🌞 6 Unforgettable Hikes for June: Kick Off Your California Summer Right!
From foggy cliffs near San Francisco to secret SoCal swing caves, these June picks promise unforgettable adventures.
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to lace up your boots, this is it. This month’s trail lineup is one of my most epic yet—featuring forgotten rail tunnels, sea caves that only reveal themselves at low tide, and a legendary swing cave tucked into a SoCal cliffside.
Hiking in California isn’t just about getting outside—it’s about discovering places that still feel wild. Whether you're road-tripping for a weekend adventure or looking for a trail close to home, these picks offer something rare: that magical combo of beauty, thrill, and history.
🚨 With rising summer temps, this guide also includes critical rattlesnake safety tips—because staying safe means you get to hike another day.
But that’s not all. Stay tuned—upcoming content will feature California’s wildest sea caves and tide pools, Redding’s hidden gems, and some of the best secret swimming holes within the High Sierra.
Reminder: you can find all my best trails on my California Map, and be sure to follow along on Instagram or TikTok to see more inspiration! I’d also love support on my Facebook and YouTube pages!
Summer Safety: Rattlesnakes & Why Snake Bite Kits Might Be a Bad Idea
Summer heat means rattlesnakes are out and active. While encounters are rare, they do happen—especially on exposed trails like the ones I am featuring here.
Here’s how to stay safe:
✅ Stay on the trail
✅ Watch where you step (especially near rocks, logs, or tall grass)
✅ Use trekking poles to stir brush ahead of you
✅ Avoid headphones so you can hear the telltale rattle
✅ Leash your dog—they’re more likely to get bitten
✅ Step on logs, not over them
❌ Skip the snake bite kits—modern first aid professionals advise against using suction kits, cutting wounds, or tourniquets. Instead:
Stay calm
Immobilize the bite area
Get to a hospital ASAP
If you do encounter a rattlesnake, back away slowly. They're not aggressive and usually want to avoid you just as much as you want to avoid them.
🔒 A Note About Sensitive Spots & Safety:
I’m sharing a teaser of the secret swing hike and the Bay Bridge swing in this post—but due to high risk, limited access, and safety concerns, full detailed maps are only available to paid subscribers. This helps us protect these places, encourage responsible adventuring, and support the content that makes discovering them possible.
Now, let’s get to the trails! 👇
🌊 1. Davenport Tunnel
An abandoned railroad tunnel that now leads straight to the ocean.
Just off Highway 1 near Davenport Beach, you’ll find the remnants of the old Ocean Shore Railroad. Built in the early 1900s to connect San Francisco and Santa Cruz, the railroad was abandoned by 1920—but its tunnels remain. The one at San Vicente Creek still channels water under Highway 1… and now it channels hikers into one of the most surreal beach scenes in Northern California.
🥾 Trail: Davenport Beach Tunnel Trail
🔗 AllTrails – N/A although for a hike; can be combined with Shark fin cove.
🅿️ Parking: Free roadside parking off Highway 1 near the Davenport Cliffs turnout
📏 Distance: ~0.5 mile round trip
🏔️ Elevation Gain: Less than 100 feet
🦮 Dog-Friendly: Yes, on leash
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly: Yes
🕶️ Exposure: Some sun, some shade
📅 Best Time: Low tide for exploring near the tunnel.
🗑️ Pro Tip: Bring waterproof shoes and a bathing suit if you plan to explore inside the tunnel—water flows through year-round.
🧗♂️ 2. Swing Cave (Simi Valley, SoCal)
One of the most photogenic adventure swings in California—if you can find it.
This bucket-list swing cave isn’t just about the view (though that’s epic). It’s about the climb, the challenge, and the thrill of reaching a cave carved by wind and time, where someone decided to hang a swing and change the vibe forever.
🥾 Trail: Hummingbird Trail
🔗 AllTrails: Link here
🅿️ Parking: Free on Kuehner Dr (arrive early). Google maps link.
📏 Distance: 2.5–3 miles round trip. With the heat, this is hard.
🏔️ Elevation Gain: ~1,200 ft
🦮 Dog-Friendly: Yes, on leash. I don’t recommend bringing dogs on this one due to the heat and elevation
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly: Teens and older kids who can handle scrambling
🕶️ Exposure: Fully exposed—sunscreen is non-negotiable
📅 Best Time: Early morning is a must with summer heat
🗑️ Leave No Trace
📍 Swing Cave Coordinates: 34.2811569, -118.6476304
📍 Other nearby caves: L Rock (34.2798169, -118.6512373), Bartender’s Cave (34.2787156, -118.6537616), Creek Tunnel (34.2788260, -118.6603746).
🌊 3. Paradise Falls (Thousand Oaks)
A tepee, a cave, and a waterfall—all in one easy family friendly hike.
While LA’s higher mountain trails recover from closures, this lower elevation gem in Wildwood Park has become one of my favorite SoCal recommendations. You can visit a giant teepee, explore a cave, and stand near a crashing 40-ft waterfall—all in under 3 miles.
🥾 Trail: Paradise Falls via Mesa → Tepee → Wildwood Canyon → Little Cave → Moonridge
🔗 AllTrails: Paradise Falls. Note: this route does not go to the cave; you’ll need to open the map and head down to little cave via an off-shoot trail.
🅿️ Parking: Free (lot fills early), overflow at Wildflower Playfield. Google Maps Link.
📏 Distance: ~3 miles
🏔️ Elevation Gain: 475 ft
🦮 Dog-Friendly: Yes, on leash
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly: Absolutely, I consider this one easy.
🕶️ Exposure: Fully exposed
📅 Best Time: Year-round, but early or late in summer to beat the heat
🗑️ Pro Tip: The falls are flow-dependent—check recent rainfall for best results.
🏖️ 4. Kirby Cove & Secret Sea Cave (Golden Gate National Recreation Area)
Low tide reveals magic—if you time it right.
Just a short drive from San Francisco, Kirby Cove has it all: a beach with bridge views, historic batteries, a hidden swing (sometimes), and a sea cave only revealed during low or negative tides. Park smart, pack light, and stay aware of the tide charts.
🥾 Trail: Kirby Cove Road
🔗 AllTrails: Kirby Cove Trail
🅿️ Parking: Free on Conzelman Rd—west of Battery Spencer rotary (don’t follow AllTrails parking). Google Maps Link for approximate parking area.
📏 Distance: 3–5 miles depending on parking
🏔️ Elevation Gain: ~700 ft
🦮 Dog-Friendly: No
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly: Yes (fireroad with incline on return)
🕶️ Exposure: Fully exposed on sunny
📅 Best Time: Afternoons with low tide
🗑️ Toilets: Pit toilets at campground
🎒 Gear: Layers, sunscreen, water, tide chart app
🌊 5. Partington Cove & Hidden Talus Cave (Big Sur)
Tide pools, tunnels, and cliffside caves—one of Big Sur’s best 1-mile hikes.
This short-but-packed trail off Hwy 1 leads to multiple secret spots—if you know where to look. I explored the old logging tunnel, a peaceful cove, and a talus cave that many miss - use extreme caution for that last part—it’s steep and dangerous.
🥾 Trail: Partington Cove Trail
🔗 AllTrails: Partington Cove
🅿️ Parking: Free roadside on Hwy 1. Google Maps Link.
📏 Distance: ~1.8 miles with hidden areas
🏔️ Elevation Gain: ~350 ft
🦮 Dog-Friendly: No
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly: Yes, with supervision
🕶️ Exposure: Mix of sun and shade
📅 Best Time: Year-round
🗑️ No bathrooms
📵 No cell service—download maps offline
⚠️ Hidden areas: Only for experienced hikers. Slippery and exposed.
If you enjoyed this guide, don't forget to refer a friend! Sharing these trail tips helps support more family-friendly adventures — and there’s nothing better than exploring together. 🌲💛
Bonus Spot
🌉 6. Secret Bay Bridge Swing (Yerba Buena Island)
A magical view with a hidden swing.
You’ve seen swings with ocean views. But have you ever swung out with the Bay Bridge right in front of you? This secret spot feels like a dream—if you know where to look. I’ll give you the starting point. But the custom map and route are for paid subscribers only, to protect this delicate (and dangerous) area.
📍 Parking Location: [37.813538, -122.370649] – Treasure Island Rd lot
🚶♂️ Tease: Head toward the Bay Bridge on the paved path.
📏 Distance: Short and steep
📅 Best Time: Monitor the fog
⚠️ Paid subscribers get the custom map & safety notes below 👇