Skip to content

Best Mountain Hikes near Valencia

The directory currently contains 5 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Valencia. Their average mapped distance is 90.6 km and average recorded ascent is 1,695 m (5,561 ft); the longest route in the set is 178 km.

This subset represents 45% of the 11 quality-checked routes near Valencia. Its average distance is 90.6 km, compared with 44.0 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,695 m (5,561 ft), versus 831 m (2,726 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 5 (100%) 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 5 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

27.0 km

Red Reef Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

183 m

California Mission Trail - stage 04 Mission San Gabriel Arcangel to Mission San Fernando, Rey de Espana

5 of 5 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

A carpet of wildflowers stretches out in front of the Tehachapi Mountains, California
Expert

California · United States

Distance
178 km
/ 110 mi
Elevation gain
3,339 m
Typical duration
46 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

California · United States

Distance
108 km
/ 67.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,914 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

California · United States

Distance
27.0 km
/ 16.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,447 m
Typical duration
8 hr 9 min
  • Mountain

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
PCT - California Section ECalifornia178 km3,339 m46 hrExpertJune to October
Backbone TrailCalifornia108 km2,914 m29 hrExpertApril to October
California Mission Trail - stage 05 Mission San Fernando, Rey de Espana to Mission San Buenaventura, VenturaCalifornia94.5 km591 m22 hrExpertApril to October
California Mission Trail - stage 04 Mission San Gabriel Arcangel to Mission San Fernando, Rey de EspanaCalifornia45.5 km183 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Red Reef TrailCalifornia27.0 km1,447 m8 hr 9 minExpertJune to October

PCT - California Section E, Backbone Trail, California Mission Trail - stage 05 Mission San Fernando, Rey de Espana to Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura 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 →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

People also search for