{"id":4715,"date":"2019-02-05T17:09:18","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T00:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=4715"},"modified":"2025-12-22T08:05:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T15:05:19","slug":"northern-california-spring-backpacking-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/05\/northern-california-spring-backpacking-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Northern California Spring Backpacking Trips, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Northern California is a great place for a spring 2026 backpacking trip! Here are the best low\/middle elevation trails in the Bay Area, Northern Sierra Nevada, Lassen National Forest, Klamath Mountains, redwoods, and North Coast. You can hike many of them year-round, even in winter.<\/p>\n

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A backpacker on the trail in a low-elevation forest in Northern California. In spring deciduous trees and shrubs burst with new green leaves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tired of Winter, Ready to Backpack This Spring, 2026?<\/h2>\n

Wherever you live in Northern California or travel in Northern California, this post shares the best backpacking trails of the North State, updated for spring 2026. Here you’ll find easy overnight backpacks and a few longer multi-day treks, all usually below snowline in springtime. Of course, you can hike most of these year-round, including fall\/autumn<\/a> and winter.<\/p>\n

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The San Francisco Bay Area hosts many redwood trails that are perfect for a spring backpacking trip.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Northern California Spring Backpacking Trip = Low\/Middle Elevation Trails That Are Snow-Free<\/h2>\n

Some of the backpacking trips here are right along the coast, while others range as high as 5000 feet. The defining factor is little or no snow on the trail. (Of course, if you’re willing to hike on snow, you have many more options at higher elevations, but I’m not covering those here.)<\/p>\n

Climate Change Can Mean Backpacking Some Higher-Elevation Trails in Spring<\/h2>\n

Climate change (global warming) in Northern California (and many other places) means that there is usually overall less snow (because more precipitation falls as rain, especially in later spring) and it melts out earlier (because it’s warmer).<\/p>\n

As a result, in some years you can backpack trails into the high country even in late April and May, especially if the trailhead is at middle elevation.<\/p>\n

I focus here on low and middle elevation backpacking trails, but keep this in mind, especially if it’s later in spring and the snow’s been melting fast.<\/p>\n

Always Call First to Make Sure the Trail Is Open and Accessible<\/h2>\n

Check with the governing agency to make sure that the road to the trailhead is open and passable for your vehicle, and that the trail itself is open and (mostly) snow-free. It’s common for national forests to close many roads from late fall to early summer. You don’t want to pack up and do a long drive and not be able to reach the trailhead.<\/p>\n

Wildfires Can Result in Closed Trails<\/h2>\n

Wildfires often result in trail closures or other restrictions<\/a>, sometimes for months or years. Check the government agency website and always call ahead to make sure you can do the hike.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Along the Yana Trail in the Sacramento River Bend Area north of Red Bluff. View of Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain<\/a>. Greenest in late April, which is also when wildflowers peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And You May Need a Backpacking\/Camping Permit…<\/h3>\n

In some cases, like national and state parks in the San Francisco Bay Area, you may need to get one of a limited number of camping permits first, often from recreation.gov for federal lands. Call ahead! And, if you can, plan your backpacking trip for mid-week; there’s often a long wait to get camping permits for the weekend. Also check to see if you need a parking permit.<\/p>\n

And remember, backpackers need a California campfire permit<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Always Check the Weather First and Be Prepared<\/h2>\n

Get a reliable weather forecast for the exact area you want to hike. I prefer the National Weather Service<\/a>, which creates forecasts for specific spots anywhere in Northern California and beyond. Be prepared for any type of weather and for low temps.<\/p>\n

Many of These Backpacking Trips Are in My Northern California Hiking Guidebooks<\/h2>\n

\"Spring<\/p>\n

Two of my hiking guidebooks contain a lot of routes suitable for spring backpacking: Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions<\/em><\/a> and 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California<\/em><\/a>, fourth edition (both published by Mountaineers Books).<\/p>\n

Where relevant, I indicate a Day Hiking<\/em> trail with (DH XX), where XX is the hike number, and a 100 Hikes<\/em> trail with (100 XX), where XX is the hike number.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And Some of These Hikes I Haven’t Done<\/h2>\n

Or haven’t done in a long, long time. This means I don’t know the specifics of the trip and you need to make sure you check with the responsible agency and other sources, including websites and other guidebooks, to make sure you have all the relevant info to determine when, where, and if you should go.<\/p>\n

Note: in most instances I just list a park or region in Northern California that is a great place for spring backpacking, but I don’t give the specifics of exactly where to hike. Many of the parks\/regions have multiple backpacking options. Again, you’ll need to do further research online, in other hiking guidebooks, and by contacting the governing agency.<\/p>\n

I Provide Links to Posts Here on the Northern California Hiking Trails Blog<\/h3>\n

…for some of the trails.<\/strong> In nearly every case, you’ll find a detailed trail description, trailhead directions, trailhead GPS coordinates, a trail map, and photos.<\/p>\n

For the other trails, the website of the governing agency usually has detailed information on trails open to backpackers, and also on backcountry camping and primitive campsites, and you can nearly always download a map. There are numerous other websites with varying degrees of information about the trails listed here, some of it quite good, some of it superficial, and some of it dated. Search online, and pay attention to the overall quality of the websites you consult.<\/p>\n

Northern Sierra Nevada Spring Backpacking Trails<\/h2>\n

The low-elevation foothills of the Northern Sierra Nevada<\/a>, along with the middle elevations, have several excellent trails for spring backpacking. Check out these Northern Sierra Nevada treks:<\/p>\n