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Best Coastal Hikes in California

The directory currently contains 34 quality-checked routes matching this guide in California. Their average mapped distance is 22.2 km and average recorded ascent is 675 m (2,215 ft); the longest route in the set is 160 km.

This subset represents 3% of the 1,083 quality-checked routes in California. Its average distance is 22.2 km, compared with 13.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 675 m (2,215 ft), versus 464 m (1,522 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the coastal tag. Tide dependency, cliff exposure and beach access are not inferred from that tag. Within this set, 5 routes (15%) are rated easy, 13 (38%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

16.4 km

North Coast Ridge Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

643 m

North Coast Ridge Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Unconventional view, but it works. Bolinas Lagoon Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch, California. The coastal subspecies of Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus californicus , lacks the yellow band of median coverts, so we see only a red
Expert

ADT - California - T - Seg 9

California · United States

Distance
70.3 km
/ 43.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,539 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Coast to Crest Trail

California · United States

Distance
113 km
/ 70.1 mi
Elevation gain
4,587 m
Typical duration
33 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Lost Coast Trail

California · United States

Distance
85.2 km
/ 52.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,774 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

California Coastal Trail

California · United States

Distance
55.9 km
/ 34.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,263 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Expert

Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail

California · United States

Distance
160 km
/ 99.3 mi
Elevation gain
4,652 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Hard

North Coast Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
643 m
Typical duration
4 hr 26 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Easy

California Coastal Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Coastal Rail Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

The Barbary Coast Trail

California · United States

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
419 m
Typical duration
2 hr 35 min
  • Coastal
Easy

California Coastal Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Coastal
Hard

Rattlesnake Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
8.4 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,147 m
Typical duration
3 hr 28 min
  • River
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Hard

Park to Playa Trail

California · United States

Distance
18.1 km
/ 11.3 mi
Elevation gain
257 m
Typical duration
4 hr 16 min
  • Coastal
Easy

Coast Road

California · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
9 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Garden to Sky Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
321 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • Coastal
Hard

Big Pines Trail

California · United States

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,046 m
Typical duration
4 hr 20 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Cliff Camp Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
217 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Coastal

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
ADT - California - T - Seg 9California70.3 km1,539 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Coast to Crest TrailCalifornia113 km4,587 m33 hrExpertApril to October
Lost Coast TrailCalifornia85.2 km1,774 m22 hrExpertApril to October
California Coastal TrailCalifornia55.9 km1,263 m14 hrExpertApril to October
Mokelumne Coast to Crest TrailCalifornia160 km4,652 m44 hrExpertJuly to September
North Coast Ridge TrailCalifornia16.4 km643 m4 hr 26 minHardApril to October
California Coastal TrailCalifornia1.9 km40 m28 minEasyApril to October
Coastal Rail TrailCalifornia4.7 km45 m1 hr 2 minModerateApril to October
Shoreline Beach Pedestrian PathCalifornia7.0 km440 m2 hr 7 minModerateApril to October
California Coastal Trail - Gold Bluffs Beach SectionCalifornia14.4 km490 m3 hr 44 minHardApril to October

ADT - California - T - Seg 9, Coast to Crest Trail, Lost Coast Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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