Backpacking California: Mountain, Foothill, Coastal, & Desert Adventures in the Golden State

by Wilderness Press (Created by)

Overview

Get Ready for a Lifetime of Awe-Inspiring Adventures

In California, backpackers can explore wild beaches, enjoy colorful canyonlands, hike amid stunning granite peaks, relax in wildflower meadows, and circle glacier-clad mountains. Discover 71 of California’s best and most diverse backpacking trips with the expert backpackers and experienced authors of Wilderness Press. Backpacking California details the premier opportunities across the entire state. This fully updated edition describes scenic escapes ranging from one night to two weeks, or 3 to 68 miles. Choose from carefully crafted trips in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Big Sur, Desolation Wilderness, Mount Shasta, Point Reyes National Seashore, the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains, Trinity Alps, Yosemite National Park, and more. Each carefully crafted itinerary offers geographic diversity, beautiful landscapes, and attainable daily mileage goals.

This in-depth guide provides all the information backpackers need, including trail highlights, mileage, elevation gain, days on the trail, shuttle distances, required permits, and more—not to mention full-color photographs and detailed trail maps. Plus, ratings for scenery, solitude, and difficulty help you to find the exact adventure you seek. Whether you’re a novice backpacker or a veteran hiker, with this many options you may have trouble deciding where to go first!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899979595
Publisher:	Wilderness Press
Publication date:	10/27/2020
Series:	Backpacking
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	41 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Michel Digonnet is a professor of applied physics at Stanford University, where he carries out research on optical fibers, and lasers for sensing, and communication applications. He has explored several of the world’s deserts, from the Sahara to Baja California, and Australia. He has also hiked, and backpacked extensively throughout the American West, especially on the Colorado Plateau, and in California. He is the author of Hiking Death Valley, and several other books on the Mojave Desert. Kathleen Dodge Doherty first shouldered a backpack at age 10 when her dad forced her to walk around with a pack full of encyclopedias to prepare for an overnight outing in Yosemite. From the first heavily laden step, a love affair was born,, and a thirst for backcountry adventure has led to decades of starry nights in her native California. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Kathleen is the author of Day&Section Hikes: John Muir Trail, Walking San Francisco,, and has written for Fodors, Lonely Planet, Moon Handbooks, AFAR Magazine,, and VIA Magazine. David Harris is a professor of engineering at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. He is the author or coauthor of six hiking guidebooks, and five engineering textbooks. David grew up rambling around the Desolation Wilderness as a toddler in his father’s pack, and later roamed the High Sierra as a Boy Scout. As a Sierra Club trip leader, he organized mountaineering trips throughout the Sierra Nevada. Since 1999, he has been exploring the mountains, and deserts of Southern California. David’s other books for Wilderness Press are 101 Hikes in Southern California (with Jerry Schad), Afoot&Afield: Orange County (with Jerry Schad), Afoot&Afield: Inland Empire, Day&Section Hikes Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California,, and San Bernardino Mountain Trails (with John W. Robinson). Tim Hauserman wrote The Tahoe Rim Trail: The Official Guide for Hikers, Mountain Bikers, and Equestrians, as well as Monsters in the Woods: Backpacking with Children, Cross-Country Skiing in the Sierra Nevada,, and the children’s book Gertrude’s Tahoe Adventures in Time. For most of the year his focus is on writing articles on travel, recreation,, and inspiring people for a variety of publications—and, of course, hiking, road, and mountain biking,, and kayaking. Once the snow flies, he teaches cross-country skiing, and runs the Strider Glider after-school program at Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Area in his home town of Tahoe City, California. An avid hiker, backpacker,, and naturalist, Analise Elliot Heid has pursued an outdoor lifestyle both professionally, and recreationally. She currently works as an environmental educator, and food&agricultural sciences teacher along the California coast. Analise holds a B.S. in forestry from U.C. Berkeley, a M.A. in secondary education from San Francisco State University,, and she works as a master teacher in the Cal State University Science Teacher, and Researcher program. Jessica Lage is the author of Point Reyes: The Complete Guide to the National Seashore, and Surrounding Area, and Trail Runner’s Guide: San Francisco Bay Area, both published by Wilderness Press. Jessica lives in the Bay Area with her family, and spends many weekends on the trails of Point Reyes. In summer she adventures in California’s Sierra Nevada, and the Spanish Pyrenees. Lowell, and Diana Lindsay began backpacking together in the early 1960s as members of the UCLA Bruin Mountaineers. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park became their focus when Lowell was assigned to San Diego as a Navy helicopter pilot in 1966. He became aware of the Anza-Borrego area while on training flights over the area. The park then became part of Diana’s study at San Diego State University as the subject of her master’s thesis. In 1978 Wilderness Press published the first edition of Anza-Borrego Desert Region, now in its sixth edition. Other award-winning books on this desert area authored, coauthored, or edited by the Lindsays followed, including Our Historic Desert; Geology of Anza-Borrego: Edge of Creation; Anza-Borrego A to Z: People, Places,, and Things; Marshal South, and the Ghost Mountain Chronicles;, and Fossil Treasures of the Anza-Borrego Desert (2007 winner of the PMA Ben Franklin Award in Science, and Environment). Andy Selters has engaged with the Sierra, and mountains all over the world for many years. A former climbing instructor, and guide, he has climbed, and led treks in many parts of the Himalaya, Karakoram, and Tibet. He is also an accomplished photographer. His other books include Ways to the Sky: An Historical Guide to North American Mountaineering,, and Mt. Shasta: The Guide to Climbing, Skiing, and Hiking. He bases in Bishop, where he teaches T’ai-chi, and coaches his son in life, and baseball. Scott Turner is a native Californian hiking guide author who moonlights as a Licensed Marriage, and Family Therapist. When he isn’t shrinking heads, he’s attempting to shrink an ever-expanding bucket list of journeys, and explorations of the American West’s most beautiful places. Scott’s writing credits include a full revision, and update of Jerry Schad’s “hiking Bible,” Afoot&Afield: San Diego County, which was released in spring of 2017. Scott has also contributed over 250 trip descriptions to Modern Hiker, the most-read hiking website in the American West. Since childhood, Lizzy Wenk has hiked, and climbed in the Sierra Nevada, and continues the tradition with her husband, Douglas Bock,, and daughters, Eleanor, and Sophia. As she obtained a PhD in Sierran alpine plant ecology from the University of California, Berkeley, her love of the mountain range morphed into a profession. Since then, writing guidebooks has become her way to share her love, and knowledge of the Sierra Nevada with others. Lizzy continues to obsessively explore every bit of the Sierra, spending summers hiking on-, and off-trail throughout the range, but she currently lives in Sydney, Australia, during the “off-season.” Other Wilderness Press titles she has authored include John Muir Trail, Top Trails: Yosemite, One Best Hike: Mount Whitney, One Best Hike: Grand Canyon, 50 Best Short Hikes: Yosemite,, and Wildflowers of the High Sierra, and John Muir Trail, the latter a perfect companion book for all naturalists. Mike White was born, and raised in Portland, Oregon. He learned to hike, backpack,, and climb in the Cascade Mountains,, and he honed his outdoor skills further while obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Seattle Pacific University. After college, Mike, and his wife, Robin, relocated to the Nevada desert, where he was drawn to the majesty of the High Sierra. Mike has contributed to several Wilderness Press classics, including Sierra South, and Sierra North, as well as Backpacking California. In addition to his books, Mike has written articles for Sunset, Backpacker, Tahoe Weekly, and the Reno Gazette-Journal. A former community college instructor, Mike is a featured speaker for outdoor groups. He, and Robin live in Reno; his two sons, David, and Stephen, live in the area as well.

Read an Excerpt

San Jacinto Loop
by David Money Harris

• Miles: 17.6
• Recommended Days: 2–3
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 4500'/4500'
• Type of Trip: Point-to-point or Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Solitude: Crowded
• Location: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, Mount San Jacinto State Park
• Maps: USGS 7.5-min. San Jacinto Peak or Tom Harrison’s San Jacinto Wilderness Trail Map
• Best Season: Summer through fall

Permits

Permits are required for both dayhiking and backpacking. For more information, contact the Idyllwild Ranger Station, 54270 Pinecrest or P.O. Box 518, Idyllwild, CA, 909-382-2921 or Mt. San Jacinto State Park, P.O. Box 308 or 25905 Highway 243, Idyllwild, CA 92549, 951-659-2607. You can download the permit application at www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/documents/san_jacinto_wilderness_permit_application.pdf.

Challenges

Permits are free but quotas fill during summer weekends, so reserve your spot early. Campfires are not permitted. Dogs are permitted in the national forest but are prohibited in the state park section of the wilderness.

How to Get There

From Highway 243 just below the Idyllwild Ranger Station, turn northeast on North Circle Dr. Continue 0.7 mile to a four-way intersection, and then turn right on South Circle Dr. Proceed 0.1 mile, and then turn left on Fern Valley Rd. After 1.8 miles, reach the large Humber Park Trailhead at the top of the road.

If you will be exiting on the Deer Springs Trail, arrange for a second vehicle at the trailhead 1 mile west of the ranger station on the north side of the road just above the County Park Nature Center.

Take This Trip

At 10,804 feet, San Jacinto Peak is one of the three tallest major summits ringing the Los Angeles Basin. This loop from Humber Park in Idyllwild offers a grand tour of the mountain, taking you past sheer granite cliffs, shady forests of pine and fir, and cool alpine creeks to the stacked summit boulders. If a second vehicle is available, the easiest option is to emerge at the Deer Springs Trailhead and make a 4-mile shuttle. Otherwise, you have the option of dropping down a steep climber’s trail next to Suicide Rock to return to Humber Park.

Trip Description

This trip follows the first recorded route on San Jacinto, pioneered by the mysterious Mr. F of Riverside in 1874. From 6420 feet in elevation in Humber Park, the Devil’s Slide Trail climbs 1600 feet over 2.5 miles to Saddle Junction. The first cattle ranchers used to drive their herds up through the loose and dangerous slopes to summer pastures in Tahquitz Valley. The trail is now so well-graded that some hikers have rechristened it “Angel’s Walk,” but it nevertheless is a strenuous start with a heavy pack.

The five-way Saddle Junction delimits the west end of the spectacular Tahquitz Valley. Creeks flow through the meadows and open forest, and there is good camping at Tahquitz Valley and Skunk Cabbage Meadow. If you have an extra day, consider spending the night here and exploring the trails to Tahquitz Peak or the Caramba Overlook.

Otherwise, turn left at Saddle Junction and follow the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) up the ridge to the north. In 1.9 miles, the PCT turns west across the head of Strawberry Valley but your route continues north. It passes the swampy Wellman Cienega and threads its way up past chaparral and boulders, reaching the Wellman Divide in another mile. Here, another trail branches off to the east, leading a mile to the fine but busy campsites of Round and Tamarack Valleys and out to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Your trip again continues north across a long slope clad in chaparral beneath Jean Peak. Look for the rocky pyramid of Cornell Peak on the north skyline. The trail switches back and in 2.4 miles climbs to a saddle immediately south of San Jacinto Peak. Scramble 0.3 mile up to the granite summit boulders. Along the way, look out for the stone hut that offers emergency shelter from storms.

Peer over the north edge of the summit to admire the cliffs of Snow Creek, which drops more than 8000 feet to the desert over scarcely 3 miles. The precipice is especially impressive when it’s covered with snow in the spring and early summer. Snow Creek is only suitable for advanced mountaineers with ice and rock gear; more than one casual hiker has gotten lost and perished here.

After returning to the saddle, descend west for 1.3 miles to excellent camping at Little Round Valley, your last dependable source of water. The trail continues southwest for another mile to rejoin the PCT, where you turn left (south). In 0.5 mile, it passes junctions with the Seven Pines and Marion Mountain trails and then winds around the west flank of Marion Mountain for 2.3 miles to reach Strawberry Junction. The open forests of Jeffrey pine and white fir are some of the most beautiful in Southern California. Strawberry Junction Camp, situated immediately to the east, has good views but no running water.

Leave the PCT again and hike south down a ridge on the Deer Springs Trail. In 1.8 miles, reach the signed turnoff for Suicide Rock. If you left a vehicle at the Deer Springs Trailhead, you can continue down the ridge for 2.3 more easy miles past stands of enormous red manzanita to reach the road.

Otherwise, take the Suicide Rock Trail for a mile as it climbs up to the top of the granite outcrop. The way down is via a climber’s trail on the northwest edge of the rock before you reach the true summit. Look for a path that skirts the edge of the rock. Do not be tempted to descend the cliffs directly; there is no safe route without a rope. Carefully follow the faint and confusing climber’s trail, which is occasionally marked with cairns. After passing the base of the rock, it descends steeply southeast to meet dirt roads and eventually Fern Valley Road. Hike uphill on the road for 0.4 mile to return to the Humber Park Trailhead.

Build-up and Wind-Down Tips

Nomad Ventures, 951-659-4853, at 54415 North Circle Drive in Idyllwild on the way to Humber Park, sells almost any gear you might need and has friendly and knowledgeable staff who provide expert advice. Many PCT thru-hikers stop here each spring for supplies, and in the store you can admire snapshots of these hardy backpackers.

Table of Contents

Western California

• THE PENINSULAR RANGES
• Laguna Mountains
• East Mesa Trail
• Pine Creek Wilderness
• Secret Canyon
• San Mateo Canyon Wilderness
• San Mateo Canyon
• The San Jacinto Mountains
• San Jacinto Loop
• The Santa Rosa Mountains
• Art Smith Trail
• SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
• Trans-Catalina Trail
• THE TRANSVERSE RANGES
• The San Bernardino Mountains
• San Gorgonio Mountain
• San Bernardino Mountain Traverse
• Holcomb Crossing Trail Camp Loop
• The San Gabriel Mountains
• Big Santa Anita Loop
• East Fork San Gabriel River
• Silver Moccasin Trail
• High Desert National Recreation Trail
• The Santa Monica Mountains
• Point Mugu State Park Loop
• THE COAST RANGES
• Big Sur
• Trail Camp
• Pine Valley
• 16 Cone Peak Trail
• Diablo Range
• Poverty Flat and Los Cruzeros Loop
• Redfern Pond Loop
• The Ohlone Wilderness Trail
• Santa Cruz Mountains
• Pescadero Creek Loop
• Skyline to Big Basin
• Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Coast Trail
• Bear Valley Loop
• Lost Coast
• Lost Coast Trail: Orchard Camp to Usal Camp
• Lost Coast Trail: King Range Wilderness Loop
• KLAMATH MOUNTAINS
• Trinity Alps
• Canyon Creek Lakes and L Lake
• North Fork Trinity River to Grizzly Lake
• Deadfall Lakes, Mount Eddy, and the Sacramento Headwaters
• Marble Mountains
• Marble Rim via Sky High Lakes Basin
• Shackleford to Campbell, Cliff, Summit, Little Elk, Deep, and Wrights Lakes Loop

Eastern California

• DESERT
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
• Butler and Coyote Canyon Loop
• Rockhouse Valley Loop
• Mountain Palm Springs Loop
• Death Valley National Park
• Marble Canyon to Cottonwood Canyon Loop
• Surprise Canyon
• Ubehebe Country Loop
• Sand Dune Fields in Mojave National Preserve
• White Mountains
• Cottonwood Basin Loop
• SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and John Muir and Golden Trout Wildernesses
• Mineral King and Little Five Lakes Loop
• Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal via the High Sierra Trail
• Lodgepole Campground to Deadman Canyon Loop
• Rae Lakes Loop
• Cottonwood Lakes to Upper Rock Creek Loop
• Horseshoe Meadow to Whitney Portal
• South Lake to North Lake
• North Lake to Humphreys Basin Loop
• North Fork Big Pine Creek Loop
• Kings-Kern Divide
• Middle Fork of Bishop Creek
• Virginia Lake
• Ansel Adams Wilderness
• Agnew Meadows to Devils Postpile
• Lillian Lake Loop
• NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA
• Yosemite National Park
• Happy Isles to Half Dome
• Happy Isles to Merced Lake
• Glen Aulin and Waterwheel Falls
• High Sierra Camps Loop, Northwest Part
• High Sierra Camps Loop, Southeast Part
• Tuolumne Meadows to Emeric Lake
• Yosemite National Park and Hoover Wilderness
• Virginia Lakes Basin to Green Creek
• Kerrick Canyon and Matterhorn Canyon Loop via Barney and Peeler Lakes
• Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
• County Line Trail to Sword and Lost Lakes
• Pacific Grade Summit to Bull Run Lake
• Desolation Wilderness
• Glen Alpine to Half Moon Lake
• Velma, Fontanillis, and Dicks Lakes
• Meeks Bay to Emerald Bay
• Tahoe Rim Trail
• Tahoe Rim Trail: Showers Lake
• Tahoe Rim Trail: Star Lake and Freel Peak
• Plumas-Eureka State Park
• Little Jamison Canyon to Grass, Rock, Jamison, and Wades Lakes
• Bucks Lake Wilderness
• Bucks Lake Wilderness Loop
• CASCADE RANGE
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Summit Lake to Cluster, Twin, Rainbow, Snag, Horseshoe, and Swan Lakes Loop
• Caribou Wilderness
• Central Caribou Lakes Loop
• Mount Shasta
• Treeline Circumnavigation of Mount Shasta
• WARNER MOUNTAINS
• The Summit Trail: Pepperdine Trailhead to Patterson Lake