Hikes in Los Angeles
Below is a list of trails in the Los Angeles area. These hikes are listed from west to east, but the table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike in Los Angeles. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, maps, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these hikes.
Hiking Los Angeles:
Los Angeles Country has a higher population than any other country in the United States. Fortunately for residents, this vast urban center is also home to hundreds of hiking trails and several good campgrounds. Most of the trails around Los Angeles are dog-friendly.
The best hiking can be found in the areas two major mountain ranges, the San Gabriel Mountains, and the Santa Monica Mountains. Many trails in the San Gabriel Mountains remain closed following the station fire. However, the trails in the Santa Monica Mountains are excellent places to hike.
| Trail | Description | Distance | Latitude, Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Hermit Gulch Trail Trans-Catalina Trail Loop This loop over the ridges above Avalon offers amazing ocean views, in two directions at times, as well as a look at the pristine interior of the island. | 11.75 miles 1,600 feet | 33.335878, -118.332396 |
 | Paradise Falls This loop visits a 40-foot waterfall in the open spaces of Thousand Oaks. | 2.5 miles | 34.215372, -118.910794 |
 | Lizard Rock To add extra mileage and views to a visit to Paradise Falls in Thousand Oaks, consider placing Lizard Rock on your itinerary. | 3.7 miles | 34.220788, -118.921537 |
 | Grotto This out and back visits a remote grotto in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. | 3 miles 500 feet | 34.109292, -118.937438 |
 | Sandstone Peak This loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. | 6 miles | 34.120284, -118.931018 |
 | Tri Peaks This 1-mile addition to the Sandstone Peak loop adds extra views to the hike. | 7 miles | 34.122438, -118.950055 |
 | Zuma Canyon This out and back leaves a coastal Malibu neighborhood to explore rustic Zuma Canyon. | 2.8 miles | 34.032472, -118.812382 |
 | Zuma Canyon Ocean View - Canyon View Trails This loop demands more effort than the Zuma Canyon Trail and provides great ocean and canyon views. | 3 miles | 34.036241, -118.805902 |
 | Zuma Ridge This wide dirt service road weaves northwest up the ridge west of Zuma Canyon offering access to several nearby trails. | 5.4 - 10.6 miles | 34.03425, -118.818133 |
 | Zuma Canyon Narrows This off-trail trek crosses the narrow canyon beyond Zuma Canyon Trail. Hikers may return along the Zuma Ridge Trail to form a challenging 8-mile loop. | 8 miles | 34.056261, -118.81809 |
 | Escondido Falls This out and back visits a 200 foot waterfall that is split into two tiers. The upper tier is 150 feet tall and stunning after a rainstorm. | 4 miles | 34.026568, -118.780067 |
 | Solstice Canyon This out and back is easy and level, and visits the ruins of a burned down ranch and a small waterfall. | 2 miles | 34.037166, -118.746636 |
 | Corral Canyon This loop offers ocean and canyon views from a unspoiled section of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu. | 2.5 miles 520 feet | 34.034336, -118.734362 |
 | Malibu Creek Traverse This adventure hike explores the C-shaped gorge between Rock Pool and Century Lake in Malibu Creek State Park. | 4 miles | 34.097733, -118.729291 |
 | Calabasas Peak This out and back travels an easy-to-follow fire road to panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains and San Fernando Valley. | 3.6 miles 1000 feet | 34.112846, -118.651879 |
 | Red Rock Canyon Park There are two main trails in this park. One can be used to reach Calabasas Peak and a shorter trail reached a scenic overlook. | 2.5 - 5.2 miles. 325 feet - 1000 feet | 34.106015, -118.637138 |
 | Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak This out and back combines Stunt High Trail and a section of the Backbone Trail to visit the 6th tallest summit in the Santa Monica Mountains. | 8.2 miles 1700 feet | 34.077567, -118.654847 |
 | Backbone Trial to Saddle Peak This shorter hike approaches the summit from the east. | 2 miles 450 feet | 34.077069, -118.655963 |
 | Topanga Lookout This 2-mile hike visits the site of an old fire tower which still offers great views of the surrounding mountains. | 2 miles 160 feet | 34.091642, -118.636308 |
 | Hondo Canyon This fairly well maintained section of the Backbone Trail crosses grassy fields and climbs the wall of a wooded canyon. | 7.6 miles (or 3.6 miles one-way) 1500 feet | 34.092804, -118.610122 |
 | Parker Mesa Overlook This steep out and back rewards the effort with excellent views of the Pacific Ocean. | 7 miles 1300 feet | 34.060137, -118.574331 |
| Los Liones Trail This loop visits a lust canyon with ocean views and overlaps the first half of the hike to Parker Mesa Overlook. | 3 miles 600 feet | 34.04872, -118.558989 | |
 | Santa Ynez Falls This out and back follows a shaded creek to a gorge containing a short waterfall. | 2.5 miles 250 feet | 34.091555, -118.569711 |
 | Temescal Canyon This loop offers a variety of scenery and decent exercise, despite its relative brevity. | 2.6 miles | 34.050217, -118.529141 |
 | Sullivan Ridge This out and back follows a scenic 6.3-mile long ridge through the Big Wild east of Will Rogers State Park. | 7.5 - 14.3 miles | 34.061097, -118.504121 |
 | Sullivan Canyon This out and back follows a wide trail up the center of a sycamore-filled canyon. | 8.5 miles | 34.073771, -118.506863 |
| Westridge Trail to San Vicente Peak This out and back travels a scenic ridge between a Brentwood neighborhood and a 1,960-foot summit that was once used as a Nike Missile site. | 7.4 miles 900 feet | 34.128382, -118.51357 | |
 | Mulholland Drive to San Vicente Peak This out and back approaches San Vicente Peak from the east and offers views to the north and south en route to the old Nike Missile site. | 2 miles 360 feet | 34.129327, -118.503199 |
 | Upper Canyonback Trail This out and back descends Canyonback Ridge from Mulholland Drive to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. | 3 - 8 miles 250 feet | 34.128898, -118.502841 |
 | Lower Canyonback Trail This out and back ascends Canyonback Ridge from Kenter Ave. in Brentwood to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. | 3.6 - 8 miles 500 feet | 34.081754, -118.494577 |
 | Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign This out and back hike crosses Griffith Park from Canyon Drive to the top of Mount Lee, directly behind the landmark Hollywood Sign. | 6.4 - 7.1 miles 1100 - 1200 feet | 34.134552, -118.321559 |
 | La Tuna Canyon This out and back follows a fire road to the top this small mountain range north of Burbank. | 4.4 miles | 34.236684, -118.291883 |
 | Trail Canyon Falls CLOSED. This out and back visits a 40-foot beauty on the east side of the San Gabriel Mountains. | 4 miles | 34.312575, -118.253946 |
 | Switzer Falls CLOSED. This out and back starts out above and finishes below a 50-foot tall waterfall. | 4.5 miles | 34.259387, -118.155069 |
 | San Gabriel Peak from Mt. Disappointment Road CLOSED. This peak offers great views of the San Gabriels. Summit Mt. Disappointment for an extra half mile. | 4 - 4.5 miles 1,400 feet | 34.246506, -118.104828 |
 | San Gabriel Peak from Mt. Lowe Fire Road CLOSED. This peak offers great views of the San Gabriels. Summit Mt. Disappointment for an extra half mile. | 3.2 - 3.7 miles 1,000 feet | 34.246506, -118.104828 |
 | Millard Falls CLOSED. This out and back visits a 50-foot waterfall up one of the most scenic canyons in the range. | 1 mile | 34.219936, -118.140135 |
 | Dawn Mine CLOSED. This out and back leads past Millard Falls to an old gold mine. | 6 miles | 34.228736, -118.130178 |
 | Eaton Falls This out and back visits a 40-footer. | 3 miles | 34.198642, -118.103571 |
 | Hoegees Camp This out and back follows Lower Winter Creek Trail through a beautiful wooded canyon to a backcountry campground with fourteen first-come first-serve sites. | 4.25 miles | 34.209857, -118.03113 |
 | Sturtevant Falls This out and back visits a 60-foot waterfall and a lush cottage-lined canyon. | 3.25 miles | 34.209857, -118.03113 |
 | Spruce Grove Camp This out and back follows the canyon above Sturtevant Falls to a backcountry campground with seven first-come first-serve sites. | 8 miles | 34.209857, -118.03113 |
 | Santa Anita Canyon Loop This loop visits a two peaceful creeks, a 60 foot waterfall and plenty of beautiful wilderness | 9.5 miles | 34.209857, -118.03113 |
 | Hermit Falls This out and back heads down canyon away from Sturtevant Falls toward a 30-foot waterfall. The lush canyon and the babbling creek are quite calming. | 2.6 miles 600 fet | 34.209857, -118.03113 |
 | Fish Canyon Falls This out and back starts at a rock quarry with restricted access and ends up at a multi-tiered 80-foot waterfall. | 4 miles | 34.182951, -117.911224 |
 | Mount Waterman CLOSED. The out and back takes a gradual ascent through a pine forest to reach the round summit. | 5.5 miles 1300 feet | 34.337848, -117.938712 |
 | Cooper Canyon Falls CLOSED. This out and back leaves from Buckhorn Campground and visits a short waterfall in an enchanting glen of tall pines. | 3 miles | 34.337848, -117.938712 |
 | San Antonio Falls This out and back on a paved road visits a multi-tier waterfall along the trail to Mt. Baldy. | 1.2 miles | 34.27717, -117.633805 |
 | Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut This out and back offers a steep but scenic ascent up the south side of Mt. Baldy. | 9 miles 3,900 feet | 34.27717, -117.633805 |
 | Devil’s Backbone This ridge-top trail between Baldy Notch and the summit of Mt. Baldy offers incredible views of the San Gabriel Mountains. | 6.4 - 13.6 miles | 34.27717, -117.633805 |
 | Mount Baldy Loop This hike incorporates the Devil’s Backbone and the Baldy Bowl – Ski Hit Trail into one see-all loop. | 11.3 miles 3,900 feet | 34.27717, -117.633805 |
 | Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle This out and back travels through a picturesque canyon to a saddle with panoramic views and extended hiking opportunities. | 7.2 miles 2,600 feet | 34.237819, -117.596312 |
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