California is No. 1 state for hiking in the US. Why it’s a ‘hiker’s paradise
With its abundance of trails, state and national parks, and year-round pleasant weather, California is “a hiker’s paradise,” according to outdoor apparel brand Kühl.
It “earned its crown…with an unparalleled variety of landscapes and the most extensive trail network in the country,” beating every other state in the U.S., according to the brand’s Oct. 9 ranking. It has “more hiking trails and state parks than any other state,” Kühl said.
“Classic treks in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks are just the beginning of what’s on offer,” the brand said.
Here’s a closer look at what makes the Golden State the No. 1 spot for hiking in the country:
What makes California the best state for hiking?
“California offers over 13,000 documented hiking trails and 280 state park units, plus 9 national parks,” the brand said.
The state’s trails consistently rank on lists of some of the best in the country, including the popular Half Dome trek in Yosemite National Park, the Fresno Bee previously reported.
Another most-loved hiking trail in California is the Lands End Trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation area.
One thing California trails don’t score so high on is safety, Kühl said.
“While California’s trail and weather scores were sky-high, its safety rank was among the bottom five (45th out of 50) on the list, so hikers should plan carefully and be aware of risks,” the brand said. “Despite that, California’s wide array of outdoor opportunities and generally mild climate make it the nation’s top destination for hikers.”
What are the top 10 states for hiking?
Like California, most of the states on Kühl’s top 10 list are in the western U.S.
But there were a couple surprises coming from the north and southeast — as well as California’s neighbor across the Pacific Ocean.
Here are the top 10 states for hiking, according to Kühl:
1. California
2. Arizona
3. Utah
4. Washington
5. Colorado
6. Hawaii
7. Wyoming
8. Oregon
9. Florida
10. Maine
How did Kühl come up with its ranking?
The brand evaluated hiking in the states across three categories:
- Trails and outdoor access (50%): This category carries the highest value, and measured both quality of trails and availability. Kühl considered “the number of long-distance trails, the average score of each state’s top 20 trails, and the share of land designated as protected parkland.”
- Weather and climate (25%): Kühl “evaluated hiking conditions using a mix of environmental and meteorological data: air quality, number of clear days per year, average annual sunlight, rainfall, temperature, and the frequency of weather- or climate-related disaster declarations.”
- Crime and safety (25%): Kühl “relied on reported crime rates per 100,000 residents to account for overall safety in outdoor areas.”
The brand drew data from multiple sources. It used Destination Hikers for trail lengths; World Population Review for air quality ranks; Current Results for weather data, “more specifically, number of clear days;” FBI Crime Data Explorer for crime rates; National Centers for Environmental Information “for weather and climate disasters, annual average rain, and average temperatures;” and Environmental Public Health Tracking for average sunlight each year.
What to know about hiking during the government shutdown
For those hoping to get out on a California trail sometime soon, it’s a good idea to check if your route is on federal land that could be affected by the government shutdown.
The Fresno Bee reported that Yosemite and other national parks will remain partially open with skeleton crews during the shutdown.
That means no visitor services — like issuing permits, conducting educational programs, collecting trash, maintaining restrooms, roads and walkways, etc. — will be operational when you visit Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.
Information on National Park Service websites and social media likely won’t be up to date, including updates on road or trail conditions.
The good news is that you’re probably just fine to keep exploring the Golden State’s abundant state parks.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association also provided guidance for hikers, saying the trail itself will most likely remain open except in areas that were already closed for fire or weather.
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
