Westridge Trail to San Vicente Peak
in the Santa Monica Mountains
Loading ...
In the 1950s, San Vicente Peak served as a mountaintop military installation to defend Los Angeles from soviet missile attacks. Today, the 1,960-foot peak provides visitors with a look back at this chapter in the city’s history, along with a great view of West LA and the Santa Monica Mountains. Westridge Fire Road leads to San Vicente Peak and is a popular path for mountain bikers, trail runners, and dog walkers. A single-track trail runs parallel to the fire road, exploring the ups and down of the top of the ridge, and offering an enjoyable alternative for hikers. It is easy to switch back and forth between the two routes on this 7.4-mile round trip hike with 900 feet of elevation gain.
The path along Westridge Fire Road
From the top of Westridge Road, the trail leaves a bountiful Brentwood neighborhood and heads north, weaving along the west side of the ridge. To the southeast, Downtown LA and Century City rise above the skyline. To the west, the trail overlooks Sullivan Canyon and the opposing Sullivan Ridge, where hikers can be seen along Sullivan Ridge Fire Road.
The trail climbs gradually through Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park. There are no junctions to worry about along the way. Three-quarters of a mile from San Vicente Peak, the old lookout tower comes into view, and the trail enters San Vicente Mountain Park 3.5 miles from the start.
Looking back on the two paths
Like Mt. Disappointment in the San Gabriel Mountains, San Vicente Peak was used as a Nike missile defense site during the cold war to detect and intersect Russian missiles directed at Los Angeles. After a decade, Nike missiles were made obsolete by long-range technology, but the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has done an excellent job preserving this old site, adding informative panels to keep this history alive.
The tower atop San Vicente Peak
The summit remains wrapped in fencing, but in spite of its history, San Vicente Peak is a very peaceful spot. There are several benches and tables spread out around the old buildings, along with restrooms and a water fountain, making San Vicente Peak perfect for a picnic.
North of the old installations is an unpaved section of Mulholland Drive, which allows hikers to reach San Vicente Peak from other points of entry. Residents of the valley can hike to the peak from a trailhead at the southern end of Reseda Boulevard and those traveling the 405 can exit at Skirball Center Drive, head west on Mulholland Drive till the pavement ends, and hike one miles to San Vicente Peak via unpaved Mulholland Drive (the shortest route to the summit).
A park bench at the summit overlooking Mandeville Canyon
To get to the trailhead: From Sunset Boulevard, 2.3 miles west of the 405, turn north at the light onto Mandeville Canyon Road. After 1/3 mile turn left onto Westridge Road. Drive uphill on Westridge Road for 2.3 miles to road’s end. There is parking at the trailhead and along the road outside the park.
Use the map below to create your own directions:
View Westridge Trail to San Vicente Peak GPS in a larger map
Or view Los Angeles Hikes in a larger map
Nearby Trails
 |
Mulholland Drive to San Vicente Peak This 2-mile hike approaches San Vicente Peak from the east and offers views to the north and south en route to the old Nike Missile site. |
 |
This 4.2 mile hike ascends Canyonback Ridge from Kenter Ave. in Brentwood to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. |
 |
This 3 mile hike descends Canyonback Ridge from Mulholland Drive to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. |
 |
This 8.5-mile round trip hike follows a wide trail up the center of a sycamore-filled canyon. |
 |
A prominent lone-standing Live Oak along Sullivan Ridge makes a natural turnaround point and a 7.5 to 8.3 mile round trip hike. |
 |
This 2.6-mile loop offers a variety of scenery and decent exercise, despite its relative brevity. |
|
This steep 7-mile out-and-back rewards the effort with excellent views of the Pacific Ocean. |
|
This fairly well maintained section of the Backbone Trail crosses fields of grains and forests of Bays, climbing 1500 feet over 3.8 miles. |
 |
More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range. |
Similar Trails
|
San Gabriel Peak from Mt. Disappointment Fire Road This 6,161 foot peak is reachable via a 4-mile round-trip trail from Mt. Disappointment Fire Road. |
|
Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak This 8.2-mile hike combines Stunt High Trail and a section of the Backbone Trail to visit the 6th tallest summit in the Santa Monica Mountains. |
|
This 3.6-mile hike travels an easy-to-follow fire road, climbing 1000 feet to panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains and San Fernando Valley. |
 |
Needles Lookout in Giant Sequoia National Monument This 5-mile hike visits a fire tower with unbeatable views of the region. |
Add to trails I’ve hikedAdd to trails I want to hike
