People of all ages can enjoy hiking as a low-impact form of exercise while taking in the beauty of nature. Spending time in nature has improved mental and physical health, stress reduction, and weight maintenance. No elliptical machine or synthetic running track can ever compare to being in the majesty of the open spaces and taking in the picturesque vistas along the way.
There are dozens of excellent hiking paths along the West Coast, from San Diego to Seattle, that you shouldn’t miss. Here is a list of the five sun-drenched coast’s most well-liked parks and outdoor leisure areas.
Make sure you are ready before you leave. Make sure you can physically complete the trail at your present fitness level by mapping out the route you intend to take. Remember to account for steep inclines and increased altitude.
Make sure you are acquainted with the topography, mainly where amenities are situated, where roads intersect, and where the most excellent rest spots and picturesque viewpoints are. Take your time and move at your own pace after that. Avoid going too far, and stretch both before and after.
Check the park’s opening times, parking policies, and costs for a nice outing. To avoid unpleasant weather surprises or accidents, you should also check the weather before traveling and dress appropriately.
Ecola Point to Crescent Beach
Clatsop Loop Trail
The Clatsop Loop Trail in Ecola State Park begins at the Indian Beach trailhead and travels 2.5 miles round trip along Tillamook Head’s edge through the rainforest before emerging at several spectacular cliffs. Even if you travel a little distance around the western section of the circle trail out and back, there are some fantastic views. Experienced hikers can follow the route used by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1806 by hiking across Tillamook Head from Indian Beach to north Seaside, a distance of about 5.25 miles.
Short Sand Beach to Devil’s Cauldron
You may hike several trails from the main parking lot at Oswald West State Park for quick adventures or combine them for longer hikes. Short Sand Beach is just half a mile away, but you can continue through an old-growth forest for 1.3 miles to the Elk Flats Trail, where you can connect to a short spur trail to get to Devil’s Cauldron’s high cliffs. Combining all of them will result in a hike that is about four miles long, with the return leg using the Necarney Creek Trail to the parking lot.
Hike Glen Alpine Falls and Grass Lake near Lake Tahoe
Although you genuinely can’t go wrong whenever you decide to visit, this magnificent climb, located just south of Lake Tahoe, is insanely gorgeous in the spring when wildflowers are flowering. Every curve is a photo opportunity. With magnificent scenery with alpine forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Lily Lake is on your left as you travel west on the Glen Alpine Creek Trail after parking at the adjacent trailhead. Before you get to the Instagram-worthy Alpine Falls, keep going for another half a mile. A 5-mile round trip hike awaits you at Grass Lake, one more mile to the west. Enjoy some lunch there and take in the surroundings before returning the way you came.
Hike the Andrew Molera State Park Loop near Big Sur
Redwood forests, cliffs along the shore, and remote beaches lined with driftwood? Please, yes. The Andrew Molera State Park parking lot is the starting point for this 8.8-mile circular path, 4.5 miles north of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park along Highway 1. To get to the River Trail, you must first cross the Big Sur River on foot or a temporary bridge. Can traverse beautiful meadows before ascending into redwood and oak forests. When you reach the fork in the trail, turn right onto Creamery Trail. The beach will be on your right; take your time exploring it before returning to River Trail and turning right at the fork in Bluffs Trail. Prepare your camera since the ocean bluffs are magnificent, and you’ll want to capture this beauty on camera. Explore Panorama Trail at your own pace; you’ll see a small route to the left that leads to a deserted beach where you’ll probably have the place to yourself. Read more about travel around the world here.
