The Best Hiking Trails in the L.A. Area
When I moved to Los Angeles (almost five years ago), I imagined myself going to the beach all the time. Instead I have often found myself lost in the mountains every weekend possible! Don’t get me wrong I love the beach, but when you live in a city with a population of about 10 million people, the only place you can truly find a breath a fresh air is outside of the city. While i’ve tried a variety of hiking trails in the area, these are my top three favorites.
Runyon Canyon
Sorry if this one is a bit cliche, but I live in the valley so hiking at Runyon is sometimes easier then driving across the city to another trail. This one is about 15 minutes away from me, and I love to go early in the mornings or closer to sunset. Every now and then I will hike midday but it’s pretty rare because I can’t handle the heat. I start the hike off near the north entrance of Runyon Canyon (near Mulholland Drive) and hike down to the south entrance (near Fuller Ave) through the Runyon Canyon road trail. I then loop back up and exit onto Mulholland. I enjoy this trail because you are able to start off easy and warm up your body before taking on the strenuous hike back up.
A few notes:
Please note there are two trails, the easy semi paved path, and the ridge hiking trail which is a bit more intense. I’ve done both. I highly recommend to take on the easier trail, before you embark on the other, as the inclines tend to be very steep (which makes it easier to slip and fall). Both offer rewarding views, though I personally prefer the easier path as there’s a good overlook point at the top of the Trail.
Best time to hike is sunrise or sunset, depending on the season the hour will vary but I usually arrive around 5:30 am or pm, which gives me enough time to get back up to the peak.
This trail can take between 1 hour to 1.5 hours walking.
This is a very popular trail for Angelenos, especially celebrities. I would say this is the one place you have a high likelihood of running into someone famous. My first time hiking here I ran into Ashley Tisdale, and another time I ran into a shirtless Niall Horan. So if you’re looking to check this off our bucket list, I’d recommend this trail!
Overall I’d rate this trail as easy and give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
hollywood sign Hike
Another one of my favorite hiking trails are the three that lead to the iconic Hollywood Sign. This particular trail originates near Griffith Park, off of the Bronson Caves park. As you walk the Bronson Caves trail, you then connect to Brush canyon and eventually land on the Mt. Lee trail. It may sound confusing, but you basically walk straight and keep following the trail until you hit the main portion off Mt. Lee (they’re all connected). You’ll know you are walking towards the Hollywood Sign because there will be marker pointing towards Griffith Park and the other to the Hollywood Sign. This is a longer hike, but because it’s a bit more intense it isn’t as crowded as Runyon. To get here you would drive to the Bronson Caves park and park either on the street or parking lot, then just head northwest!
A few notes:
Round trip you are looking at a 3 -4 hour hike, which is approximately 8 miles. It’s also more of a moderate trail, those who aren’t used to hiking will need to pace themselves.
The majority of this hike is on a dirt trail, however once you connect to Mt. Lee you will see a paved road. Keep walking down this paved road. Make sure to look out to your left. You’ll find the most stunning views!
Before you head up the trail, take a moment to check out the Bronson caves which is about five minutes from the parking lot. It’s an actual cave, that you can walk into. It’s been used as a filming location for a few things, most notably the Batman TV series.
The best time to hike this trail is sunset. I’ve done both early morning and evening, and I swear the sunset looks amazing from this location.
This is a really cute date spot, so maybe pack a picnic to enjoy from the top of the peak. After sunset, you can continue the date by heading over to do some star gazing at Griffith park (highly recommend).
This trail is one of my favorites because it’s easily accessible, a decent workout that most people can handle, and there are a variety of lookout points perfect for photo opportunity. I’d give this trail a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Eaton Canyon
My favorite trail isn’t in the heart of Los Angeles, but further out east yet still within the L.A. county. Head out towards Pasadena and you’ll find Eaton Canyon. This hike isn’t too long, but a fun trek. I enjoy this hike mostly because it requires a little of adventure, such as as climbing up rocks and jumping over streams. The hike terminates at a waterfall, which is so refreshing on a hot summer day, you can even get into the pool of water. It is a popular trail for natives, but such fun and further outside of the city so you get nicer views of the San Gabriel Mountains.
A few notes:
This hike is about 2.5 hours long, though if you skip the waterfalls then it’s only about 2 hours. Approximately 3.5 miles round trip.
The first mile of this hike is mostly a dirt trail, however once you get closer to the waterfalls you have to jump over streams and climb up a few rocks. It’s a bit back and forth, but lots of fun.
As mentioned, the beginning of the hike is a dirt trail with almost no shade so be sure to bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Once you reach the waterfall, you can either sit on the rocks and watch from a far or get your feet into the pool of water. I highly recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.
This is also a great area for a picnic with friends or date. Although I also highly suggest a brunch in Pasadena, so maybe save your appetite for a post hike brunch.
The best time to hike this trail is early Saturday morning, however parking can bea bit difficult so I suggest you arrive as early as possible.
You can either park near the entrance lot or drive down and park in a dirt lot.
I highly recommend this trail to those who enjoy a good challenge. This trail is 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion!
Clearly L.A. is a city full of opportunities and a variety of activities. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the traffic and everyday life, head out to one of these trails. It’s the perfect way to de-stress, and see some fantastic points of view. You’ll find there’s more to the city of stars than just Hollywood and the beach. Hope you all enjoy these hikes while spending some time in La La Land.
Keep happily exploring friends!
Xoxo,
Marina