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Welcome to Northern California Hiking Trails!

I’m John Soares, a long-time writer of hiking guidebooks published by Mountaineers Books. Click the pics below to get details about each of my books — and visit my blog for hundreds of articles about hiking trails and other hiking info.

100 Classic Hikes in Northern California covers the best hiking trails in the Trinity Alps, Lassen Volcanic National Park, the Sierra Nevada, the redwood coast, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Includes numerous day hikes along with major backpacking trips.

Hike the Parks: Redwood National and State Parks guidebook. Best hiking trails in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, plus coast/beach trails. — Click cover for details

Urban Trails Sacramento: details of the all-color guidebook to the best hiking, walking, and running trails in the greater Sacramento area and nearby. — Click cover for details

Day Hiking Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions. Includes trails in other regions of Northern California: Castle Crags, Russian Wilderness, Marble Mountain Wilderness, Lava Beds National Monument, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Lassen National Forest, and the Redding area. — Click cover for details

Book cover: Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America's Public Lands. How to camp for free in the United States. — Click cover for details

Day Hiking Notebook Journal Diary Logbook data: trails, length, elevation, trailhead, other hike data. — Click cover for details

John’s Recent Articles

New Mount Shasta Regional Trail Map: Hikers, Bikers, and More
by John Soares
May 14, 2025
There’s a new trail map for the greater Mount Shasta region: Mount Shasta, Castle Crags State Park, Trinity Divide, Castle and Heart Lakes, and much more. I and other members… Read more: New Mount Shasta Regional Trail Map: Hikers, Bikers, and More
Piety Hill Loop Trail Hike: Perfect in Spring!
by John Soares
April 13, 2025
Early spring is the perfect time to explore the Piety Hill Loop Trail system above Clear Creek west of Redding. I hiked there in the second week of April 2025… Read more: Piety Hill Loop Trail Hike: Perfect in Spring!
New Trinity Alps Map: Hiking Trails and More
by John Soares
April 4, 2025
There’s a new trail map for the Trinity Alps Wilderness and the nearby Russian Wilderness. I and other members of the Green Trails Maps team recently hiked many of the… Read more: New Trinity Alps Map: Hiking Trails and More
2025 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments
by John Soares
January 18, 2025
There are six free-entrance days in 2025 for national parks and national monuments in Northern California. Hike your favorite trails, picnic, explore, and enjoy nature with your friends and family.… Read more: 2025 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments
Give the Gift of Hiking and Camping Books This Year!
by John Soares
November 17, 2024
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the outdoorsy people on your list, or the people you want to encourage to be outdoorsy? Then I humbly suggest buying your friends… Read more: Give the Gift of Hiking and Camping Books This Year!
Burney Falls January 2025 Hiking Trails Closure Details
by John Soares
February 17, 2024
Popular Burney Falls Hiking Trail Reopens for 2025 and Beyond The Falls Loop Trail, the most popular hiking trail around and to the base of Burney Falls, is now open… Read more: Burney Falls January 2025 Hiking Trails Closure Details
2024 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments
by John Soares
January 8, 2024
There are six free-entrance days in 2024 for national parks and national monuments in Northern California. Hike your favorite trails, picnic, explore, and enjoy nature with your friends and family.… Read more: 2024 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments
2025 Dispersed Camping/Boondocking Changes: Updates to my Camp for Free Book
by John Soares
November 20, 2023
2025 will continue to see more rule changes for and restrictions on dispersed camping/boondocking in the United States. These changes and restrictions accelerated since 2020 as more and more people… Read more: 2025 Dispersed Camping/Boondocking Changes: Updates to my Camp for Free Book
Dispersed Camping versus Boondocking: How They Differ…
by John Soares
May 31, 2023
What exactly is dispersed camping? What exactly is boondocking? How are they similar and how are they different? Well, I’m the author of Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking… Read more: Dispersed Camping versus Boondocking: How They Differ…
10 Night Sky Observation Tips for Backpackers and Boondockers
by John Soares
May 11, 2023
Observing the stars and planets in the night sky when backpacking and boondocking is one of life’s great pleasures. Here are 10 tips to help you make the most of… Read more: 10 Night Sky Observation Tips for Backpackers and Boondockers
Pebble Beach Drive, Crescent City: Beach Walks, Ocean Vistas!
by John Soares
May 5, 2023
Crescent City’s Pebble Beach Drive takes you along spectacular coastline with beach walking/hiking opportunities and beautiful vistas of rocky islands in the Pacific Ocean. Read on to find out how… Read more: Pebble Beach Drive, Crescent City: Beach Walks, Ocean Vistas!
Can Dogs Help You Get Unlost When Hiking?
by John Soares
April 10, 2023
If you get lost hiking, can your dog help you get unlost? Maybe! Depends on the dog, depends on the situation. Here are two contrasting stories of me getting lost… Read more: Can Dogs Help You Get Unlost When Hiking?

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