94 official trails lie within 25 miles of Taft — 282 miles in total, 37 rated easy and 17 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 3,381 ft; the median trail gains 645 ft.
| Trail | Miles | Climb | Difficulty | Drive from town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16049: Temblor Ridge | 13.5 | 1,472 ft | Expert | 32 min · 8 mi |
| 16049: Temblor Ridge Usgs Fellows/panorama Hills | 17.9 | 2,494 ft | Expert | 46 min · 16 mi |
| Forest Route 9N11 | 32.5 | 3,381 ft | Expert | 1 h 16 min · 32 mi |
| Mesa Springs | 5.9 | 2,195 ft | Expert | 1 h 11 min · 40 mi |
| Caliente Ridge Trail | 7.0 | 850 ft | Hard | 1 h 38 min · 52 mi |
| 16054: Midway Peak Communication Usgs Fellows | 4.4 | 1,170 ft | Hard | 44 min · 16 mi |
| Wilderness Trail | 4.3 | 1,483 ft | Hard | 1 h 10 min · 26 mi |
| Forest Route 9N34 | 3.3 | 1,396 ft | Moderate | 54 min · 36 mi |
| Blue Ridge | 3.3 | 1,262 ft | Moderate | 1 h 07 min · 38 mi |
| Tule Elk Trail | 4.7 | 857 ft | Moderate | 56 min · 22 mi |
| 16036: Washburn Windmill Ridge | 4.2 | 293 ft | Moderate | 1 h 30 min · 38 mi |
| 16033: Morales Canyon | 3.6 | 692 ft | Moderate | 1 h 19 min · 47 mi |
| Forest Route 9N27 | 2.1 | 879 ft | Moderate | 52 min · 35 mi |
| 16055: Debney Canyon Usgs Fellows/panorama Hills | 2.2 | 845 ft | Moderate | 36 min · 15 mi |
| 16055: Debney Canyon | 1.5 | 828 ft | Moderate | 38 min · 15 mi |
| 16037: Washburn Cottonwood Spring | 2.4 | 385 ft | Moderate | 1 h 28 min · 38 mi |
| Reflection Pond Trail | 2.2 | 427 ft | Moderate | 1 h 33 min · 34 mi |
| Caliente Mountain Ridge Trail | 1.7 | 537 ft | Easy | 1 h 33 min · 38 mi |
| 16039: Kern County Land Co. Ranch | 3.1 | 322 ft | Moderate | 1 h 40 min · 40 mi |
| San Emigdio Canyon Trail | 2.1 | 485 ft | Easy | 56 min · 22 mi |
| 16035: West Well | 3.6 | 208 ft | Easy | 1 h 29 min · 38 mi |
| Los Osos Wetlands Trailhead | 1.1 | 446 ft | Easy | 1 h 10 min · 26 mi |
| 16049: Temblor Ridge Usgs Elkhorn Hills | 1.1 | 404 ft | Easy | 27 min · 8 mi |
| 16049: Temblor Ridge Usgs Elkhorn Hills | 1.3 | 394 ft | Easy | 44 min · 11 mi |
Summits: 16049: Temblor Ridge Usgs Fellows/panorama Hills to Midway Peak; 16054: Midway Peak Communication Usgs Fellows to Midway Peak; Forest Route 9N34 to San Emigdio Mountain; Caliente Mountain Ridge Trail to Caliente Mountain
Mountain passes: Mesa Springs to Puerta del Suelo
Rock formations: Painted Rock Trail to Painted Rock
Springs: Forest Route 9N11 to Chokecherry Spring; Mesa Springs to Mesa Spring; 16037: Washburn Cottonwood Spring to Cottonwood Spring
Nearby towns: Santa Barbara (52 mi) · Solvang (55 mi) · Tehachapi (55 mi) · Santa Maria (59 mi)
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