Amazing LA Hikes
Whether you're new to Los Angeles or you've been here for some time, there's always an opportunity to discover new things in our city. Hiking is one of those lovely leisure activities that people don't think of in a large municipality, yet in the City of Angels, we have some beautiful hikes featuring nature experiences and views that can't be beat. Pack your sunglasses, sunscreen and drinking water; you're in for a treat!
Here are 9 of our favorite hikes:
Baldwin Hills
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook provides a fantastic view over LA from the hill south of Culver City. You look north over the Los Angeles Basin from Santa Monica Bay across the Hollywood Hills toward downtown Los Angeles and east to the San Gabriel Mountains. You can choose between taking the stairs and a beautiful, serpintine, less demanding trail.
Playa Del Rey
Bluffs Creek Trail: Explore the 4.2-mile out-and-back trail near Playa Del Rey, which takes an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes to walk. This is a popular area for bird-watching, hiking, and running. The trail is open year-round; dogs are welcome, but must be leashed.
Griffith Park Trails
Bronson Canyon: This spot been featured in films like Star Trek VI and Army of Darkness. “Bronson Cave” is actually a 50-foot long tunnel, the remnants of a quarry that was founded in 1903. The tunnel entrance is best known as the mouth of the Batcave from the 1960s Batman TV series.
Griffith Observatory West Trail Loop: The hike starts at the Fern Dell picnic area near Los Feliz Blvd. Stop and enjoy views of the city along the way. As the path flattens, you’ll see a trail to the right leading up to the observatory.
Brush Canyon Trail: Park in the lot on Canyon Dr., head uphill past the gate and pick up the trail on the fire road heading toward the Pacific Electric quarry. You’ll pass a park and a picnic area and then climb out of the canyon. Follow the trail to the right and continue another 1/4 mile to Mount Hollywood Dr.
Runyon Canyon Trails
Runyon Canyon Loop: This is a fun hike where you'll see million-dollar mansions and priceless views of the Hollywood Sign, the Sunset Strip and the L.A. Basin. Head north on Fuller Ave from Hollywood and park at the end of Fuller. Take the trail to the right and complete the loop counterclockwise.
Discovery Trail: The park’s history dates to 1914, when William Mulholland built the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir. In the 1930s, the family of oil baron Edward Doheny used the canyon as a summer retreat. The easy stroll around the reservoir offers views of birds and wildlife, as well as access to other, more difficult trails such as the Hastain Trail, which rises to offer views from West L.A. to the Pacific.
Will Rogers State Historic Park
Rustic Canyon Loop/Inspiration Point Trail: You can park near the visitor’s center (fee: $12, seniors $11). The hike begins just behind the main ranch house at the park, next to the sign for Inspiration Point Trail. Spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the L.A. Basin and the Santa Monica Mountains.
Topanga State Park
Los Liones Trail to Parker Mesa Overlook: The hike begins in Pacific Palisades at the end of Los Liones Drive, just north of Sunset Boulevard. From there, follow the trail up to East Topanga Fire Rd. and follow that to the turnoff for the Parker Mesa Overlook.
If you're thinking of horseback riding instead of hiking, check out our article on that here.