[evldave]

Spent a couple days in Modoc NF about this time last year. Not a lot of hiking, but there are plenty of lakes to kayak (no rivers) and very isolated (didn't see anyone for a couple days at one isolated lake I found).

The coast is nice, have camped there a few times, if you don't have pets, head to Redwood NF or the Prairie Creek State Park (good hiking and biking). There is some tame offroading there if you head up into 6 Rivers NF and the Hoopa Valley Indian Rez.

Lassen is a really cool place to visit, I've been through and camped once, but never spent much time there.

I'd suggest getting a NorCal Delorme Atlas, look at all the NP, SP, and NF then hit their websites. Get a couple places in mind, then head there and explore. You'll never hit all of it in months, but just about everywhere has some cool stuff (I'd recommend redwoods as a 1st time, then head east on subsequent trips).