Chances are you love to hike, or you know somebody who does. There is nothing quite like getting your heart to beat a little faster while you breathe that sweet fresh air and saunter along that spectacular trail with outdoorsy friends.

Hiking, as many of us are aware, is a healthy activity, and appears to be growing in popularity. Many residents of California engage in regular hiking activity, and will boast that California has many, if not the most, varied and beautiful hiking trails in the West. That’s indeed a sentiment that is hard to deny.

Though we won’t expect you to return home bragging after participating in one of our tours, we do wish to make your tour as special as possible. Therefore, we offer some helpful items in these resource pages for our guests to consider. After all, the more mentally and physically prepared you are, the more you’ll be able to relax, have fun, and enjoy your California hiking and wine-tasting vacation.

hiking levels

California Wine Hikes offers tours that accommodate all levels of hiking ability. So, whether you watch more sports than you play, or whether you can’t see a mountain without wanting to stand on top of it, you’ll find your challenge here. The good thing is: you get to choose your tour by the level of hiking ability that fits you best! Simply select from the by hiking level menu on our search tours menus on any page, and click the search now button. The list that results will present tours that will accommodate your level of hiking ability.

It is also good to keep in mind that weather can affect the difficulty of a hike just as much as terrain and distance can. For instance, hiking at Pinnacles National Monument in the late Winter or early Spring is moderately strenuous, but in Summer, the high heat and lack of water can often make your experience extremely strenuous.

To gauge which type of hike is suitable for you, the following guidelines offer help:

easy

• Day hikes or overnight tours; 4 to 6 miles
• Minimal elevation gain or loss
• No particular preparation is required
• Suitable for everyone who exercises occasionally

moderate

• Day hikes, overnight tours, or multi-day tours with 6-8 miles of hiking per day
• Some hikes are at altitudes over 9000 feet, and may have elevation gains of up to 2000 feet
• Moderate elevation gain or loss; one or more challenging ascents
• Preparation and proper gear is advised
• Suitable for everyone who exercises/hikes regularly

strenuous

• Day hikes, overnight tours, or multi-day tours with 8-10 miles of hiking per day or more
• Some hikes are at altitudes over 9000 feet, and may have elevation gains of 3500 feet or more
• Considerable elevation gain or loss; potential for multiple challenging ascents
• Suitable only for those who exhibit an above-average fitness level
• Devotion to preparation and proper gear is strongly advised

You’ll find that the greater bulk of tours offered by California Wine Hikes are of easy to moderate difficulty. That being said, there can be opportunities for more challenging side trips that may include extra mileage or bagging a nearby peak. Or, perhaps you’ll need a rest day at the hotel spa! Either scenario is possible, and can occur on some multi-day tours, weather and itinerary permitting.

*Each of our confirmed tour guests will receive a detailed gear checklist prior to their visit. This checklist will cover basic, recommended, and optional travel and hiking gear.

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wilderness etiquette

At California Wine Hikes, we practice “leave no trace” principles when hiking, and so can you, wherever you go. “Leave no trace” is a way to reduce our impact on the environment – and each other – by observing a number of guidelines about trail use, packing out refuse, sanitation and hygiene, and more. Each of our confirmed tour guests will receive detailed information prior to their visit about “leave no trace” principles.

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precautions

You don’t have to wander very far from most of its vineyards to discover that California is a wilderness wonderland. But along with the wonder can come anxious moments and critical situations. Nevertheless, it pays to be prepared. Therefore, each of our confirmed tour guests will receive detailed information prior to their visit about how to prepare for these possibilities.

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