Best paved trails in California

A quick stroll to see Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in Northern America and 5th in the world crash down on the rocks below. Open year-round, this trail is easy but icy in the winter. This is a 1 mile/1.6 km loop which takes about 30 minutes to complete. The trailhead is at the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead (shuttle stop #6). This short, easy walk provides spectacular views of Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and even Middle Cascade. Like all waterfalls in Yosemite, this waterfall is often dry from late July or August through October and is best seen in spring when the winter snow is melting and the upper lakes are full, significantly increasing the flow of the water over the edge. Accessibility: This trail is paved, typically at least four feet wide, and mostly flat except for steeper grades near the viewing area at the end of the route (grade starts to increase at about 0.7 miles). The last 180 feet has a slope of 14% so only the first half of this trail is considered wheelchair/mobility equipment and stroller friendly. There is a free accessible shuttle available at shuttle stop #6 as well as accessible bathrooms at the trailhead. Show more

Please be aware that this trail and its access roads close seasonally due to wintery conditions, and they are currently expected to be closed at least through the weekend (until November 22, 2020). Glacier Point Road is also planned to be closed until 2022 due to road construction and during that time the only access available to Glacier Point will be through the Four Mile, Panorama, and Pohono Trails (all considered strenuous hikes). More information can be viewed on the park page here: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/glacierpoint.htm Drive to the best view in all of Yosemite. This 270-degree view of the Valley, Half Dome, and 3 Falls will amaze you. Glacier Point is a popular stop for many new visitors to Yosemite National Park on their way down to Yosemite Valley. Although it's not much of a hike, the view at the end of the paved walkway will leave you breathless. You will see (left to right) both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Valley below, Clouds Rest, Half Dome standing proud, and even Vernal and Nevada Falls. What more could you ask for? Winter In Winter the road to Glacier Point is closed to cars, but strap on a pair of cross country skis or snowshoes and you should be good to go. If you want to stay overnight, reserve a spot in the Glacier Point Ski Hut where there are bunk beds (dormitory style), a wood fire, food, and good company. Accessibility: This is a partially accessible, fully paved route to the Glacier Point viewing platform. It is mostly flat with some steep sections as the estimated average grade is 4% and the grade increases to 20% for the last 0.1 miles. Wheelchair/mobility equipment and stroller users may not be able to navigate the full trail without assistance. There is a waypoint on the map marking where the grade increases. The restrooms, gift shop and snack bar located at the trailhead are all wheelchair accessible. Show more

This is the less trafficked approach from the east to the top of Woodson Mountain, where you'll find the famous Potato Chip rock. In the summer, be sure to take enough water, it gets extremely hot and dry! The views to the ocean and to Palomar Mountain to the East are worth the effort. Show more

An easy loop trail in Yosemite National Park, the pathway around Mirror Lake is a must-see for its beautiful reflections of Half Dome and its abundance of wildflowers during the early summer months. Mirror Lake is a seasonal lake located on Tenaya Creek and situated in Tenaya Canyon directly between North Dome and Half Dome. It is the last remnant of a large glacial lake that once filled Yosemite Valley. This is a well-marked trail and significantly less crowded than other trails in the park. The trailhead is at the far east end of Yosemite Valley and many visitors take the free shuttle bus or hike east from Curry Village or the Ahwahnee Hotel where there is a parking area and drinking water is available. The shuttle stops directly at the trailhead. There's a one mile paved trail walkway and bike path along Tenaya Creek to the north side of the lake and an unpaved trail along the south side. Accessibility: Although this trail is paved, the southern portion of the Valley Loop Trail has multiple areas where the grade is greater than 8% so it may be too steep for wheelchairs, mobility equipment, and strollers. There is a waypoint marking a shuttle station and from this point, the northern trail can be taken the most accessible portion as an out-and-back route (see https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mirror-lake-via-valley-loop-accessible for this shorter route on its own trail page).Show more

Note: As of December 2020, this loop can only be hiked one-way due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Stanford Dish loop is a popular route for Stanford University students as well as Silicon Valley professionals. The area is named after the large radio telescope that can not be missed. Its steep paved trail is suitable for running, walking, and hiking. Bicycles are not allowed. Opening hours vary depending on the month of the year: January: 6:30 AM-5:30 PM February: 6:30 AM-6 PM March: 6 AM-6:30 PM April - August: 6 AM-8 PM September: 6:30 AM-7:30 PM October: 6:30 AM-6:30 PM November - December: 6:30 AM-5:30 PM The route periodically closes for Red Flag Warnings. To see current information, please see https://dish.stanford.edu/ Accessibility: The trail is completely paved, smooth, and is typically at least five feet wide. The average grade is estimated at 4% but the path is hilly and there are two areas where the grade is steep and exceeds 12% (at 0.2 miles and 2.5 miles). Wheelchair/mobility equipment or stroller users may require assistance due to the steep sections.Show more

This popular paved trail first takes you to the General Sherman Tree and then into the heart of the Giant Forest. No other trail in the park has so many large sequoia clusters in such a short distance. It is also a pleasant snow-shoe in the winter months. There are multiple steep sections on this trail with a grade above 12% making it not accessible for most wheelchair and strollers users. Also, there are some stairs when using this route from the north to access the General Sherman Tree. There is another way to get to General Sherman Tree from the handicapped-accessible parking lot to the south near Generals Highway and a portion of the Congress Trail can be done from there as a shorter loop. That trail can be found here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/congress-loop-from-generals-highwayShow more

Note: As of June 2020, the dam gate is closed and you cannot hike this as a loop. However, the trail is still accessible as an out-and-back. There are two options that parallel each other - a dirt trail and a paved trail. Paw protection is recommended for dogs on the paved trail as the pavement can get quite hot. Lake Miramar is open seven days a week for fishing, private boats, float tubes, and kayaks from 6 AM to 6 PM. There are boat rentals available on a first-come-first-served basis. Swimming and stand up paddle boarding are not allowed. Accessibility: The paved trail option is typically at least five feet wide and flat with an estimated max grade of 3%. The surface is smooth and most wheelchair/mobility equipment and stroller users will find this trail navigable.Show more

This famous bridge span, dedicated in 1937, is one of the world’s most spectacular and visited sites. A trip by foot, bike, or wheelchair offers visitors an excellent opportunity to understand Bay Area geography and the route of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The bridge can be windy and/or foggy, so wear layers. For more information, see the Bay Area Ridge Trail site here: https://ridgetrail.org/golden-gate-bridge/ This trail description is excerpted from the 2019 Guidebook. For details on all of the Bay Area Ridge trails, trailheads and more buy the book from Wilderness Press: https://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16685&cat=274&bestseller=Y Accessibility: There is a wheelchair-accessible ramp leading from the Visitors Center on the south end up to the bridge entrance with handrails and a gentle slope. Once on the bridge, the path is paved, flat (estimated 1% grade or less), and typically at least six feet wide. There is a safety barrier protecting pedestrians and cyclists from motor vehicle traffic on the bridge. There is a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with grab bars in a separate building across from the Visitor Center.Show more

NOTE: As of August 2020, parking lot is CLOSED. There is accessible street parking. A pretty, family-friendly walk around the Hollywood Reservoir. Please note that the gate closes at 7:30pm. Users suggest going counter-clockwise to view the Hollywood Sign and to watch out for towaway zones when parking. Accessibility: This trail is paved, smooth, typically at least five feet wide, and has a mostly gentle grade with an estimated max of 5%.Show more

There are a few different parking areas, but this route starts by the Sooky Goldman Nature Center. There are bathrooms on Franklin Canyon Drive by Heavenly Pond. This trail is not considered accessible because although it is paved, some sections go along a road where there may not be a three-foot shoulder to remain safe from passing cars. Some of the side trails are dirt and less than three-feet wide. Also, there are several steep sections with a grade greater than 12% particularly along the northern section of this trail. These can be avoided by taking the southern route and making this an out-and-back trail instead of a loop. The grade begins to increase along the southern route at about 0.4 miles in. This point has been marked with a waypoint. Users have reported stairs along the trail in the steep sections.Show more