Top 5 hikes in California

One of the best ways to explore California is by hiking. Whether you’re an avid adventurer or prefer the occasional Sunday morning walk, California’s deserts and mountains mean there’s something for everyone. You are guaranteed to explore some beautiful places, but it’s also important to plan ahead and be prepared, especially if you’re walking a new trail. This is why it’s worth using what3words when hiking.

what3words is a simple way to talk about any exact location. It’s given every 10ft square in the world a unique address made of 3 random words: a what3words address. For example, head to the peak of Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park at ///durations.pudding.comedian for an incredible view.

You can download the what3words app on IOS or Android here.

Read on to find the best hiking spots in California and how what3words can help you plan and stay safe.

Slot Canyon

The Slot in San Diego County is a siltstone canyon featuring many passageways, arches and stunning natural formations, which is why hiking here is a must. For desert hiking spots like Slot Canyon, the park is vast, covering hundreds of miles of trails, off-road tracks and campgrounds. Using what3words ensures you’ll know exactly where you parked your car or set up camp. You’ll find the entrance to the car park at ///socialite.supreme.acres and the botanical garden at ///participating.spills.offroad.

Lots of popular travel guides, including Lonely Planet and DK’s ‘Like A Local’ guides, include the what3words addresses to help you find exactly where you want to go. Enter the what3words address you want into the app, from there you can either save it for later, or tap ‘Navigate’ to get directions to that precise spot. Look out for what3words addresses on signs in National Parks too.

Learn more about Slot Canyon by checking out Tripadvisor .

Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park

Journey along Yosemite’s signature hike and get so close to two massive waterfalls that you may get wet from the trail. You can find Vernal Falls at ///dancer.proof.soprano and Nevada Falls at ///quarrel.mimed.pasted.

Find your favourite hiking locations time and time again by saving them on the free what3words app. You can also create lists of what3words addresses , giving you an easy way to keep all of the locations along hiking trails in one place. Use it to record the start and end points of your journey, and key spots along the way like viewpoints or rest stops.

Create a list and share it in advance with friends so everyone knows exactly where to go. Learn more about Mist Trail and hear from other hikers on Tripadvisor.

Griffith Park trails

With over 50 miles of trails, this park has lots to offer if you want to escape the city for an afternoon. Home to the Hollywood sign, the Mt Hollywood Trail is a popular route for visitors. It’s also home to landmarks like the Griffith Observatory which can be found at ///cigar.soup.rungs and the now abandoned Old Los Angeles Zoo which you can explore at ///reader.delay.grow.

The easiest way to use what3words during a hike is by using your smart watch. Both WatchOS and Wear OS have what3words apps that allow you to access your saved lists, making it easy to find every spot along the trail.

If you find any new locations during your adventure, use your smartwatch to add them to your saved list. To make navigation even easier, use the what3words Compass on your watch to find any what3words address simply by following the arrow.

To see everything Griffith Park and its trails have to offer visit Tripadvisor.

Runyon Canyon Park

With great views over Hollywood, it’s one of the most popular hiking destinations in Los Angeles. It’s also great for celebrity spotting. Head to the peak at ///flesh.winner.smile for the best view.

Another great way to remember the what3words addresses of your favourite locations is using our photo mode. Perfect for picturesque hikes, it allows you to add the what3words address of your photo as a sticker, so you can remember exactly where it was taken. Share them with friends, post on socials and simply save them for your next trip. Learn how to use photo mode here .

See everything Runyon Canyon Park has to offer over on Tripadvisor.

High Sierra Trail

Explore Sierra Nevada’s peaks, lakes and waterfalls along this iconic route. This trail takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of Southern California. For any hiking pros, the 195 mile trail can be completed in around 21 days. However, if you don’t have the time to spare, or just want something more achievable, the trail is split into 5 sections.

The car park for the start of the trail can be found at ///poster.watered.tenure with the hike starting at ///politics.gymnasts.jumps.

Hear from hikers who have completed the trail on Tripadvisor.

An added tool in your hiking kit

It’s important to be prepared when planning a hike, including taking the right equipment with you and planning your route in advance. If an emergency does happen, what3words could help you describe to emergency service teams exactly where you are. 911 responders across the US, including the Los Angeles Fire Department , are using what3words to help locate callers who struggle to describe the exact location of a fire, an accident or anywhere help is needed.

what3words addresses are easy to communicate over the phone, and can save precious time in an emergency when given to a call handler who can dispatch help to that exact location. Read some of the real-life what3words rescue stories shared by people and emergency teams across the US and Canada.

It’s also useful for reporting public safety concerns like damage to property or fly tipping. Giving a what3words address to National Park authorities ensures they know the precise location of any concerns, so they can be resolved quickly.

Find out more

There are countless hikes you can take around California. Visit California State Parks website for some more inspiration, and don’t forget to download what3words to help you prepare.