CaliPeaks is a structured guide to backpacking in California. Instead of long narrative trip reports, every trip here is a record you can sort, filter, and compare — distance, elevation gain, permit requirements, campfire rules, and the best months to go, all in one place.
Find a trip
The home page is a searchable table of every documented trip. Filter by region, route type, permit requirement, campfire rules, best month, difficulty, distance, and elevation gain. Every filter combination is shareable — the URL updates as you filter.
Prefer a map? The trip map shows every trailhead, and the Near Me pages rank trips by distance from every California city with more than 50,000 residents.
What every trip page contains
- Stats — distance, elevation range, net and total gain, days, and a 0–100 difficulty score
- Permits — whether one is required, which agency issues it, and where to reserve
- Campfire rules — allowed, seasonal, stoves-only, or prohibited, with the regulation source
- Seasons — best months, snow, heat, and bug notes
- Citations — every fact on the page links back to its source, mostly government agencies
A note on accuracy
Backcountry rules change constantly. Permit quotas, fire restrictions, and closures are updated by land managers throughout the year. We cite our sources and date every citation — but before any trip, check the managing agency’s current page. Treat CaliPeaks as your research assistant, not your ranger.
Happy trails — see you out there.