s also close to the urbanized flatlands of Berkeley and Oakland. The Preserve is relatively undeveloped and offers almost no amenities to visitors other than two hiking trails: Stonewall Panoramic Trail and Gwin Canyon Trail.

Cloudripper is a 13,525-foot-elevation mountain summit located two miles east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County of northern California. It is approximately 14 miles west of the community of Big Pine, 1.1 miles north-northeast of Picture Puzzle, and 2.1 miles south of parent Mount Agassiz. Cloudripper ranks as the 58th highest summit in California, and the highest point of the Inconsolable Range.

Cowles Mountain is located in Mission Trails Regional Park in the north part of San Diego and is easily one of the most popular trails in the city. The 1,593-foot summit is the highest point of the city of San Diego. The entire mountain, with marked trails, is a protected area within Mission Trails Regional Park.

This is one of the highest peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains. It is within the Cucamonga Wilderness of the San Bernardino National Forest. Trekking and adventure lovers can explore this place very well. This is one of the coolest summits in this area.

A 390-acre lake surrounded by a 1,050-acre park located in north central Omaha, Nebraska. The lake was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and recreation and opened to the public in 1977. It has tent camping, no-wake boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, picnicking and horseback riding.

Mount Davidson in San Francisco is the highest peak in the city. It reaches 928 feet above sea level and offers a great hiking experience. The hill is well known for its 103-foot concrete cross on the top of it. Each year on Easter, you will find a sunrise service in front of the cross. They also have an annual event on April 24 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. It is the site of a yearly prayer service, performed on Easter.

Deadwood Peak lies in the center of Mokelumne Wilderness across Summit City Creek from Round Top. It is also situated on the shared border of Pierce County and Yakima County in Washington state. Deadwood Peak is set on the crest of the Cascade Range, immediately north of Yakima Peak and Chinook Pass, with the Pacific Crest Trail traversing its east slope.

Disaster Peak a grey colored, and at first sight, unimpressive looking pile of rocks located in the Carson - Iceberg Wilderness. There are several taller and more impressive looking peaks in the area. The climbers trail is faint and easy to lose, so one often needs to rely on cross country travel. The summit “block” is composed of piled rock and boulders, some a bit loose.

The 70-acre Douglas Family Preserve is located near the intersection of Cliff Drive and Las Positas Road in the Mesa neighborhood. The property spans 70 acres of undeveloped ocean-front land, and represents the largest area of coastal open space within the city limits of Santa Barbara. A walking trail loops the park perimeter, with many smaller trails across and along the interior. There are several bluffs overlooking the beach, popular for watching whales, dolphins, and birds.

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands, open space, and trails in Alameda. The system comprises 121,000+ acres in 73 parks, including over 1,200 miles of trails. This parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. We invite you to enjoy hiking, biking, picnicking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, golfing, boating and nature study in our parks.

This majestic 1,558 acre park is one of Santa Clara County's most unique regional park and recreation areas. It has the traditional features of an urban park such as picnicking, fishing and play areas, with the complex trail system of many regional wilderness parks. The park's recreational facilities include a hang gliding and paragliding area, a dog park, and horseback riding areas. Ed R. Levin County Park has two lakes.

Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve near Redwood City has miles of trails, shady picnic areas and some of the Bay Area’s most spectacular displays of spring wildflowers, native grasslands, and oak woodlands. It has 160 acres of serpentine soil which are known for having high proportions of native plant species including rare and locally endemic species.

Elephants Back is a peak in Alpine County and has an elevation of 9580 feet. Elephants Back is situated south of Frog Lake, and south of Carson Pass. it is one of the iconic location where you can have a good trek and also there are so many other adventure opportunities to explore.

This is a 1,400-acre park and nature preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. The park contains nearly one tenth of all land in Palo Alto. About 90 acres of the park are developed with amenities including a large grassy field, picnic sites, a walk-in, tent-only campground, and a nature interpretive center. Boronda lake is used for fishing, rowing, and canoeing. The park also has 15 miles of trails.

Fortynine Palms Oasis is a three-mile, out and back trail located in Joshua Tree National Park in California, with a 300-foot elevation gain in both directions. The trail starts at Fortynine Palms Parking Area, goes up and over a ridge dotted with barrel cacti, and descends to a palm oasis in a rocky canyon.The oasis is frequently used as a watering hole for bighorn sheep.