Stream crossing on the John Muir Trail
Stream crossing on the John Muir Trail

Find Books and Maps

Find a Trail

If you are interested in using California's trails, you've come to the right place.  The following resources will help you find what you're looking for.

  • Books and Maps
    Use the form at left to search online retailer Amazon.com for commercially available books describing California's trails.  Each purchase of a book found through this form benefits the California Trail Connection and helps support further development of the website.

Also try our own BIBLIOGRAPHY. We've listed some books and maps we recommend on finding trails in California. If you know of any others you would recommend, please send us e-mail.

  • Long Distance Trail Projects
    California has several long distance trails, such as the Pacific Crest Trail and the Coastal Trail. These long distance trails often cross the state. Find information about some of the major trail projects underway and how to find them.
  • Searchable Trail Database
    In a partnership between the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and away.com, we will be providing a searchable database of trails. This database allows you to search for trails across the United States by keyword, state or activity. The website for the searchable database is www.traillink.com.
  • Links
    Within this database, you'll find information about public lands in California and the agencies that manage them. We provide links to many websites, many of which contain information about trails. You can search this database by regions of the state.

 

Long Distance Trail Projects

American Discovery Trail The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is 6,356 miles long, from Cape Henopen, Delaware to Point Reyes, California, passing through Washington DC, Cincinnati and Denver. It crosses 14 national parks, 16 national forests and visits more than 10,000 historical, cultural and natural sites of significance. In California, it crosses the center of the state between Lake Tahoe and Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County.
Coordinating agency/organization The American Hiking Society and Backpacker Magazine originally proposed a continuous trail across the country, and the National Park Service prepared a feasibility study to determine if the ADT should be considered as a part of the national trails system. Currently, the non-profit American Discovery Trail Society is working to create a new category of National Discovery Trails and to have the ADT authorized as the first of these new long-distance trails.
Where to get more information The American Discovery Trail Society: .

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Coastal Trail The Coastal Trail in California is approximately 1100 miles long, and is planned to extend along the entire coastline of California, from Oregon to Mexico. It is partially complete.
Coordinating agency/organization The Coastal Act of 1976 created both the California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy, and in 1979 the Coastal Public Access Program was legislated, calling for "a trail route linking state parks, federal recreation areas, and other areas of significance located in coastal areas." Both agencies promote implementation of the Coastal Trail. Coastwalk is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy of the Coastal Trail throughout California.
Where to get more information Coastal Commission:

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Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail commemorates the route followed by Anza in 1775-76 when he led a contingent of 38 soldiers and their families to found a presidio and mission on the San Francisco Bay. The 1400 mile route extends from the Arizona/Mexico border to San Francisco.
Coordinating agency/organization The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with other federal, state, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and private landowners. The non-profit organization, Amigos de Anza, is working with NPS to help develop the Anza Trail.
Where to get more information National Park Service:
Amigos de Anza: 925-937-7661.

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Pacific Crest Trail National Scenic Trail The Pacific Crest Trail is 2665 miles in length, from Mexico to Canada, extending all the way through California, Oregon and Washington.
Coordinating agency/organization No one agency manages or coordinates the trail. The non-profit Pacific Crest Trail Association exists to promote and protect the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
Where to get more information The Pacific Crest Trail Association's website is

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