Things to do in California, United States: The Best Mountains

December 3, 2021 Janette Largent

California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
Restaurants in California

1. Trinity Alps

Trinity Center, CA
Excellent
85%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 20 reviews

Trinity Alps

2. Mount Tamalpais State Park

801 Panoramic Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941-1788 +1 415-388-2070 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471
Excellent
83%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 441 reviews

Mount Tamalpais State Park

Beautiful state park north of San Francisco.

Reviewed By AdvtrTrvlr - Camarillo, United States

This area is north of the Marin Headlands and the Muir Woods. We drove all around on the Panoramic Highway down to Stinson Beach. Many of the roads are very narrow and have sharp curves. The main thing to do in this park are countless numbers of hikes you can do, many from the woods / mountains all the way down to either Muir Beach or to Stinson Beach.

3. Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness

25905 Highway 243, Idyllwild, CA +1 909-659-2607 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=636
Excellent
78%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 190 reviews

Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness

This 13,000-acre park offers over 50 miles of trails in the mountains soaring above the Sonora desert.

Reviewed By robbygc - Toronto, Canada

I enjoyed the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness. The mountains were amazing! It was beautiful! Rocks and mountains. We even found a lake. The road was great as well. A must see!

4. Mount Wittenberg

Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Excellent
78%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 9 reviews

Mount Wittenberg

This, the highest peak in the area, is great for hiking.

5. Mt. Livermore

Tiburon, CA
Excellent
76%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 17 reviews

Mt. Livermore

The hike to the summit of Mt. Livermore (781 feet) provides visitors with magnificent views of Marin County, San Francisco and the Golden Gate.

6. San Jacinto Mountain

Mountain Station, Palm Springs, Greater Palm Springs, CA +1 909-659-2607 http://www.parks.ca.gov/
Excellent
82%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 928 reviews

San Jacinto Mountain

Reviewed By 811raulg - Doral, United States

Returning to Palm Springs, after more than 20 years, was a unforgettable and splendid experience! The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon. It is a ten-minute journey, tram cars rotate slowly, allowing spectacular vistas of the valley below. At the Mountain Station, you will find two very good restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, gift shop and awesome trails! (over 50 miles of them!) .

7. Lakes Basin

Graeagle, CA +1 530-836-2575 http://www.recreation.gov/camping/lakes-basin/r/campsiteDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70167&siteId=17486
Excellent
94%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 64 reviews

Lakes Basin

Reviewed By toraincal - Brentwood, United States

We hiked to Bear Lake, Little Bear Lake, Cub Lake, and Long Lake. A nice loop to see them all. Not that long, a little strenuous if you are old like me, and are dealing with chemo treatments. But we loved it, and highly recommend the hike

8. Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta, CA http://visitmtshasta.com
Excellent
85%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 472 reviews

Mount Shasta

Reviewed By 451dennisy - Belmont, United States

Wow! What a majestic mountain! The snowcaps, cloud and cloudless covers (depending on the time of year, the weather & time of day), views are all majestic! The drive from north-south has the more impressive sights from I-5...especially when you come around the curve in the road!

9. Cold Spring Tavern

5995 Stagecoach Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105-9776 +1 805-967-0066 http://www.coldspringtavern.com
Excellent
64%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 581 reviews

Cold Spring Tavern

A popular mountain for hiking outside of Santa Barbara.

Reviewed By deakengv7 - Guerneville, United States

Surprised was able to secure a same-day reservation for lunch on a Friday since it's such a popular place. Great place to stop for lunch if you're traveling from SB to Los Olivos/Santa Ynez for wine-tasting. Mostly outside dining due to C19, but had just opened partial inside dining during our visit (10/23/2020). Two tri-tip french dips and a burger later (there were three of us) ~ stuffed! All tasty - good portions! Service leisurely, but accommodating. We were initially seated in a room where a large party was celebrating a special occasion that made it hard for us to carry on a conversation (no offense - they were a fun group!), and our server offered to move us. Very much recommend the Wild Game Black Bean Chili.

10. Cuyamaca Mountains

Julian, CA
Excellent
65%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 31 reviews

Cuyamaca Mountains

Scenic mountain range east of San Diego.

Reviewed By Bamboo708 - Yellville, United States

The day was cold & clear so could see for miles. Hike was 'energetic' but do-able. Took my time and enjoyed the sunny day.

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