So Cal backpacking

Welcome to the forum! I don't know of anything but the Pacific Crest Trail. There are some locals who post on YouTube like this guy - www.youtube.com/channel/UCxP0sBhyzT3S_2_IuikyMCg

If you're willing to drive to Santa Barbara, I have some ideas.

North to the Transverse Range? Sespe and other wilderness areas should be do-able at that time of year.

Two things...
First it is Sierra, never Sierras. (sigh!)
Second...Take away all the water sources and camp sites located on or near picturesque lakes, rivers, ponds, tarns, waterfalls, and similar. What you have left is dry camping.
mark

Close to San Diego is the San Jacinto Wilderness. San Gorgonio Wilderness is not much further. November should be okay; may be some snow up high. Google them. Trails are generally from 7,000 to 10,000 feet elevation.  San Jacinto peak tops out at 10k, Gorgonio at 11k.

San Jacinto area is very similar to the sierra. San Gorgonio is also alpine-ish.  Neither are desert hiking except at the extreme lower elevations.

Both have water sources, but you'd need to check with the ranger stations to find out what is flowing before you go. In 20+ years of hiking those places, never had a problem with getting water.  By November SoCal should have had enough rain for most of the primary creeks to be flowing.  There are also websites, like Friends of San Gorgonio and other forums for the two.

An easy one is to take the tram from Palm Springs up into the San Jacintos. Takes you from the desert to 8,000 feet. There is a restaurant/bar at the upper terminus.  Round Valley generally has water year round; if I recall correctly, there is a pump faucet there.  Another good entry point is from Humber Park (Idylwild).  Idylwild is a great trail/mountain resort town with good food/lodging for before/after the hike.  The Devil's Slide trail is a little steep, but once you get to Saddle Junction it is pretty casual.

If you do go to Gorgonio, check ahead with the rangers about recent vehicle break ins at trailheads near Redlands (south side THs).  It was getting bad when I last hiked there.  The trailheads on the north side of the wilderness (Angeles Oaks) are safer.  San Gorgonio's Vivian Creek trail is one of my favorites and always has water flowing.  The TH is on the south side, so current vehicle situation is worth checking out.

There is also said to be good hiking out of Big Bear, but not as nice and water is somewhat scarcer.  Never hiked there though.

Buy this book

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/san-bernardino-mountain-trails-john-w-robinson/1103855435

sdkrissi, I've gone back and done some editing with added info and typo corrections, may be worth reading again. I highly recommend the San Jacintos for a start.

Thanks, Whistlepunk. I never would have thought of Catalina. But it looks like a really cool and different experience.

Johntp, I really appreciate your post. You gave some great ideas. I went backpacking through San Gorgonio about 2 months ago. Stayed at John's Meadows Campground and did some day hikes during the days following. The views were breathtaking, especially being a bit afraid of heights as I am. But all well worth it. I'm going to check out the San Jacinto Wilderness and Big Bear!

Do you know of any good trails in the San Jacinto wilderness? I imagine the snow season will be starting up soon. Are you familiar with the weather there this time of year?