Trails

This five-mile loop combines four trails to visit two canyons in the mountains between Laguna Beach and Irvine. Little Sycamore Canyon is framed by a big wall of pocketed sandstone that makes it an interesting destination. The high end of the hike along Serrano Ridge Trail offers broad inland views toward the Santa Ana Mountains. Hiking the loop over Little Sycamore Canyon Trail, Serrano Ridge Trail, Camarillo Canyon Road, and Stagecoach South Trail offers a great taste of the sagebrush terrain in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, a 7,000-acre section of the South Coast Wilderness Area. ...Read more.

In Griffith Park, Mount Lee has the Hollywood Sign. In the San Gabriel Mountains, Azusa Peak has the A. The big white uppercase A just below the summit is hard to miss from the city below. You can hike to the A and up to the top of Azusa Peak on a 2 2/3-mile out and back hike with 1,275 feet of elevation change. After the steep climb, you have the option to hike to a second peak, Glendora Peak, expanding the trek to 4 2/3 miles round trip with 1,800 feet of elevation change. ...Read more.

Placerita Canyon Natural Area is an interesting park on the west end of the San Gabriel Mountains near Newhall Pass. Gold was discovered in Placerita Canyon in 1842, and a century later the canyon rushed onto the silver screen as a backdrop for westerns. Today, the park is home to the Placerita Canyon Nature Center where you can learn about local plants and animals. ...Read more.

Located on the west end of the San Gabriel Mountains, Placerita Canyon Natural Area (also know as Placerita Canyon State Park) is an interesting park that has something for everyone. There are easy canyon trails and tougher backcountry tracks, along with a nature center and an Ecology Trail that offers an easy loop for those interested in local plants. ...Read more.

If you travel to Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, there's a good chance you like the outdoors. Those looking for a short hike that's quick to access from town should set out on Towne Trail. This 2 2/3-mile round trip hike ascends 200 feet on a gradual rolling course along the base of the mountains on the south side of Big Bear Lake. Discover periodic views north over the lake and the surrounding peaks as you enjoy this pleasant woodland hike between Snow Summit Mountain Resort and Forest Service Road 2N08, just above Knickerbacker Road. ...Read more.

Since so much of the coastline of Southern California has been developed upon, it comes as a relief to find a 230-acre estuary that has been set aside and preserved as a vital ecosystem for shorebirds. Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park offers a level 1.2-mile round trip hike through part of El Estuaro past several observation areas and benches. While this might not appear to be the most picturesque park on the Central Coast, it is one of the area's most important wetlands and you have a good chance of seeing great egrets and other interesting waterfowl. ...Read more.

Located on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains in Tarzana, Caballero Canyon Trail is a straightforward dirt single track that ascends 625 feet over 1.7 miles to an unpaved section of Mulholland Drive. Caballero Canyon Trail makes a satisfying 3.4-mile round trip hike (or ride if you take your mountain bike), and extensions are available to places like San Vicente Mountain. ...Read more.

Dragoon Gulch Trail is the primary trail in the city of Sonora in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain. The loop is made up of five short sections, which combine to form a 2.5-mile loop with 325 feet of elevation gain. If you prefer to avoid hiking on pavement, the loop can be reduced to 1.5 miles, without sacrificing the trail's most enjoyable areas. ...Read more.

Ever wonder what happened when settlers first set eyes on giant sequoia trees? Relive the excitement of that discovery and see the enormous trees for yourself at Calaveras Big Tree State Park. The 10-square mile park has two groves of sequoias, two campgrounds, picnic areas, and a number of hiking trails. You could easily spend a couple days exploring the park, but if you only have one afternoon, hike through the storied North Grove on a 1. ...Read more.

The Sierra Nevada Mountains hold many wonders. Some are famous worldwide, like the silken waterfalls in Yosemite National Park and the giant trees in Sequoia National Park. Others, like the Natural Bridges in Calaveras County, are only famous with locals. These no-less-amazing limestone tunnels make a charming destination for a short hike in the Sierra foothills (and an enthralling summer swimming hole). ...Read more.