Best Hikes in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is blessed with something like 300 sunny days a year and an equally impressive number of worthwhile hiking trails. Combine nice weather and a nice trail and you'll get a pretty nice day. Hikespeak.com offers trail reports for over 175 hikes in Los Angeles. With so many trails to choose from, you may be asking the question: What are the best hikes in Los Angeles? ... Read more.
Escondido Falls in the Santa Monica Mountains
When Escondido Falls is flowing strong, it is flat out one of the finest waterfalls around Los Angeles. The waterfall has an easy-to-reach lower tier that is 50 feet tall and a hard-to-reach upper tier that's 150 feet tall and stunning in optimum conditions. The 3.5 mile round trip hike to Lower Escondido Falls begins just off Pacific Coast Highway and begins by traveling uphill for 0. ...Read more.
Distance: 3.8 miles · Elevation change: 400 feet
By: Published: April 15, 2012 Last updated: April 18, 2026
Point Dume Natural Preserve in Malibu
If you have driven through Malibu on PCH, then you have seen Point Dume, a dome-shaped promontory jutting into the Pacific at the northwest end of Santa Monica Bay. The point is surrounded by picturesque white sand beaches and sparking blue water. The headland is protected by Point Dume Natural Preserve, a California State Park. A mile of trails on Point Dume's bluffs lead to two overlooks, one at the top of Point Dume. ...Read more.
Distance: 1 mile · Elevation change: 100 feet
By: Published: March 16, 2012 Last updated: December 5, 2025
Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains
Mount Baldy, Old Baldy, or more formally, Mount San Antonio — whatever you call this mountain, the trek to the summit is considered a right of passage for SoCal hikers. Baldy towers over the San Gabriel Mountains and is the highest point in the range. The far-reaching panoramic views found at the exposed 10,064-foot summit attract plenty of hikers. ...Read more.
Distance: 11.3 miles · Elevation change: 3900 feet
By: Published: March 6, 2012 Last updated: December 5, 2025
Mount Baldy via Devil’s Backbone Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains
Devil's Backbone Trail offers spectacular views from an impressive ridge-top trail. The spine-tingling hike along a tantalizing spine starts from Baldy Notch and ends at Mount Baldy, the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountain. Devil's Backbone Trail is 3.3-miles long with 2,350 feet of elevation gain, and can be reached several ways: From the summit of Mount Baldy after hiking 4. ...Read more.
Distance: 6.6 miles · Elevation change: 2350 feet
By: Published: March 5, 2012 Last updated: December 5, 2025
Baldy Notch in the San Gabriel Mountains
A trip to Mount Baldy should include a hike along the Devil's Backbone, a daunting ridge east of the summit with tantalizing views. One way to reach Devil's Backbone Trail is to first hike up to the summit of Mount Baldy on Baldy Bowl Trail and then hike down the Devil's Backbone (as you would do on the 11.3-mile Mount Baldy Loop). To start from the bottom of Devil's Backbone Trail, you must make your way to Baldy Notch, occupied by the Mount Baldy Ski Area. ...Read more.
Distance: 3.5 miles · Elevation change: 1500 feet
By: Published: March 4, 2012 Last updated: December 5, 2025