Hikes in California

Gould Mesa Trail Camp is a hike-in campground in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains, quite close to cities like Altadena and La Cañada Flintridge. The most obvious route to Gould Mesa is Gabrielino Trail. For something that's about half as long and twice as steep, you can take Gould Mesa Road, which drops 525 feet over 1.15 miles going from Angeles Crest Highway down a ridge and into the canyon where Gould Mesa Trail Camp sits along a mountain stream, the Arroyo Seco. ...Read more.

Gabrielino Trail is one of the principle trails through Angeles National Forest. Starting from the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, you can take this trail a short distance up a canyon along the lovely Arroyo Seco and come to Gould Mesa Trail Camp, a hike-in campground just a couple miles from civilization that delivers a quick escape from cities in the valley below. ...Read more.

Perched on the slopes of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory is a true Los Angeles landmark. Roads lead up to the impressive structure and so do trails. East Observatory Trail offers an approach from the Vermont Canyon side. For a 2.1-mile round trip hike to Griffith Observatory from Western Canyon, venture up West Observatory Trail from Fern Dell Drive. ...Read more.

The short trail through Ferndell in Griffith Park is an out-of-the-ordinary walking path for Los Angeles, bordering a stream that nourishes tropical plants under the shade of sycamores. Even when other parts of Griffith Park dry out and turn brown, Ferndell stays lush and green, thanks to the recycled water it receives from Griffith Observatory. The relaxing quarter-mile long trail glides through what is called Ferndell Nature Museum (it doesn't look much like a museum), located along Fern Dell Drive in Griffith Park's Western Canyon, a block from the park entrance. ...Read more.

From downtown San Luis Obispo, it's easy to spot the large white “M” on the side of nearest mountain, Cerro San Luis. If you've looked up at the “M,” you may have wondered what it's like to look down from that big white letter, find out! The “M” is interesting to see up close and its perch provides a panoramic view over San Luis Obispo. ...Read more.

Hi Mountain Trail is located in the Santa Lucia Mountains east of Lopez Lake. The San Luis Obispo County-run trail is quite different from the area's coastal hikes and covers a variety of environments in a short distance. Start with a nice-and-easy stream-side trail through a dense woodland. Bust up a ridge and suddenly you're in a grassy landscape with panoramic views. ...Read more.

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (previously called East West Ranch) is a 434-acre park right in the middle of Cambria, a coastal town at the north end of San Luis Obispo County. Bordered by neighborhoods to the north and south, the preserve provides public access to a mile of beautiful coastline spared from development except for trails with boardwalks, bridges, and whimsical benches made out of driftwood. ...Read more.

Reseda Boulevard gives hikers in the San Fernando Valley easy access to Topanga State Park and other areas of the Santa Monica Mountains. From the top of Reseda Boulevard, it is just 0.2 miles up to an unpaved stretch of Mulholland Drive (called Dirt Mulholland) that runs east and west across the range, connecting to lots of other trails, including nearby Temescal Ridge Trail. ...Read more.

Summit to Summit Motorway is a 3.2-mile road along a ridgeline between the high points of Old Topanga Canyon Road and Topanga Canyon Boulevard (hence the name Summit to Summit). Less than half a mile of the road is paved and the rest is packed dirt perfect for hiking, biking, or jogging. At the northeast end, Summit to Summit Motorway finishes across from Top of Topanga Overlook, a park with views across the San Fernando Valley. ...Read more.

It is pretty unusual to hike to a peak from a trailhead at a higher elevation. In the case of Mesa Peak, the lofty trailhead along Corral Canyon Road treats hikers to summit-worthy views right from the get-go. While the elevation profile is atypical, the hike along Mesa Peak Motorway to Mesa Peak in Malibu is quite enjoyable. Ocean overlooks appear all along the wide dirt road, which also passes some very impressive sandstone formations. ...Read more.