Popular Hikes in California
4 Curated Trails
This page lists 4 popular hikes in California from the Summit Seeker trail database. Summit elevations run from 2,517 ft (Mission Peak) to 5,900 ft (Vernal Fall).
3 of the 4 routes have a distance we can quote from a published source. The shortest is Vernal Fall at 2.4 mi; the longest is Mission Peak at 6.2 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 1,000 ft (Vernal Fall) to 2,100 ft (Mission Peak). Together the quoted routes add up to 14.0 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 1 strenuous, 1 moderate, 1 hard. 1 of the routes has not been verified against the summit yet, so that page quotes no distance or time.
All 4 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernal Fall | 5,900 ft | Mist Trail to Vernal Fall | 2.4 mi round trip | 1,000 ft | 3 hr | Moderate | Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Take free shuttle in summer |
| 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 |
| Potato Chip Rock | 2,881 ft | Mount Woodson Trail via Lake Poway | Not verified | — | — | — | Lake Poway Recreation Area. Parking fee $5-10 on weekends |
| Mission Peak | 2,517 ft | Mission Peak via Hidden Valley Trail | 6.2 mi round trip | 2,100 ft | 5 hr | Strenuous | Stanford Avenue Staging Area, Fremont. Free parking. Lot fills by 8am weekends |
Not yet verified against the summit, so no distance or time is quoted: Potato Chip Rock.
