One of the (many) cool things about living in the City of Angels is the abundance of choices we have for outdoor activities.
With the combination of beach, sun and mountains LA an outdoor enthusiasts paradise!
If you getting your sweat on outdoors you will want to check out our list of the coolest outdoor workout spots in Los Angeles.
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Swing on the Rings in Santa Monica
If you enjoy working out in the open air, this is the gym for you. Located just South of the Santa Monica Pier it is the very popular Santa Monica Rings also known as the traveling rings.
The Rings are a historical workout site equipped with rings, ropes and bars for everyone to workout and have a bit of fun on the beach and under the shadow of the world famous pier.
It takes practice to build the strength needed to show the gymnastics skills you will see on display here, so start your mission to master the rings the next time you are in Santa Monica.
Don’t be intimidated if you see people doing impressive flips just take a minute and enjoy the show. Then jump back on yourself. After all everyone starts somewhere and you don’t need to be a potential Olympian to get in some good exercise.
This unique outdoor playground is a true expression of the typical Californian healthy and carefree lifestyle!
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Pump Some Iron at Muscle Beach in Venice
The famous Muscle beach in Venice is an outdoor workout gym with a gated area that encloses some heavy duty weight lifting equipment.
Famous bodybuilders and actors including Chester ‘The Father of Natural Bodybuilding’ Yorton, Larry ‘The Legend’ Scott and of course the most well known muscle man of all time Arnold ‘The Oak’ Schwarzenegger, used to be regulars at this legendary site.
The iconic outdoor gym is located just steps (two blocks) north of Venice Boulevard on beautiful Ocean Front Walk in Venice. The city of Los Angeles maintains this site and there is a $10 day rate to use the equipment. You can also pay a week membership of $50 or $170 for the entire year.
Of course Muscle Beach has never quite reclaimed the alluring peak of popularity it enjoyed in the seventies and in Arnold’s heyday.
But its still fun to spend a few hours there pumping iron and imagining the magic of its legendary past while enjoying the cool breeze at the beach.
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Climb to the Top of Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
These are 282 steps to the top of the overlook, and it can be an arduous hike for beginners but the incredible, panoramic views of the city of Los Angeles are well worth the sweat equity you pay to reach the top.
The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook offers its visitors clear views of the entire Los Angeles Basin, the Pacific Ocean and the gorgeous surrounding mountains.
You can park at the small lot that charges $6 or park in the street, just keep in mind that street parking gets busy, especially on weekends. Also, dogs are not allowed so leave your pooch at home.
For some true hardcore fitness enthusiasts the long climb to the top is just the start of the workout. They actually will do some exercises at the peak. But most people like to just sit back and enjoy the view after paying their workout price to reach the top.
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Get a Free Yoga Lesson at (Runway) Runyon Canyon
Runyon Canyon is arguably the most famous and popular hiking spot in all of Los Angeles. Nicknamed ‘Runway Canyon’ because of all the beautiful people who choose to hike here, it offers amazing trails with spectacular views right above the heart of West LA.
But one other special feature of Runyon Canyon that is not so well known, is the free Yoga classes offered on a grassy field at the bottom. Daniel Overberger and his community of Yoga Instructors have offered these awesome classes to the community since 2000.
Runyon Canyon Yoga is located at 2001 N Fuller Ave. Los Angeles CA 90046. They ask you to bring a yoga mat, water bottle, towel and sunscreen. The classes are FREE but they do accept donations $5 – $15.
The classes have become extremely popular so get there early to get a good spot!
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Play Tennis on a Rooftop in West Hollywood
Want to play a game of Tennis to get your exercise on? Well how about a game with an epic view on a Rooftop in the center of West Hollywood?
Well then you want to make it a Grand Slam and you want to come to West Hollywood Park Tennis Courts. These courts gives you some of the best views of LA while you battle it out.
It is open to the public on a first come first served basis, starting at 7 am and closing at 9 pm every day. Access to the courts is through the parking office located in the first floor.
All three courts here offer stunning views! If you love Tennis its a great way to exercise and have fun. Also, there are classes available for children 3 and up so if you have little ones interested in learning to play, bring them along too.
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Shoot Some Hoops with an Ocean View as the Backdrop in San Pedro
Go South on the 110 until it ends and you will discover some of the secret gems of San Pedro and the Los Angeles waterfront.
One awesome outdoor activity hidden in Pedro is a unique basketball court.
This B-BALL court is located in Angel’s Gate Park, along with the Korean Bell of Friendship and some of the most spectacular views available of the Pacific Ocean.
Although the basketball court is just standard neighborhood hoops, what makes it so special is those crazy and amazing views that serve as the backdrop.
Enjoy playing at this magnificent place, a great basketball venue to enjoy with friends and family at any time of the year.
But be warned if you are a serious Hooper. Although its beautiful, this court can get very windy and throw off your shot!
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Bike Ride on 22 Miles of Gorgeous Coastline on the Marvin Braude Trail
Following the shores of Santa Monica Bay, it’s The Strand, a paved bike path that starts at Torrance Beach in the South Bay and heads North all the way to Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades.
That’s right! One heck of a bike ride of 22 miles that will take you by some of the most popular and beautiful beaches in California .
The Strand or Marvin Braude Trail guides bikers through the beaches of Torrance, Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, Venice and Santa Monica.
This 22 miles panoramic path offers you plenty exercise, however, in parts it will be a casual bike ride, since you will share the path with locals and tourists who will be walking, skating or jogging.
The path goes North-South and runs alongside smooth sand, wide pave walks, restaurants and shops. Remember to look for whales and dolphins while you are enjoying the marvelous ocean view as you are gliding on your bike.
If you don’t own a bike, don’t sweat it! You can rent one. There are plenty of bike rentals and also parking available along the trail’s 22 miles.