California's hiking trails have captured the top spots in a new national ranking, with the state securing half of America's 10 most popular hiking destinations, according to fitness tracking platform Strava. The platform analyzed data from nearly 200 million users.
Yosemite National Park Leads the Pack
Two of the top two most popular trails are located within Yosemite National Park. The Mist/Muir Intersection Down trail, situated in the Sierra Nevadas, was ranked as the most popular trail between April 30, 2025, and May 20, 2026. This trail offers significant elevation changes of nearly 500 feet and provides views of waterfalls along the Merced River.
The second most popular trail is Yosemite's iconic Half Dome. This strenuous hike, which typically takes 10-12 hours to complete, involves a roundtrip of 14-16 miles and an elevation gain of 4,800 feet. Park officials describe it as a significant challenge for hikers.
Other California Trails Recognized
Expanding beyond Yosemite, California's influence on the list includes the Mission Peak-Stanford gate trail in Fremont, located in the San Francisco East Bay area. This trail is characterized as moderate to strenuous, with elevations exceeding 2,000 feet.
Rounding out the top ten are two Southern California hikes: Cowles Mountain Descent in San Diego and the Down We Go! Trail in Los Angeles. These additions highlight the diverse hiking opportunities available across the state.
The complete top ten list includes:
- Yosemite National Park: Mist/Muir Intersection Down
- Yosemite National Park: Half Dome
- Arches National Park, Utah: Arches Entrance Road Climb
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Dream Lake to Bear Lake – Downhill
- Zion National Park, Utah: Angel base down to river
- Coconino National Forest, Arizona: Devil’s Bridge Ascent
- Honolulu: Diamond Head Hike to first tunnel
- Fremont: Mission Peak – Stanford gate
- San Diego: Cowles Mountain Descent
- Los Angeles: Down We Go!
Strava noted that California continues to shape the landscape of U.S. hiking culture, with its natural beauty and challenging trails drawing significant attention from outdoor enthusiasts.