Los Angeles is famous for its glamorous entertainment industry and stunning natural landscapes. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature, these top hikes in Los Angeles will take you on unforgettable adventures. From panoramic views of the Hollywood sign to captivating vistas of the Pacific Ocean, these trails offer diverse highlights for hikers of all levels.
Top 10 Hikes in Los Angeles You Must Know
1.The Hollywood Sign Walking Tour
Highlights:
Don’t miss out on the Hollywood sign hike in Hollywood Sign—it’s truly memorable! you can book a guide who will keep you engaged with his or her extensive knowledge of LA and various other topics and capture some stunning shots from behind the Hollywood sign for you and your friends. Here are the places you will see: Hollywood, Downtown, Burbank, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. Even stopped several times on the way up to take breaks, look at the scenery, and take pictures. It took most people about an hour and a half to reach the top by car and then about 40 minutes to walk back down.
Address: Los Angeles, CA 90068, United States
Duration: 2-3 hours
Length: 4 miles
2.Griffith Observatory Hike
Highlights:
Griffith Park offers breathtaking views of the Hollywood sign, the sprawling Los Angeles basin, the San Fernando Valley, the hazy hills to the west, and the skyline of downtown Los Angeles. The Charlie Turner trail to Mount Hollywood is an excellent choice for a rewarding hikes in los Angeles. Even with perfect weather, the hike was a bit challenging, but overall, the views are worth it.
Address: 2800 E. Observatory Rd., Los Angeles, CA
Duration: 2.5 hours
Length: 3 miles
3.Echo Mountain
Highlights:
Echo Mountain provides a peaceful retreat into the wilderness. In 1894, an industrialist built a mountain resort known as the “White City” here, tragically destroyed by a fire within a decade. Walking this trail evokes a sense of wandering through the pages of “Wuthering Heights.” You’ll go into the hills using secret stairs and forgotten paths. There’s beautiful early 1900s architecture and views of LA landmarks like the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory. Echo Park is one of LA’s older neighbourhoods, and the hills provide seclusion for occult organizations and self-sustaining religious compounds. The stairs, hills, and trails lead to a secret swing with a great view of the LA River and LA’s Eastside. Participants should be able to walk up and down hills and staircases, as the hike requires moderate difficulty.
Address: E Loma Alta Dr at Lake Ave, Altadena, CA
Duration: 2-3 hours
Length: 5 miles
4.Runyon Canyon
Highlights:
Located off Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills, dog lovers especially love this park since they can hike with their dogs without a leash. Runyon Canyon features a moderately challenging hiking route, particularly along the eastern canyon ridge. However, other sections of the trail are more beginner-friendly, making it suitable for all skill levels. The views were amazing The Cali vibe could been a little cleaner, but we liked it all. Not living in Cali is very different.
Address: 2000 N Fuller Ave Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Duration: 0.5-1 hour
Length: Approximately 1.5 miles
5.Corral Canyon Loop
Highlights:
Corral Canyon offers a scenic fusion of mountains and the ocean. During spring and summer, the landscape comes alive with lush trees, vibrant wildflowers, and refreshing ocean breezes, creating a serene and idyllic atmosphere.
Explore this 3.9-km circular trail near Malibu, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 15 min to complete the hike. This is a trendy area for hiking and running, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome but must be on a lead.
Address: 25623 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Length: Approximately 2.5 miles
6. Baldwin Hills
Highlights:
From the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, you can admire the towering skyscrapers of Century City, the grand temples of Westwood, and the mist-covered Santa Monica Mountains. The hike may be short, but the steep incline offers a rewarding workout—excellent views of LA atop steep stairs. Street parking is available across and on the same block. No entrance fee is needed. You can also park on top of the hill (paid parking). If you don’t want to take the stairs, you can take the more winding dirt trails either up or down. No dogs allowed. Public restrooms are available at the centre at the top.
Address: 6300 Hetzler Rd, Culver City, CA
Duration: 3-3.5 hours
Length: over 5 miles
7.Portuguese Bend Reserve
Highlights:
Immerse yourself in the Pacific Ocean’s beauty and enjoy unobstructed views of Catalina Island at Portuguese Bend Reserve. The abundance of vibrant flowers adds an extra touch of charm to this picturesque trail. According to user data, the best place to hike in Portuguese Bend Reserve is Palos Verdes Bluffs Trail, which has a 4.5-star rating from 2,169 reviews. This trail is 4.5 km long with an elevation gain of 172 m. There are 12 trails in Portuguese Bend Reserve. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 11,015 AllTrails community reviews.
Address: Crenshaw Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
Length: 5.15 miles
8.Franklin Canyon
Highlights:
Franklin Canyon Park is on 605 acres near the Los Angeles center, between the San Fernando Valley and Beverly Hills. Within the park boundaries are chaparral, grasslands, and oak woodlands, a three-acre lake, and over five miles of hiking trails.
Franklin Canyon is an oasis in the heart of Beverly Hills where only the rich and famous can afford to live. But the Canyon is a place where people from all walks of life can afford to go and get away from the hectic pace of Los Angeles’ hectic city life.
Franklin Canyon, which in its past was the scene of television shows such as Andy Griffith and Combat (as well as numerous television commercials), is now a state park open to the public. It is here where one can relax and take in the park’s natural beauty, where there are nature trails that are excellent for hiking and ponds where there are ducks. Tall coniferous trees also abound here to relax from under the hot summer days, and there is a no-smoking ban in place due to the many wildfires throughout much of California.
Address: 2600 Franklin Canyon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA
Duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
Length: 5.15 miles
9.Will Rogers State Historic Park
Highlights:
This is the spot if you are looking for nice, esay hikes in Los Angeles with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding homes. State historic park in the Santa Monica mountains; it includes hiking and equestrian trails, picnic grounds, guided tours of the Will Rogers historic ranch house, and weekend polo matches. Rodgers’ historic ranch home is beautifully furnished and has enough western art to rival any art museum. A hiking place good for dogs and family.
In the early 1930s, Will Rogers was the most popular and highest-paid actor in Hollywood. From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick roping act, he rose to worldwide fame as a columnist, philosopher, radio personality, and movie star. During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a ranch. Eventually, Will Rogers owned 186 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as Pacific Palisades. The ranch became the place where Will Rogers could relax with his family and friends, pursuing his favorite pastimes of riding and roping. At his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935, Will Rogers’ ranch consisted of a 31-room ranch house, a stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course, and hiking trails. When his widow, Betty, died in 1944, the ranch became a state park.
Address: 1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd, Los Angeles, CA
Length: 5.15 miles
Duration: more than 3 hours
10.Malibu Creek State Park
Highlights:
Malibu Creek State Park is over 8,000 acres of truly spectacular scenery. There are 15 miles of streamside trail through oak and sycamore woodlands and chaparral-covered slopes. After a good rain, the park’s namesake, Malibu Creek, comes to life. The park is a miracle when you consider how little has changed since the Chumash settled here 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.
While visiting, you may glimpse the abundant wildlife enjoying the habitat.
Used as a setting for many television shows and movies, this park offers every type of backdrop, from volcanic cliffs and babbling creeks to gorges and waterfalls. Malibu Creek State Park is a great park to experience waterfall hikes, with trails for all levels! There is also an area for rock climbing and several relaxing areas by the water for a cute picnic. Overall, Malibu Creek has the potential to be a great state park.
Address: 1925 Las Virgenes Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302-1909
Duration: over 3 hours
Length: 5-15 miles
FAQ
Runyon Canyon is a fun hike tucked right into the middle of Hollywood. It’s a great place to see celebrities, view the Hollywood Sign (in the distance), visit a hidden sculpture, and get a good hike in.
Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 34 min to complete.
The Hollywood Sign is a must-hike for tourists and there are many different trails for all levels of hikers. The shortest and best hike to access the Hollywood Sign is from the Wisdom Tree and Cahuenga Peak.
