Los Angeles with its spectacular sunny weather pretty much all year round brings to its inhabitants and visitors a wide variety of outdoor activities to do, see and appreciate.
This is especially true for hiking.
Whether its beginners, moderates or the most experienced hikers you can bet there is a nearby amazing trail for them to enjoy.
Here Are 7 Of Our Favorite Nature Hikes in Los Angeles for You to Discover and Enjoy!
Hike 1 – Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park gives you amazing choices of trails to enjoy. Whether you are looking for spectacular views, nature hikes with your family, or simply exercising your hiking abilities, this park has it all.
You can also take some awesome pictures at sites used by Hollywood studios in this park, including the breathtaking Rock Pool Trails where some more adventurous hikers even try to climb the legendary ‘Planet of The Apes’ wall from the films.
In the South Grassland Trail, you can find remnants of the long-running TV series ‘M*A*S*H.’
Most of the exterior shots were filmed in a corner of the park that resembles the Korea location of the show.
Hike 2 – Runyon Canyon
Nicknamed “Runway Canyon” because of all the beautiful people. This hike is located near the heart of Hollywood and is a moderate hiking trail that offers scenic views of the Hollywood Hills and the famous Hollywood sign.
This is one of the most popular hiking spots in Los Angeles so you will share the wide dirt roads of these trails with lots of other visitors and finding parking can be a pain.
But once you get up those trails it will all feel worth it.
The park is dog-friendly so you can bring your pooch along and there are baggie stations throughout the area.
Hike 3 – Portuguese Bend Reserve
There are plenty of hiking trails to enjoy in this park located in Palos Verdes. With beautiful ocean facing hillsides, canyons and ridges its one of the most beautiful areas on our list.
While hiking these trails, you can see Catalina Island, appearing so close it looks like you could swim to it.
In addition to the marvelous views and nature all around, the trails offer many ways to create loop routes with a variety of distances, making this destination a favorite spot for hikers of different fitness levels.
Hike 4 – Hollywood Sign Hike
Can you really check hiking in Hollywood off your bucket list if you don’t hike to the Hollywood sign?
I think not!
This is arguably the most recognizable landmark in all of Los Angeles and if you want to truly appreciate the power and beauty of this historical icon you have to hike up to it and get a close look.
There are 3 routes to get there.
The Mt Hollywood Trail (easiest)
the Canyon Drive Trail (moderate)
and the Cahuenga Peak Trail (most difficult).
Hike 5 – The Wisdom Tree and Cahuenga Peak
The Wisdom Tree was planted 35 years ago according to newspapers and local legends, who also said that this beautiful little pine tree was the only thing that survived the devastating fire that ripped through the Hollywood Hills in 2007.
With thousands of Instagram and Twitter followers, this remarkable tree has become very popular and also an inspiration to many people who hike here.
Also called the Wishing Tree many hikers love to leave their special poems and wishes at the tree, before sitting back and taking in the incredible views of Los Angeles, Griffith Park, and the Hollywood Sign.
Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen as this trail doesn’t offer a lot of shade!
Hike 6 – Mount Wilson
Mount Wilson hike offers a magnificent 7 miles trail, with many exercise enthusiasts like to use for a fire breathing, hardcore conditioning work out.
During the weekends the Mount Wilson Observatory welcomes visitors for tours, and this can be a great treat at the end of your hike.
While most of the notoriety goes to that other spectacular Observatory in Griffith Park, Mount Wilson boasts 2 historically important telescopes.
The observatory is located on the summit of Mount Wilson above Pasadena at an altitude of 5715 feet.
Hike 7 – Santa Anita Canyon and Sturtevant Falls
This trail is located in Big Santa Anita Canyon in the San Gabriels Mountains and is only about 10-15 minutes off the 210 freeway.
There are several hiking trails in Los Angeles that offer views and waterfalls, but Sturtevant Falls made our list because it’s one of the most attractive waterfalls in Southern California and because the hike is suitable for most people to do making it more accessible.
The moss and algae growing on the cliff of this waterfall have added beauty and color where its waters run.
This is an especially amazing hike if there has been enough rain and you can see the full majestic beauty of this 50ft waterfall.