A short hike to a fascinating destination overlooking the Carrizo Badlands begins on the far east side of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This 1.25-mile round trip hike climbs 250 feet to a sandstone formation with wind-eroded pockets that insist on being explored. The hike begins with a quick ascent up the east side of Split Mountain Wash. Climb a series of rocky steps. With each gain,... Read more.

Sycamore Crest Trail is a wide dirt road on the north slope of Ontario Hill, which runs east to west between Shell Beach and Avila Beach. Beginning from Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in Avila Valley, the trail climbs through a lush oak grove to reach a junction with Ontario Ridge Trail at a south-facing saddle with lofty ocean views. Sycamore Crest Trail serves as a 1.75-mile out and back... Read more.

Two parallel but varied trails explore the coast between Shell Beach and Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County. Shell Beach Bluff Trail is an easy, wheelchair-friendly paved trail overlooking a picturesque cove. Ontario Ridge Trail is a rugged, sometimes-steep track crossing a 700-foot hill above the bluff. Put these two together for a 2.8-mile loop with 675 feet of elevation change and... Read more.

This half-mile round trip hike visits a small rock bridge at the end of a dramatic headland east of Avila Beach. The hike down Cave Landing to the natural tunnel sometimes called Pirate's Cave provides outstanding coastal views over the beach cities of San Luis Obispo County. This is a short, easy, and enjoyable trek with 100 feet of elevation change - a perfect excursion for anyone staying... Read more.

Two half-mile long fire roads cross the 62-acre Trebek Open Space, providing short hikes on the south face of the Hollywood Hills. Bantam Trail begins from Nichols Canyon Road and climbs to a ridge running down the east side of the park. Castair Trail begins from a trailhead lower down the ridge and drops into Nichols Canyon, coming to a dead-end above the road. A rugged single track... Read more.

Mandeville Canyon is a north-south running trench in Brentwood area of the Santa Monica Mountains. Above Mandeville Canyon is San Vicente Mountain, a 1,960-foot summit that was used at the start of the cold war as a defense site to protect Los Angeles from Soviet attacks. Mandeville Canyon is enclosed by two long finger-like ridges, Westridge and Canyonback Ridge. Trails run down each... Read more.

Just inland from that similarly named point along the California coast, Mugu Peak towers over the Pacific Ocean from an elevation of 1,266 feet. The hike from the bottom of nearby La Jolla Canyon to the top of Mugu Peak is 6.5 miles round trip with 1,225 feet of elevation gain. This is a strenuous trek, rewarded by ridiculous scenery. There is also a longer way to reach the peak, the... Read more.

La Jolla Canyon Falls is a short seasonal waterfall located 3/4 of a mile up La Jolla Canyon Trail in Point Mugu State Park. The twenty-foot cascade offers one of the easiest hikes in the park, with just 250 feet of elevation between the trailhead and the falls. La Jolla Canyon Trail continues above the waterfall, ascending a rocky V-shaped canyon. If you choose to hike farther, the... Read more.

Point Mugu State Park protects 15,000 acres of rustic wilderness on the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains between Oxnard and Malibu. More than 70 miles of trails explore this sprawling park, leaving hikers with options. An excellent way to experience Point Mugu State Park is to set out on a daunting and rewarding 11.75-mile loop. Start at the mouth of La Jolla Canyon just across... Read more.

Located in Agoura Hills, California near Malibu Creek State Park, Paramount Ranch served as a Hollywood filming location and outdoor studio for Paramount Pictures. This cinematic history of the ranch is now preserved by the National Park Service as part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The park's main attraction and most interesting facet is Western Town, a couple... Read more.