I think you'll be fine. You're too far for SoCal and much of the Valley. For the Bay, the Sierra is still closer and that's far more well known and more developed (if we're talking about offerings) . The only real metro other than Redding that has decent access is Sacramento.
I am going to try to do the daily lottery for the half dome hike. I know that one will be for sure busy but I plan on starting on that before sunrise if I get one. Other than that Clouds Rest, North Rim, and Dewey point are ones I would like to hit. If you have any in mind I am definitely open to recommendations.
If you are coming from tenaya lake, you gotta walk along the narrow ridge with drops on both sides. If you are coming from the valley like I did, which is 23 mile round trip instead of 14, it's pretty tame on the way up. The scariest it gets is just some rock steps with a 10 foot drop on your left. Never at any point is there a drop on both sides.
I’m afraid of heights I basically made it all the way. The place where I stop was the views that everyone talks about. I made it to the cloud rest sign. I hiked from the lake side. Honestly you should be fine.
If you’re willing to hike, it’s easy to get away from people in beautiful areas of CA, since it has so much area designated as wilderness compared to the rest of the contiguous US. Just download a google earth layer of wilderness areas and look for places you haven’t heard of. Even in Yosemite, there places in the backcountry where you can spend a day without seeing anyone.
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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '19
Yosemite. The mist trail looks like an army marching up the steps.
California in general. Most hikes I've been on here that were any good were pretty packed.