Park · Los Padres National Forest, California

Best hikes in Los Padres National Forest

The 30 best of 217 trails in Los Padres National Forest, California, ranked by route quality.

Trails
217
Easy
97
Moderate
50
Hard
44
Expert
26

By activity

Common features

Top trails

  1. Manuel Peak Trail Expert · 11 mi (17.7 km) · Elevation Gain 4,232 ft (1,290 m) · 5 hr 40 min
  2. Divide Peak OHV Expert · 13.3 mi (21.5 km) · Elevation Gain 3,540 ft (1,079 m) · 6 hr 5 min
  3. Prewitt Loop Trail Expert · 11.2 mi (18 km) · Elevation Gain 2,703 ft (824 m) · 5 hr
  4. Camp Cawatre Trail Hard · 3.9 mi (6.3 km) · Elevation Gain 1,332 ft (406 m) · 1 hr 55 min
  5. Pico Blanco Trail Hard · 4.2 mi (6.7 km) · Elevation Gain 1,975 ft (602 m) · 2 hr 20 min
  6. Little Sur Trail Expert · 10.7 mi (17.3 km) · Elevation Gain 2,228 ft (679 m) · 4 hr 35 min
  7. Pfeiffer Beach Trail Easy · 1.4 mi (2.3 km) · Elevation Gain 112 ft (34 m) · 30 min
  8. Rattlesnake Creek Trail Expert · 10.4 mi (16.7 km) · Elevation Gain 3,819 ft (1,164 m) · 5 hr 15 min
  9. Blue Ridge Trail Hard · 6.6 mi (10.6 km) · Elevation Gain 1,434 ft (437 m) · 2 hr 50 min
  10. Timber Top/Boranda Trail Hard · 6.4 mi (10.3 km) · Elevation Gain 2,589 ft (789 m) · 3 hr 20 min
  11. 4 South Coast Trail Expert · 14.4 mi (23.2 km) · Elevation Gain 3,077 ft (938 m) · 6 hr 10 min
  12. Wilson Canyon Trail Hard · 7.9 mi (12.6 km) · Elevation Gain 1,198 ft (365 m) · 3 hr 10 min
  13. Salisbury Canyon Trail Hard · 10.7 mi (17.3 km) · Elevation Gain 1,831 ft (558 m) · 4 hr 25 min
  14. Sand Dollar/Jade Cove #1 Trail Easy · 0.3 mi (0.6 km) · Elevation Gain 85 ft (26 m) · 10 min
  15. Gaviota Peak Fire Road Hard · 5.7 mi (9.1 km) · Elevation Gain 2,031 ft (619 m) · 2 hr 50 min
  16. Santa Cruz Trail Expert · 18.9 mi (30.5 km) · Elevation Gain 6,637 ft (2,023 m) · 9 hr 30 min
  17. Pino Alto Trail Easy · 0.5 mi (0.8 km) · Elevation Gain 23 ft (7 m) · 10 min
  18. Rinconada Trail Moderate · 3.5 mi (5.6 km) · Elevation Gain 886 ft (270 m) · 1 hr 35 min
  19. Cathedral Peak Trail Hard · 2.8 mi (4.5 km) · Elevation Gain 1,926 ft (587 m) · 1 hr 55 min
  20. Red Rock Trail Moderate · 5.9 mi (9.5 km) · Elevation Gain 253 ft (77 m) · 2 hr
  21. Kirk Creek Campground Trail Easy · 0.5 mi (0.8 km) · Elevation Gain 95 ft (29 m) · 10 min
  22. Franklin Trail Expert · 19.5 mi (31.4 km) · Elevation Gain 5,896 ft (1,797 m) · 9 hr 15 min
  23. Bridge Trail Easy · 1.5 mi (2.4 km) · Elevation Gain 614 ft (187 m) · 50 min
  24. Exploration Trail Easy · 0.7 mi (1 km) · Elevation Gain 56 ft (17 m) · 15 min
  25. Caliente Trail Moderate · 6.3 mi (10.1 km) · Elevation Gain 548 ft (167 m) · 2 hr 20 min
  26. San Ysidro Trail Expert · 8.6 mi (13.8 km) · Elevation Gain 3,009 ft (917 m) · 4 hr 15 min
  27. Inspiration Point Trail Easy · 1.8 mi (2.8 km) · Elevation Gain 545 ft (166 m) · 50 min
  28. East Fork Cold Spring Trail Hard · 5.6 mi (9 km) · Elevation Gain 1,837 ft (560 m) · 2 hr 45 min
  29. Munch Canyon Trail Hard · 5.9 mi (9.5 km) · Elevation Gain 1,696 ft (517 m) · 2 hr 45 min
  30. North Fork Cold Spring Trail Hard · 4.5 mi (7.2 km) · Elevation Gain 2,536 ft (773 m) · 2 hr 45 min

See all trails near Los Padres National Forest

Parks nearby

GoTrails · Route data: © OpenStreetMap