rural hikes in LA

May 27, 2020 3:22 PM

Asking for someone stuck in a small studio, studying hard, newly living near UCLA Medical Center, who'd benefit from nature: Where to go, not too far driving from UCLA, to get a hike for a mile or a few miles? Preferably it would be off pavement (trail ok) and preferably wooded so having some shade; ideally, unspoiled forest bathing. (I was wonderfully fortunate to hike in the coastal redwoods this morning, sparking this question)
posted by anadem to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

There are a ton of hikes somewhat nearby, not really sure what it is open or too crowded at this point. I suggest your friend use the website Modern Hiker to explore options in the Santa Monica Mountains and definitely research ahead time whether or not the trail currently has restrictions--one of the most popular trails in the San Gabriel Mountains (Eaton Canyon) was closed again the other day due to lack of social distancing.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 4:26 PM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

Franklin Park in Beverly Hills is easy to get to and sort of down in a bowl so it's like you are in no way in the middle of LA. Good birdwatching, a beautiful lake and a cool duck pond with frogs and stuff. There's a simple loop around the lake (with lots of room to just step off and sit, which I think is still okay at parks as long as you keep your distance) and then two trails that do some more significant change of elevation.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:27 PM on May 27, 2020

If a 45-50 minute drive from UCLA is within range for you, I've been told by friends that the Mishe Mokwa loop trail to Sandstone Peak has been beautiful the past few days with lots of wildflowers. It's also fairly popular and it's been pretty hot in the sun, but there are lots of side-trails and if you can go early in the morning it should be very nice.
posted by theory at 5:03 PM on May 27, 2020

The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is on the UCLA campus and feels surprisingly secluded for where it is located.
posted by mogget at 5:10 PM on May 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

Altadena has a bunch of trails just above JPL that are great, including Rubio Canyon Trailhead.
posted by nickggully at 6:16 PM on May 27, 2020

There are literally thousands of miles of trails in LA County. You could spend the rest of your life hiking within an easy drive of UCLA and still have trails that you've never seen before. I'd start with the county's trail website and explore further from there.
posted by mr_roboto at 8:15 PM on May 27, 2020

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area on La Cienega just below the 10 is wooded, has a lake you can walk around for a very sedate walk, or you can go up the hill for short loops with spectacular views of the city. I've been a few times since shelter-in-place. It's open and quiet on weekdays. (Do not confuse it with Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (the other side of La Cienega), very busy when it's open, is closed right now, and has no shade.)

If your definition of not too far stretches to a one hour drive, Descanso Gardens is open for ticketed entry and has incredible deep woods. I'm not sure if Ferndell is open/busy, but it's also very shady and wooded.
posted by caek at 8:23 PM on May 27, 2020

Mandeville Canyon. Super easy in terms of physical effort. I used to take my young kids up there all the time when we lived in Santa Monica. The linked trail map covers a full 7 mile section, but you can always just drive up Mandeville Canyon Road to the Hollyhock trailhead, park, and do the Hollyhock trail up to the top of the ridge. It's much shorter than the full MC trail, gets you walking through fragrant sage scrub, ceanothus shrubs, monkey flower drifts, and you get to the ridgeline quickly. The Canyonback Trail up there is wide and inviting, although there's not much shade to be found in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's more shrubby/scrubby, but it's a low-commitment trail so, if you find yourself getting to hot in the sun, you can always turn around and be back at your car pretty quickly.

I legit miss this part of LA. It's about as close to UCLA as it gets.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 10:20 AM on May 28, 2020

Here's an Instagram post from Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authoirty with currently crowded trails to avoid and less popular ones to check out.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 11:08 AM on May 29, 2020