Hikes in Los Angeles

The Grotto

This 3-mile round-trip hike visits a remote grotto in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Sandstone Peak

This 6-mile loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Tri Peaks

This 1-mile addition to the Sandstone Peak loop adds extra views to the hike.

Zuma Canyon

If the easy 2.8-mile round-trip out and back along Zuma Canyon Trail leaves you eager for more, try the 3-mile Ocean View Trail - Canyon View Trail loop.

Zuma Ridge Trail

This dirt road climbs the ridge west of Zuma Canyon and offers several hiking options, including a 5.4-mile out-and-back and a 10.6-mile loop.

Zuma Canyon Narrows Loop

This 8-mile loop connects Zuma Canyon Trail and Zuma Ridge Trail with an intense off-trail trek through the narrows of Zuma Canyon.

Escondido Falls

This 4-mile round-trip hike visits a 200-foot waterfall. The upper tier is 150 feet tall and looks stunning after a good spring rain.

Latigo Canyon Road to Castro Crest

This 3.8-mile hike crosses a green canyon and climbs to scenic saddle below Castro Peak.

Upper Solstice Canyon

This 5.5 to 6.5-mile hike crosses secluded Upper Solstice Canyon to Castro Crest, adding the option to ascend another half mile up Newton Road toward Castro Peak.

Solstice Canyon

This 2.1-mile out-and-back on Solstice Canyon Trail makes for an easy level stroll. The trail visits the ruins of a burned down ranch and a small waterfall.

Corral Canyon

This 2.5-mile loop offers ocean and canyon views from a unspoiled section of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu.

The MASH set

This 4.75 mile hike (from the entrance of Malibu Creek State Park) visits the site where the exteriors of the television show MASH were filmed.

Lost Cabin Trail

This 0.75-mile-long side trail from Crags Road comes to a dead end in a mountain valley at the location of an old cabin, but there is no evidence that the cabin ever existed.

Lake Vista Trail

This 4.1-mile round trip hike from Cistern Trail terminates a a scenic viewpoint over Malibu Lake and the surrounding mountains from the west end of Malibu Creek State Park.

Cistern Trail

This single track makes a scenic descent into Malibu Creek State Park above Century Lake for a 2.05 mile loop. A hike to the MASH site is 3.6 miles round trip with 400 feet of elevation loss.

Rock Pool

This 1.75-mile loop visits a popular swimming hole in Malibu Creek State Park.

South Grassland Trail

This alternative (free) entrance to Malibu Creek State Park can be used to create a 3-mile hike to Rock Pool or a longer trek in the park.

Talepop Loop

This 4.75-mile hike climbs 500 feet over a scenic mountain in Malibu Creek State Park between Liberty Canyon and Las Virgenes Canyon.

Calabasas Peak

This 3.6-mile round-trip hike to Calabasas Peak travels an easy-to-follow fire road, climbing 1000 feet to panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Fernando Valley.

Red Rock Canyon

The beautifully sculpted canyon has trails of 2.5 and 5 miles in length.

Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak

This 8.2-mile hike climbs the north slope of saddle peak through Stunt Ranch, offering great views of Calabasas Peak and the Santa Monica Mountains.

Saddle Peak

The 2-mile round trip hike to the summit climbs just 450 feet but offers fantastic views of Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains.

Topanga Lookout

This 2-mile hike to Topanga Lookout is an easy trek with excellent views of Malibu, Topanga, Calabasas, and beyond.

Hondo Canyon

This fairly well maintained section of the Backbone Trail crosses fields of grains and forests of Bays, climbing 1500 feet over 3.8 miles.

Parker Mesa Overlook

This 7-mile round-trip hike offers great views of the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Palisades.

Eagle Rock

This 7.4-mile hike ascends from Santa Ynez Canyon to a sandstone summit in Topanga State Park with panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Santa Ynez Waterfall

This 2.5-mile hike follows a shaded creek to a gorge containing a short waterfall.

Temescal Canyon Loop

This 2.6-mile loop through Temescal Canyon offers a variety of scenery and decent exercise, despite its relative brevity. located just off Sunset Blvd in the Pacific Palisades, this a popular hike.

Rivas Canyon Trail

This 2.1-mile (one way) trail crosses a lush secluded canyon between Temescal Gateway Park and Will Rogers State Park.

Murphy Ranch in Rustic Canyon

This 3.85-mile loop descends from Sullivan Ridge Fire Road into Rustic Canyon to Murphy Ranch, where hikers can visit abandoned buildings once occupied by Nazi sympathizers.

Sullivan Ridge

This ridge trail stretches 6.3-miles north to south through the Santa Monica Mountains east of Will Rogers State Park.

Sullivan Canyon

This 8.5-mile round trip hike departs from a residential street a couple miles north of Sunset Boulevard and follows a wide trail up the center of a sycamore-filled canyon.

Westridge Trail to San Vicente Peak

This 7.4-mile hike crosses a long ridge to visit a peak that was once home to a Nike Missile station.

Mulholland Drive to San Vicente Peak

This 2-mile hike approaches San Vicente Peak from the east.

Upper Canyonback Ridge

This 3-mile hike travels the top of a ridge west of the 405 freeway.

Lower Canyonback Ridge

This 3.6-mile hike visits the lower portion of a ridge divided by a housing development.

Runyon Canyon

This 1.65 or 2.65-mile loop tours the most popular dog park in Los Angeles. Both loops offer good exercise and views over Hollywood.

Wonder View Trail

This 3-mile hike ascends 925 feet to Cahuenga Peak and the adjacent Mount Lee, home of the Hollywood Sign.

Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign

This 6.4-mile hike crosses Griffith Park from Canyon Drive to the top of Mount Lee, directly behind the landmark Hollywood Sign.

Paradise Falls

This 2.5-mile loop visits a 40-foot waterfall.

Lizard Rock

Several trails can be added to a visit to Paradise Falls, including this one to Lizard Rock to create a 3.7-mile loop.

La Tuna Canyon

This 4.5-mile round-trip hike follows a fire road to the top this small mountain range north of Burbank.

Trail Canyon Falls

This 4-mile round-trip hike visits a 40-foot waterfall on the western side of the San Gabriels.

Switzer Falls

This 4.5-mile round-trip hike heads downstream toward popular pools beneath Switzer Falls. From there the 50-foot waterfall can be reached with a bit of scrambling.

San Gabriel Peak

There are two trails to the summit of this 6,161 foot tall mountain. Consider both the 3.2-mile trail from Eaton Saddle and the 4-mile trail from the Mt. Disappointment Fire Road.

Mount Disappointment

This half-mile addition to either San Gabriel Peak hike adds another summit and more views to your hike in the San Gabriels.

Millard Falls

This one-mile hike leaves from Millard Campground and visits a 50-foot waterfall and a picturesque narrow canyon.

Dawn Mine

This 6-mile round-trip hike passes Millard Falls and continues further up the beautiful canyon to an old gold mine.

Eaton Canyon Falls

This 3-mile round-trip trail leads to a 40-foot waterfall. The trailhead is outside national forest jurisdiction (hint: no adventure pass needed).

Santa Anita Canyon Loop

This 9.5-mile loop tours Santa Anita Canyon -- visiting Hoegees Camp, Spruce Grove Camp, and Sturtevant Falls.

Hoegees Camp

This 4.25-mile round-trip hike follows the Lower Winter Creek Trail through a beautiful wooded canyon to the Hoegees Trail Camp.

Sturtevant Falls

This 3.25-mile round-trip hike passes the rustic cabins of Roberts Camp to visit a 60-foot waterfall.

Spruce Grove Camp

This 7.5-mile round-trip hike continues up the Gabrielino Trail past Sturtevant Falls. From here one may cross over Mt. Zion to Hoegees camp as part of the Santa Anita Canyon loop.

Hermit Falls

This 2.5-mile round-trip hike visits a 30-foot waterfall that, while near to Sturtevant Falls, receives far fewer visitors. The image to the left is of one of the many check dams in the stream along the trail.

Mount Waterman

This 5.5-mile round-trip trail gradually ascends 1,300 feet, passing through a sylvan mixed forest of Incense Cedars and Jeffrey Pines to take in the vast views provided by the round 8,038 foot summit.

Cooper Canyon Falls

This 3-mile round-trip hike leaves from Buckhorn Campground and visits a short waterfall in an enchanting glen of tall pines.

Fish Canyon Falls

This 4-mile round-trip hike starts at a rock quarry with limited access and follows a wide canyon up to an 80-foot three-tier waterfall.

San Antonio Falls

This 1.2-mile round-trip hike follows a paved road up to a 75-foot multi-tiered waterfall. From the falls, one can hike on to Mount Baldy.

Mount Baldy

There are two popular trails to the 10,064-foot summit of Mount Baldy. The Baldy Bowl Trail and the Devil's Backbone Trail can be combined for a scenic 11.3-mile loop.

Hikes in the California Desert

This listing of trails explores the peaks, canyons, craters, sand dunes, and oases of the California desert

Hikes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains

This listing explores the great hiking opportunities in the Sierras. Start right here for more Sequoias, peaks, lakes, and streams.