Best Hikes in Los Angeles: Coastal, Suburban, and Epic Summits

Escape suburbia by exploring LA's numerous hiking trails!

Greg Heil

Images

Point Dume sunset

by Giggs Huang

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Giant sea dahlia flowers on Point Dume

by Matt Kieffer

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Looking over Point Dume State Beach from the trail on Point Dume

by Person-with-No Name

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Point Dume tide pools

by Pacheco

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The Bridge to Nowhere

by Jason Hickey

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Typical scenery along most of the hike

by Mitch Barrie

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Waterfall and swimming holes on the San Gabriel River

by Mitch Barrie

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by Greg Mote

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Scenery in Malibu Creek State Park

by Tracie Hall

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Century Lake, along the way to the MASH set

by Tracie Hall

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One of the old trucks at the filming site

by National Park Service

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Sign at the MASH site

by National Park Service

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Flat trail near the south entrance of Runyon Canyon Park

by Julien Barrier

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View over Los Angeles from East Ridge Trail

by Jeff Gunn

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Trails in Runyon Canyon Park

by Beatrice Murch

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Runyon Canyon sunset

by Esther Schultz

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View of Billy Goat Trail and Red Rock Canyon from a nearby trail

by Anissa Wood

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Swirling sandstone formations of Red Rock Canyon

by Dennis Rex

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One of many pocketed sandstone outcrops

by Dennis Rex

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Overlooking Dana Point Harbor from the trail

by Sergei Gussev

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Intact coastal scrub environment on Dana Point Headland

by Sergei Gussev

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A great view from Dana Point in spring.

by Sergei Gussev

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Flowers blooming on the trail to Eaton Canyon

by pinguino k

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Pass under this bridge to enter the canyon

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Pass under this bridge to enter the canyon

by pinguino k

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Eaton Canyon Falls

by Person-with-No Name

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Sturtevant Falls

by Person-with-No Name

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Swimming hole along the creek

by USMARINE0311

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Getting higher in Santa Anita Canyon

by John Verive

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Fog in the hills near Sturtevant Camp

by Mitch Barrie

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Returning to Chantry Flat on Upper Winter Trail

by PowerRabbit

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Switchbacks of Sam Merrill Trail

by Mitch Barrie, cropped from original

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View over Los Angeles from Echo Mountain

by Daniel

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Relic of the incline railway

by Daniel

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Some of the White City Ruins

by Daniel

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Evening light on the mountain

by Gnaphron

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View of Mill Creek Canyon along the hike to Morton Peak

by Michael Dorausch

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View over Santa Monica from Temescal Ridge Trail

by Chris Palmer

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Palisades Highlands and the Pacific Ocean from Temescal Ridge

by Marty B

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View over the ocean from Tuna Canyon trails

by Shawn Hinsey, cropped from original

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San Antonio Falls

by Mitch Barrie

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View from Mount Baldy

by Mitch Barrie

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Hiking into the Bowl

by Mitch Barrie

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On the Devils Backbone

by Mitch Barrie

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San Gorgonio and San Jacinto seen above the haze from Mount Baldy’s summit

by Mitch Barrie

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by Matthew Dillon via Flickr Creative Commons

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by Matthew Dillon via Flickr Creative Commons

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by Nauly22 via Flickr Creative Commons

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Iconic Views

by Alina Cahill

Looking at the route to the sign from Mount Hollywood.

by Charlie Boscoe

The view over LA from the Hollywood sign.

by Charlie Boscoe

by Shutterstock

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Sturtevant Falls

by Shutterstock

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Griffith Park and the path to the Mount Hollywood Summit

by Harold

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Description

Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis filled with cars, buildings, and strip malls for miles. With a population of 18.7 million people in the Los Angeles-Long Beach combined statistical area, most outsiders wouldn’t even dream of coming to Los Angeles to hike. But the millions of adventurous people that live here know that despite being such a massive megalopolis, LA has easy access to incredible hiking right on its doorstep!

Los Angeles is confined into a relatively limited geographical area by the Pacific Ocean on one side, and the San Gabriel Mountains on the other. The San Gabriels soar to heights over 10,000 feet, rising dramatically from the ocean. Most of this mountain range is protected by the Angeles National Forest, the most visited national forest in the United States. The hiking opportunities in the Angeles National Forest are abundant!

Even closer to home for the locals, the greater LA area—especially Orange County—has a surprising number of fantastic parks chock full of trails for shorter outings. In this guidebook, we’ve attempted to combine both big hiking efforts and quick hits, both providing a quick dose of nature and an escape from suburbia.

Adventures

Towering above the Los Angeles metro area, Mount Wilson is a formidable—but rewarding—objective.

Point Dume Trail

Spiraling path to a panorama over the Pacific, with tide pools and whale watching opportunities.

Bridge to Nowhere

Hike to a photogenic arch bridge curiously placed in a mountain wilderness area, with river crossings and swimming holes along the way.

M*A*S*H TV Set Hike

Scenic hike through Malibu Creek State Park to the filming location of a famous TV show.

Runyon Canyon Highpoint Loop

Linkup of all the major viewpoints in one of the best parks near Hollywood.

Red Rock Canyon via Billy Goat Trail

Explore fantastic rock formations via hiker-only trails in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park.

Dana Point Preserve Trail

Nature walk with great views over the ocean and a chance of spotting whales.

Eaton Canyon Falls

Very popular hike to one of LA-area's favorite waterfalls.

Santa Anita Canyon - Mt. Zion Loop

Full-value loop combining Sturtevant Falls, Mt. Zion summit, and swimming holes in Big Santa Anita Canyon.

Echo Mountain Loop

Historic path to a ruined resort and one of the best views over Pasadena, plus the waterfalls of Rubio Canyon.

Gentle uphill hike to an impressive viewpoint and historic lookout tower in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Temescal Canyon Loop

Combination valley and ridge hike, with a waterfall as well as hilltop views.

Tuna Canyon Budwood Motorway

Ridgeline walk with ocean views above the Pacific Coast Highway

Mount Baldy Summit Loop

Challenging and scenic hike in the alpine terrain of Los Angeles County's tallest mountain.

Griffith Observatory to Hollywood Sign

An enjoyable hike overlooking LA which leads to a legendary landmark

Ferndell Trail to the Mount Hollywood Summit

A beautiful but non-technical hike to the summit of Mount Hollywood.