Hard Hikes in California
3 Curated Trails
This page lists 3 hard hikes in California from the Summit Seeker trail database. Summit elevations run from 5,900 ft (Nevada Fall) to 9,585 ft (Cathedral Lakes).
3 of the 3 routes have a distance we can quote from a published source. The shortest is Nevada Fall at 5.4 mi; the longest is Panorama Trail at 8.5 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 1,000 ft (Cathedral Lakes) to 2,000 ft (Nevada Fall). Together the quoted routes add up to 21.5 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 3 hard.
2 of the 3 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area; the others give the summit location and route line only.
Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.
| Trail | Summit | Route | Distance | Gain | Time | Difficulty | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral Lakes | 9,585 ft | Cathedral Lakes via John Muir Trail | 7.6 mi round trip | 1,000 ft | 6.5 hr | Hard | Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, Tioga Road near Tuolumne Meadows. Limited parking |
| Panorama Trail | 7,214 ft | Panorama Trail (Glacier Point to Valley) | 8.5 mi one way | 1,255 ft | 3.5 hr | Hard | — |
| Nevada Fall | 5,900 ft | Nevada Fall via Mist Trail | 5.4 mi round trip | 2,000 ft | 5.5 hr | Hard | Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Use shuttle in summer |
