Treks / Cities
Hikes and treks near San Francisco
3 routes are within reach of San Francisco: 1 day hike and 2 multi-day treks. The gentlest is Lost Coast Trail (demanding); the toughest is John Muir Trail (very hard). The highest point is 4,421 m on John Muir Trail.
Compare the routes
| Route | Type | Distance | Days | Highest point | Difficulty | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Dome | Day hike | 26 km | 1 | 2,694 m | Hard | Late May to early October (cables up) |
| Lost Coast Trail | Multi-day | 40 km | 3 | varies | Demanding | May to October |
| John Muir Trail | Multi-day | 340 km | 18–25 | 4,421 m | Very hard | July to September |
The routes in detail
Day hike
USA (California) · near San Francisco
Half Dome
Yosemite's most famous day hike, past Vernal and Nevada Falls to the top of the granite dome, with the final 120 m climbed on steel cables.
≈ 26 km
2,694 m high
3 days
USA (California) · near San Francisco
Lost Coast Trail
A wild beach walk along California's most remote coastline, where the highway had to turn inland.
≈ 40 km
18–25 days
USA (California) · near San Francisco
John Muir Trail
A classic long trail through the High Sierra from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney, crossing a string of passes above 3,300 m.
≈ 340 km
4,421 m high
Before you go
- Check if you're fit enough with the two-minute readiness quiz.
- Travel insurance for trekking: altitude limits and what rescue really costs.
- Packing list and the gear budget calculator.
- US hiking permit lotteries explained.
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