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by Ann Marie Brown (Author), Felicia Kemp (Author), Moon Travel Guides (Author)
Pack a lunch, lace up your boots, and head out to discover the rugged coastline, towering redwoods and best hiking trails in NorCal with Moon Northern California Hiking. Inside you'll find:
- Diverse Hiking Options: Whether you plan to take leisurely seaside walks or challenging journeys around the Sierras, enjoy outdoor getaways ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips
- Find Your Hike: Looking for something specific? Choose from strategic lists of the best hikes for breathtaking waterfalls, spring wildflowers, or hiking with your dog, plus a breakdown of the best hikes by season
- The Top Outdoor Experiences: Wander the terraces of the Ecological Staircase in Mendocino, hike up granite domes and through the high meadows of Yosemite. Hear the waves crash as you walk to a majestic tide fall in Point Reyes National Seashore. Conquer the summit of Lassen Peak, roam through vineyard-covered hills in Napa and Sonoma or look out upon Lake Tahoe's crystal waters.
- Nearby Fun: Relax post-hike at a local brewery, savor a plate of fresh oysters or stargaze before bed at a nearby campground
- Essential Planning Details: Each hike is described in detail and marked with round-trip distance and hiking time, difficulty, terrain type, elevation gain, and access points
- Maps and Directions: Find easy-to-use maps, driving directions to each trailhead, and details on where to park
- Expert Advice: Longtime hikers Ann Marie Brown and Felicia Kemp shares their local secrets, unique tips, and honest opinions of each trail
- Tips and Tools: Advice on gear, first aid, and camping permits, plus background information on climate, landscape, and wildlife
About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell--and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.
Hitting the road? Check out Moon Northern California Road Trips!Author Biography
Ann Marie Brown made her first solo trip to Yosemite at age 22. Like many first-time visitors, she was immediately inspired by the Valley's sheer granite walls and shimmering waterfalls. Parking her car at the first trailhead she saw, she set off on the Four-Mile Trail. Carrying nothing but a water bottle, she intended to hike only a short distance but was so wowed by the scenery that she kept on walking. Two hours later she found herself at Glacier Point, considered by many to be the grandest viewpoint in the West. Scanning the scene, she noticed tourists dressed in everything from high heels to a nun's habit, and realized that she could have driven to Glacier Point instead of walking. Ann Marie vowed she'd never again go hiking without a map.
Felicia Kempwas raised camping and hiking across the U.S. with her family and discovered backpacking for the first time at Philmont Scout Ranch at the age of 13. She's hiked everywhere her travels take her, from the depths of the Grand Canyon with her younger brother to the turquoise waters of Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia with her husband. When she and her husband moved to Northern California they immediately started exploring, fell in love with the diversity of landscapes, started a family, and began sharing their hiking adventures publicly online in 2015. When her middle child was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, getting on trails as a family became more of a challenge. Aside from the typical balance of full-time jobs not in the outdoors industry and a family of five, she and her husband worked to find ADA-compliant paths to continue sharing the joys of nature with their children. Felicia's goal is to give confidence to would-be and newer hikers to break through barriers and get outside. She advocates for diversity initiatives through both her legal career and in the outdoors, and helps to educate others on the principles of Leave No Trace. She hopes that when people see her plus-sized, tall and brown body hiking solo, or wrangling the family on the trail, it inspires others to feel comfortable taking up that same space. She's written several outdoors-related articles and enjoys creating social media content as Family Trail Time. She is the founder of Take A Hike Tay-Sachs in support of Cure Tay-Sachs Foundation and founded the group Sacramento Women Hikers.
