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Hiking Trails Under 5 km in California

We track 612 routes that match this search in California. They average 2.2 km and 122 m (400 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 5.0 km.

That is 56 percent of the 1,097 routes we map in California. They are shorter than the local average, 2.2 km against 13.6 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 122 m (400 ft) against 458 m (1,503 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Short routes for a spare couple of hours, an evening walk, or a day when the weather only gives you a window. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Marmota flaviventris - yellow bellied marmot Location: Top of Half Dome, Yosemite, CA, USA
Moderate

Half Dome Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
653 m
Typical duration
1 hr 39 min
  • Mountain
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 38.
Moderate

Summit Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
117 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis sierrae, Mt. Langley Herd. Listed as threatened under California Endangered Speciaes Act since 1974. Uplisted to endangered in 1999 by Califonia Fish and Game Commission. Listed as endangered by
Moderate

Soldier Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
556 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
This image was taken at the Minarets observation site ( Minaret Summit ). Most of the Minarets (peaks) have been informally named. The largest and tallest (Clyde Minaret) is identified in this image. Michael Minaret is where Norman Clyde fo
Moderate

Starkweather Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Sunset Palisades, Pismo Beach, CA, USA
Easy

California Coastal Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Coastal
Computer science researcher Neil Immerman of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst at the Open Source Quality retreat, in the Seaside View room of the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, California.
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
Temple Crag, seen from the Big Pine Lakes region to the north.
Moderate

Black Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Boiling mudpot located near Little Hot Springs Valley in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Moderate

Ridge Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
302 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Trees of Castle Rock (2)
Moderate

Summit Rock Loop Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
228 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Blue Lake in the morning Location: Inyo National Forest, about 2.5 miles from the lake Sabrina trail head.
Moderate

Baboon Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
213 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Marmota flaviventris , or a Yellow Bellied Marmot, on a rock in the Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park, California, United States.
Moderate

Dog Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
1 hr 16 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Lake Sabrina before sunrise
Moderate

Grass Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
185 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Linanthus pachyphyllus in Little Lakes Valley, eastern Sierra
Moderate

Ruby Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Извержение / Outpouring
Moderate

Summit Meadows Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
99 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Peaks beyond Yosemite from Glacier Point
Moderate

Sunrise Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
189 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
McGee Pass Lake, snowfields, and view south - from trail at about 10,800ft, near McGee Pass. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada USA.
Moderate

Big McGee Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Blue Lake in the morning Location: Inyo National Forest, about 2.5 miles from the lake Sabrina trail head.
Moderate

Donkey Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Red Slate Mountain , Sierra Nevada , California . Image taken from Lake Mildred.
Moderate

Dorothy-Bighorn Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Trail south of Duck Pass, above Duck Lake - framed mountain view along path with Pinus albicaulis . John Muir Wilderness, CA, near John Muir Trail.
Moderate

Pika Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis). Photo taken near Dingleberry lake in the CA eastern Sierra at an elevation of about 10,500 feet
Moderate

Topsy Turvy Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Barney Lake (foreground) and Mammoth Mountain (background), seen looking northwest from Duck Pass, John Muir Wilderness, California.
Moderate

Woods Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
The Emigrant Wilderness of Stanislaus National Forest is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada. It is bordered by Yosemite National Park on the south, the Toiyabe National Forest and the Hoover Wilderness on the east, and State Route 108 o
Moderate

Leavitt Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Streptanthus tortuosus (shieldleaf), between rocks: stem-pierced leaves, flowers, seedpods
Moderate

Marie Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
274 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mount Dade (on the right) taken from Treasure Lakes, Little Lakes Valley, Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Easy

Chickenfoot Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Blue Lake in the morning Location: Inyo National Forest, about 2.5 miles from the lake Sabrina trail head.
Easy

Emerald Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mount Dade (on the right) taken from Treasure Lakes, Little Lakes Valley, Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Easy

Gem Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Banner Peak, Mount Davis, and 1000 Island Lake in Ansel Adams Wilderness, California , USA
Easy

Thousand Island Lake

California · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Always together / Natural Giants - Парочка
Moderate

Berry Creek Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waterfall
  • River
Temple Crag, seen from the Big Pine Lakes region to the north.
Easy

Fourth Lake Cutoff

California · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Steller's Jay perched in a White Fir tree outside Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center (KYVC), Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Moderate

Mill Creek Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
134 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waterfall
  • River
Vista, 2006
Moderate

Mahogany Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
145 m
Typical duration
1 hr 14 min
  • River
  • Mountain
The bluegreen glaucous stems and leaves are reminiscent of the "Poa ampla" form of Sandberg's bluegrass and the open panicle is characteristic of the "Poa gracillima" form of Sandberg's bluegrass.
Moderate

Upper Rock Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • River
  • Mountain
August 2012
Moderate

White Bark Vista Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 59.
Moderate

Summit Meadow Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
457 m
Typical duration
1 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Alpine meadow
Near Hobler Lake
Easy

Hobbler Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis). Photo taken near Dingleberry lake in the CA eastern Sierra at an elevation of about 10,500 feet
Moderate

Hungry Packer Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mt. Tamalpais. View down to the northwest from the East Peak, showing the Marin Municipal Water District watershed, featuring Bon Tempe Lake (the larger one) and Lake Lagunitas (smaller, closer).
Moderate

East Peak Fire Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
489 m
Typical duration
1 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
Turdus migratorius (American Robin) Location: Eastern Sierra, California, USA On a pillar of the bridge to the Glacier Lodge cabins. Elevation: About 2376 meters (7800 feet)
Moderate

Logging Flat Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
424 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Mountain
Algebra tile model of x 2 + 3 x + 2 {\displaystyle x^{2}+3x+2} factored as ( x + 1 ) ( x + 2 ) {\displaystyle (x+1)(x+2)}
Moderate

Dawn Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
266 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waterfall
So fragrant – the entire hillside smelled like honey! Devils Postpile National Monument, Madera County, CA
Moderate

Rainbow Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
180 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Waterfall
Joshua Tree National Park : Saddle Rock at the Sheep Pass area
Moderate

Ryan Mountain Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Mountain
Panoramic view from Cardiac Hill (part of the Dipsea Trail) at Mount Tamalpais State Park, California. In the background – under the clouds – a small strip of the Pacific Ocean is visible. This picture is based on 5 photos taken in early Ju
Moderate

Steep Ravine Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
437 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Photograph of Mount Humphreys , Sierra Nevada , California.
Easy

Muriel Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Typical duration
21 min
  • Lake
  • 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
Eastern Brook Lakes TrailCalifornia0.6 kmflat8 minEasyJuly to September
Half Dome TrailCalifornia3.2 km653 m1 hr 39 minModerateJuly to September
Summit Lake TrailCalifornia3.3 km117 m51 minModerateJuly to September
Soldier Lake TrailCalifornia4.3 km556 m1 hr 44 minModerateJuly to September
Starkweather Lake TrailCalifornia3.9 km35 m52 minModerateJuly to September
Bay Area Ridge Trail - Section 01 - Golden Gate BridgeCalifornia3.1 km60 m44 minModerateApril to October
California Coastal TrailCalifornia1.9 km40 m28 minEasyApril to October
Coastal Rail TrailCalifornia4.7 km45 m1 hr 2 minModerateApril to October
Black Lake TrailCalifornia2.6 km47 m37 minModerateJuly to September
Ridge Lakes TrailCalifornia1.7 km302 m49 minModerateJuly to September

If you only have time for one, start with Eastern Brook Lakes Trail, Half Dome Trail, California Coastal Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

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