Spring is hands-down the sweet spot for chasing the best hiking trails in West Coast territory, when snowmelt feeds roaring waterfalls, wildflowers explode across desert valleys, and the summer crowds haven’t quite arrived yet. The West Coast packs an absurd amount of variety into a single road-trippable region, from misty rainforests in Washington to sun-baked canyons in Southern California. Here are 10 hikes that belong on your radar this season, whether you’re looking for an easy day trip or a serious bucket-list outing.
1. Mist Trail – Yosemite National Park, California
The Mist Trail earns its name in spring more than any other season, when Vernal and Nevada Falls are absolutely thundering from the Sierra snowmelt and the granite steps stay slick with spray. The full out-and-back to the top of Nevada Falls clocks in at about 7 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain, but you can turn around at the Vernal Falls footbridge for a much shorter taste of the action. Pack a real rain jacket because you will get soaked, and aim for a weekday or an early start since this is one of the most popular trails in the entire park. If you’re already deep into national park planning, our roundup of 10 National Parks to Visit in the US is worth a look.
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2. Hidden Valley Trail – Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree in spring is exactly what people picture when they imagine the desert at its best: warm but not yet brutal, with wildflowers, cholla blooms, and ocotillo lighting up the rock formations. The Hidden Valley loop is only about a mile but it winds through a natural rock-walled basin that ranchers once used to hide stolen cattle, so the storytelling is half the fun. Hit it at sunrise or late afternoon for the best light, and stick around after dark because the park’s certified dark skies are some of the clearest stargazing you’ll ever experience.
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3. Ewoldsen Trail – Big Sur, California
Tucked into Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, the Ewoldsen Trail is a 4.5-mile loop that climbs through redwoods, ferns, and a creek-carved canyon before opening up to ocean views that genuinely stop you in your tracks. Spring brings rushing water through McWay Canyon and explosions of California poppies along the upper ridges, plus you avoid the worst of the summer fog that often swallows the coast. Keep in mind that Highway 1 closures still pop up after winter storms, so always check road conditions before you commit to the drive down.
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4. Hall of Mosses – Olympic National Park, Washington
The Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest is short, just under a mile, but you’ll want to stop every twenty feet because the Sitka spruce, bigleaf maples, and hanging club moss look genuinely otherworldly. Spring is when the rainforest is at its most alive, with new ferns unfurling, banana slugs out everywhere, and the Hoh River running high and milky-green from the glaciers above. If you want more mileage, extend onto the Hoh River Trail and keep going for as long as your legs hold up, though most folks turn around at the 5-mile mark.
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5. Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls – Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Eagle Creek is the trail that made the Columbia River Gorge legendary among Pacific Northwest hikers, with cliffside catwalks, cable handrails, and at least seven serious waterfalls along the way. The 4-mile round trip to Punch Bowl Falls is the easiest doable goal, but ambitious hikers push on to Tunnel Falls at the 12-mile mark where the trail literally cuts through the rock behind a 175-foot cascade. Sections of the trail were rebuilt after the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire so check current conditions before you go, and bring grippy footwear because the basalt rock gets dicey when wet.
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6. Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral – Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley sounds counterintuitive for spring hiking but March and April are the only real window when temperatures stay tolerable and wildflower blooms can carpet the desert floor in yellow, purple, and gold. The Golden Canyon trail runs about 3 miles round trip up to the dramatic Red Cathedral rock formation, weaving through narrow walls that glow orange in the late afternoon sun. Start before 10 a.m. even in spring, carry way more water than you think you need, and stick around after dark because Death Valley is the largest International Dark Sky Park in the country.
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7. Scorpion Canyon Loop – Channel Islands National Park, California
The Channel Islands are sometimes called America’s Galapagos, and Santa Cruz Island is the easiest one to reach with a one-hour ferry from Ventura Harbor. The Scorpion Canyon Loop covers about 4.5 miles with views back across to the mainland, and spring is prime time for endemic island fox sightings along with the famous superblooms of giant coreopsis. Book your ferry early because spots fill up fast on weekends, and pack everything you need for the day since there are absolutely zero services on the island itself. Worth pairing with our guide on Summer Hiking Outfit Ideas since spring island weather creeps fast into summer territory.
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8. Tall Trees Grove – Redwood National Park, California
Getting into Tall Trees Grove requires a free permit you have to grab from the visitor center the morning of, and that gatekeeping is exactly what keeps this place feeling untouched and quiet. The 4-mile round trip drops you down to a hidden grove containing some of the tallest trees on the planet, with several specimens crossing the 350-foot mark and one nearly hitting 380. Spring brings rhododendrons in bloom along the lower elevations and Pacific fog wrapping the canopy for that classic redwood mood, plus the mosquitoes haven’t really shown up yet.
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9. Steep Ravine Trail – Mount Tamalpais State Park, California
Just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, the Steep Ravine Trail is the kind of hike that Bay Area locals quietly gatekeep because it feels like a personal secret. You’ll descend through a fern-choked canyon along Webb Creek, climbing a wooden ladder next to a small waterfall and crossing footbridges the entire way down. Loop it with the Dipsea Trail for a roughly 4-mile circuit that finishes with panoramic Pacific Ocean views above Stinson Beach, ideally with a cold drink in hand at the Sand Dollar afterward.
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10. Misery Ridge – Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
Don’t let the name scare you off because Misery Ridge at Smith Rock is one of the most rewarding 3.5-mile loops anywhere in Central Oregon. The trail switchbacks up to a ridge overlooking the Crooked River and the iconic Monkey Face spire, where you’ll almost always spot climbers tackling the volcanic tuff cliffs below. Spring temperatures in the high desert here are pretty much perfect for hiking, wildflowers along the river bottom go off in April and May, and golden eagles are nesting on the cliffs this time of year so keep your eyes up.
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Whichever direction you head, give yourself permission to take the slow route, stop for the dive bars and roadside diners, and remember that the drive between trailheads is half the trip. Pack your layers, fill up the tank, and go.
