93 official trails lie within 25 miles of Soledad — 270 miles in total, 30 rated easy and 23 hard or expert. Every distance and elevation figure below is computed from the agency centerline and a 10 m elevation model, not crowd-sourced.
The biggest climb nearby gains 3,904 ft; the median trail gains 804 ft.
| Trail | Miles | Climb | Difficulty | Drive from town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Lucia | 14.6 | 3,172 ft | Expert | 49 min · 24 mi |
| Paloma Ridge Truck Trail | 9.7 | 3,904 ft | Expert | 58 min · 18 mi |
| Carmel River | 13.3 | 2,602 ft | Expert | 1 h 27 min · 43 mi |
| Lost Valley | 11.0 | 1,270 ft | Expert | 1 h 48 min · 56 mi |
| Marble Peak | 9.6 | 2,178 ft | Expert | 50 min · 24 mi |
| Big Pines | 7.2 | 2,431 ft | Expert | 1 h 46 min · 59 mi |
| Carrizo | 5.3 | 3,153 ft | Expert | 1 h 32 min · 50 mi |
| Miller Canyon | 7.6 | 2,164 ft | Expert | 1 h 35 min · 35 mi |
| Black Cone | 8.5 | 1,727 ft | Expert | 2 h 55 min · 91 mi |
| Ventana Double Cone | 7.8 | 1,485 ft | Expert | 24 mi (straight-line) |
| Miller Canyon Trail | 6.7 | 1,134 ft | Expert | 1 h 35 min · 35 mi |
| Arroyo Seco | 4.5 | 2,331 ft | Hard | 1 h 36 min · 54 mi |
| Horse Pasture | 4.6 | 1,660 ft | Hard | 1 h 45 min · 39 mi |
| South Fork Trail | 4.3 | 1,438 ft | Hard | 2 h 55 min · 91 mi |
| South Fork | 4.8 | 1,424 ft | Hard | 2 h 55 min · 91 mi |
| Ollason Trail | 4.7 | 1,395 ft | Hard | 1 h 04 min · 39 mi |
| Rodeo Flat | 2.6 | 2,072 ft | Hard | 1 h 36 min · 54 mi |
| North Chalone Peak Trail | 3.3 | 1,689 ft | Hard | 25 min · 10 mi |
| North Wilderness Trail | 6.6 | 1,032 ft | Hard | 22 min · 12 mi |
| Black Mountain Trail | 3.1 | 1,604 ft | Hard | 40 min · 26 mi |
| Puerto Suelo | 2.5 | 1,771 ft | Moderate | 22 mi (straight-line) |
| Tony | 3.3 | 1,425 ft | Moderate | 1 h 50 min · 40 mi |
| Santa Lucia Peak | 2.3 | 1,697 ft | Moderate | 1 h 40 min · 52 mi |
| High Peaks Trail | 3.1 | 1,270 ft | Moderate | 1 h 16 min · 31 mi |
Summits: Paloma Ridge Truck Trail to Twin Peaks; Marble Peak to Marble Peak; Black Cone to Black Cone; Ventana Double Cone to Ventana Double Cone
Lakes: North Chalone Peak Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir; Camp Cawatre to Abbott Lakes
Viewpoints: Ridge Trail to Chews Ridge; Condor Gulch Trail to Condor Gulch Overloook; Wood Camp to Overlook; Mesa Trail to Siesta Point
Mountain passes: Carmel River to Church Creek Divide; Ridge Trail to Cherry Thicket; Hennicksons Jeep Trail to Little Bear Trap
Rock formations: High Peaks Trail to Pinnacle Rocks; Juniper Canyon Trail to Pinnacle Rocks
Springs: Carmel River to Sulphur Spring; Juniper Canyon Trail to Oak Tree Spring
Nearby towns: Salinas (25 mi) · Gilroy (42 mi) · Los Banos (51 mi) · Santa Cruz (54 mi)
All California trail guides · Hiking by city · Dispersed camping rules