About John McKinney
Author • Speaker • Filmmaker
“Every Trail Tells a Story.”
“Every Trail Tells a Story.”
John McKinney has spent much of his life exploring California one trail at a time. Along the way, he discovered that the best journeys aren’t measured in miles, but in the stories they reveal.
Known to generations of hikers as The Trailmaster, John is the author of 30 books, including hiking guides, narrative adventures, and books for young readers. For 18 years he wrote the popular weekly hiking column for the Los Angeles Times, sharing his enthusiasm for California’s parks, trails, and wild places with thousands of readers. He is the only person to have visited, hiked, and written about all 280 California State Parks, and chronicled his solo walk along the California coast in the acclaimed Hiking on the Edge: Dreams, Schemes, and 1600 Miles on the California Coastal Trail.
John’s stories reveal remarkable places, introduce colorful characters, uncover hidden histories, and celebrate unexpected moments of humor and wonder. Some unfold on California’s trails and in its parks. Others explore the long and winding pathway we call life. Whether writing books, creating films, or speaking to audiences, John remains, above all, a storyteller who believes that every trail tells a story, and that the very best stories linger in our hearts long after the hike is over.
More From The Trailmaster
The Trailmaster Live
Experience John’s presentations, from Hike On and California State Parks to Hiking on the Edge, Hiking the Holy Mountain, and Father Serra and Me.
Tales
Stories from California’s trails and parks, along with reflections from the long and winding pathway we call life.
Books
Explore John’s books, from bestselling hiking guides and narrative adventures to books for young readers.
Videos
Watch documentaries, trail films, interviews, and short videos from The Trailmaster.
Contact
Questions, speaking inquiries, media interviews, or comments are always welcome.
