A Pristine California Mountain Range With Incredible Views Offers Scenic Hiking Trails

When you picture California, many images likely come to mind: expansive deserts with beautiful wildflowers and Joshua trees, serene coastlines with soft sands and cold waters, and spectacular mountain ranges with alpine lakes and vast wilderness. One of the most popular and highly sought-after mountain ranges in the Golden State is the Sierra Nevada Mountains, home to fantastic places like Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park. While these places are incredible destinations, it's hard to find solitude. What if there were a place as stunning as the Sierras, with many of the same features, and could even match some of the most beautiful places in Yosemite National Park, all without the heavy tourist footprint? Luckily, there is such a place, and it's called the Trinity Alps Wilderness.

The Trinity Alps Wilderness is a massive designated wilderness area, spanning over 500,000 acres, located approximately 50 miles outside the Northern California city of Redding. As a designated wilderness, this vast swath of mountainous land is protected with the intensity of a national park, but with as little intervention and infrastructure as possible. Meaning this area is pristine and left to exist as it always has. This is a wonderful place to find incredible views and endless miles of scenic hiking trails, as well as the opportunity to view nature in its purest form. 

There is a variety of landscapes to see when in this massive wilderness, often thought of as three distinct Trinities. The Green Trinities are the lowland hills of the wilderness on its west side, covered with green trees, and one of the least populated portions of the Trinities. The Red Trinities lie in the eastern portion of the wilderness and are characterized by red serpentine and peridotite rock, where peaks soar to over 8,000 feet and numerous lake basins glisten below. To the north, you'll find the White Trinities, the most well-known of the areas, home to tall granite peaks, wildflower meadows, and spectacular lakes.

If you are one who loves to venture on foot, the Trinity Alps Wilderness is a heaven to be explored. With over 550 miles of maintained hiking trails, there is no shortage of adventure to be had. There are almost an overwhelming number of great hikes to choose from, but a few certainly stand out. For those seeking a more relaxed experience without sacrificing the scenery and views, consider the Swift Creek Falls trail. This four-mile out-and-back trail leads you to a gorgeous 20-foot cascade, winding through pines, firs, and cedars along the way. The waterfall itself is a little off-trail and requires a mild scramble down, but it is manageable for most hikers. For a more challenging hike, consider the Canyon Creek Lakes trail. This is a relatively long hike at 17 miles, but it is doable as a day hike, or you can bring your backpacking gear and stay overnight along the trail. This trail will take you past dazzling waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and stunning alpine lakes.

The Trinity Alps Wilderness is known as a premier backpacking location. There are several multi-day hikes you can traverse in this wilderness that will leave you in awe of the magnificent nature around you. An excellent option for a few days of pristine wilderness and solitude is the Stuart Fork trail to Sapphire and Emerald Lake. This 27-mile, out-and-back trek will take about two to three days to complete, and covers most of what the wilderness has to offer — granite peaks, moraine, alpine meadows, and lakes (but with next to no cover, so wear a hat and bring ample water). If you are planning to camp out in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, be sure to get yourself a Wilderness Permit, as well as a California Campfire Permit, before you go. An overnight permit costs $5 per person, while day-use permits and campfire permits are free.

Don't worry if hiking isn't your thing — there is plenty to do and see in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. One of the best places in the area to visit for recreation, camping, and an all-around good time is Trinity Lake. Trinity Lake is massive, with 17,000 surface acres of water and over 145 miles of shoreline (when the lake is full). The dam that created the lake, Trinity Dam, is a marvel in its own right, being one of the highest earth-filled dams in the world. Being on the eastern edge of the wilderness, the lake lies within the Trinity Lake National Recreation Area, offering a wealth of activities such as camping, boating, fishing, kayaking, and more at this spectacular lake. Enjoy large lakefront campsites where you can unwind and take in the beauty of the water. You can even rent a houseboat on the lake! 

Camp at one of the many other campgrounds in the area, including Bridge Campground, Trinity Outpost Wilderness Resort, or the Alpine View Campground. The location is excellent for wildlife viewing, and if you're lucky, you may spot animals such as martens and ermines, porcupines, coyotes, bobcats, black bears, eagles, ospreys, and many more. The best time to visit the area is during the warmer months of the year, from May to October. However, the area is also popular in the winter for activities such as sledding and snowshoeing. Whatever you choose to do in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, this is a must-see destination for your ultimate West Coast road trip!