Best hiking trails in Los Angeles
May 26, 2018 8:57 AM Subscribe
Which ones would you recommend?
I'm going to be in LA (staying in Echo Park) this coming week and I'd like to go on a some nice hikes. I'm an experienced hiker but I'm looking for something that's not TOO hard, green, a couple of miles long - maybe a trail with some great views of the city.
Thanks!
I'm going to be in LA (staying in Echo Park) this coming week and I'd like to go on a some nice hikes. I'm an experienced hiker but I'm looking for something that's not TOO hard, green, a couple of miles long - maybe a trail with some great views of the city.
Thanks!
If you're looking for great views of the city, you're going to be right at home in Griffith Park. I would suggest a hike to Mt. Hollywood, perhaps from Mineral Wells Picnic Area. That will give you a 4.2 mile out and back with great views of the valley, downtown, and, on a clear day, all the way to the ocean.
posted by lilies.lilies at 12:21 PM on May 26, 2018
posted by lilies.lilies at 12:21 PM on May 26, 2018
Start at the Western Ave entrance of Griffith Park. Park somewhere near the Trails Cafe and hike up to The Griffith Observatory. The Observatory is free, a planetarium show is $7, and the cafe and coffee up there is pretty reasonable so do have a snack or a full meal overlooking the hills, canyons, and city with a view to the ocean.
Make your way to the back of the parking lot of The Observatory, continue on up to the top of Mt Hollywood. I think from there you can hike over towards The Hollywood Sign, also The Wisdom Tree, but I've never done it. The view from the top is SPECTACULAR.
From the Riverside Dr entrance to Griffith Park, there are many more trails that feature views of the mountains and valley. Also kinda a fav.
posted by jbenben at 12:23 PM on May 26, 2018
Make your way to the back of the parking lot of The Observatory, continue on up to the top of Mt Hollywood. I think from there you can hike over towards The Hollywood Sign, also The Wisdom Tree, but I've never done it. The view from the top is SPECTACULAR.
From the Riverside Dr entrance to Griffith Park, there are many more trails that feature views of the mountains and valley. Also kinda a fav.
posted by jbenben at 12:23 PM on May 26, 2018
Leaning more toward the experienced end, I'm a huge fan of Echo Mountain with the extension to Inspiration Point.
The first few miles has very little shade, so it's best if you start early in the morning, but the views are spectacular. From the historic site, there are a few different ways to get to Inspiration point, some steeper, some longer, but there's a lot more shade once you're off the south slope of the mountain.
posted by itesser at 1:25 PM on May 26, 2018
The first few miles has very little shade, so it's best if you start early in the morning, but the views are spectacular. From the historic site, there are a few different ways to get to Inspiration point, some steeper, some longer, but there's a lot more shade once you're off the south slope of the mountain.
posted by itesser at 1:25 PM on May 26, 2018
There are a lot of beautiful hiking trails in Angeles National Forest. I like to take visitors on this relatively short and easy one.
posted by kickingtheground at 1:26 PM on May 26, 2018
posted by kickingtheground at 1:26 PM on May 26, 2018
As the previous answers suggest, a lot of close-in LA's hiking is in the Santa Monica Mountains. The trail systems around Griffith Park are indeed good. To the west of the 405 the trails are largely managed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy link up above the developed parts of the canyons (around the dirt segment of Mullholland, which can itself be a nice walk, including the old Nike missile/radar site). Will Rogers park provides a convenient access point on the West Side (although parking isn't free anymore).
In between Griffith and the trails west of the 405, there's Franklin Canyon and the Tree People at Coldwater Park.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:29 AM on May 27, 2018
In between Griffith and the trails west of the 405, there's Franklin Canyon and the Tree People at Coldwater Park.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:29 AM on May 27, 2018
To underscore, for views and ease of access, you really won't beat Griffith Park near the Hollywood sign for views of the city basin, Tree People for views of the Valley, and then the outlooks just above Will Rogers for the Santa Monica bay.
Not a hike, but reservations for the re-opened Getty Villa in Malibu (a recreation/reimagination of a Roman villa excavated in Pompeii and housing Classical art and sculpture) are free (parking is paid), it's very scenic and it combines well with other sightseeing on the coast. You only need about an hour to 90m to see it (grounds and exhibits).
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:41 AM on May 27, 2018
Not a hike, but reservations for the re-opened Getty Villa in Malibu (a recreation/reimagination of a Roman villa excavated in Pompeii and housing Classical art and sculpture) are free (parking is paid), it's very scenic and it combines well with other sightseeing on the coast. You only need about an hour to 90m to see it (grounds and exhibits).
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:41 AM on May 27, 2018
Going to second these two:
#1) Start at the Western Ave entrance of Griffith Park. Park somewhere near the Trails Cafe and hike up to The Griffith Observatory...Make your way to the back of the parking lot of The Observatory, continue on up to the top of Mt Hollywood.
#2) Leaning more toward the experienced end, I'm a huge fan of Echo Mountain with the extension to Inspiration Point.
With #1 I recommend walking parking a little lower and walking the Ferndell trail. It's nice.
West LA / Santa Monica Mountains stuff is also great, and I often prefer it sometimes for the greater isolation and the hikes have spectacular ocean views. But if you *want* city views, it's not quite the same, and depending on your timing, driving from Echo Park may not a lot of fun.
posted by wildblueyonder at 11:35 AM on May 27, 2018
#1) Start at the Western Ave entrance of Griffith Park. Park somewhere near the Trails Cafe and hike up to The Griffith Observatory...Make your way to the back of the parking lot of The Observatory, continue on up to the top of Mt Hollywood.
#2) Leaning more toward the experienced end, I'm a huge fan of Echo Mountain with the extension to Inspiration Point.
With #1 I recommend walking parking a little lower and walking the Ferndell trail. It's nice.
West LA / Santa Monica Mountains stuff is also great, and I often prefer it sometimes for the greater isolation and the hikes have spectacular ocean views. But if you *want* city views, it's not quite the same, and depending on your timing, driving from Echo Park may not a lot of fun.
posted by wildblueyonder at 11:35 AM on May 27, 2018
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posted by Lyn Never at 9:55 AM on May 26, 2018 [1 favorite]