Los Angeles Trails

Trails in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is America's second biggest city and while Los Angeles County has a population of over 10 million people, it also has a high number of hiking trails. In fact, hikespeak.com has a list of over 150 hike in Los Angeles County! Whether your are looking for something thrilling or relaxing, a breathtaking ocean view or a lofty summit, Los Angeles has a trail for you.

Finding the Right Trail

With so many trails to choose from, how will you pick your next hike? Out-of-towners and locals may enjoy hiking to the Hollywood Sign. There are a few ways to get to the sign, so check out Hollywoodsignhikes.com for more information.

Looking for something else? Scroll through the categories below to see lists and slideshows of the top rated* trails fitting these criteria:

Adventure Hikes

1. Fish Canyon Narrows in the Sierra Pelona Mountains
2. Zuma Canyon Narrows - Zuma Ridge Loop in the Santa Monica Mountains
3. Bridge to Nowhere in the San Gabriel Mountains
4. The gorge between Rock Pool and Century Lake in Malibu Creek State Park
5. Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch from Will Rogers State Historic Park

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Fish Canyon Narrows
This 10.5-mile hike explores an enchanting narrow canyon on the east side of the Angeles National Forest in the Sierra Pelona Mountains north of Santa Clarita.Zuma Canyon Narrows
This challenging 8-mile loop includes an off-trail trek through the narrows above Zuma Canyon Trail before returning via Zuma Ridge Trail where ocean views await.Bridge to Nowhere
This adventurous 10-mile hike requires several river crossings to reach an out-of-place bridge with a unique history.Malibu Creek Gorge
This off-trail adventure explores the C-shaped gorge between Rock Pool and Century Lake in Malibu Creek State Park.Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch
This 4 to 5-mile adventure visits the ruins of an abandoned commune built by Nazi sympathizers in an overgrown canyon east of the Will Rogers State Historic Park.

Canyon Hikes

1. Santa Anita Canyon Loop in the San Gabriel Mountains
2. Icehouse Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains
3. Santa Ynez Canyon Trail to Eagle Rock in Topanga State Park
4. Fish Canyon Narrows in the Sierra Pelona Mountains
5. Red Rock Canyon Park in the Santa Monica Mountains

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Santa Anita Canyon Loop
This 9.5-mile loop visits two peaceful creeks in sylvan canyons, a 60-foot waterfall, and plenty of beautiful wilderness.Icehouse Canyon
This 7.2-mile hike travels through a picturesque canyon to a saddle with panoramic views and extended hiking opportunities.Santa Ynez Canyon Trail to Eagle Rock
This 7.4-mile hike crosses a shaded canyon, climbing a ridge to summit a sandstone prominence in Topanga State Park.Fish Canyon Narrows
This 10.5-mile hike explores an enchanting narrow canyon on the east side of the Angeles National Forest in the Sierra Pelona Mountains north of Santa Clarita.Red Rock Canyon Park
This park is filled with interesting sandstone formations and trails to a scenic overlook (2.5 miles) and nearby Calabasas Peak (5.2 miles).

Cave Hikes

1. Vanalden Cave in the Santa Monica Mountains
2. Bronson Cave in Griffith Park
3. Dawn Mine in the San Gabriel Mountains
4. The Grotto in the Santa Monica Mountains
5. Cave of Munits in the Simi Hills

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Vanalden Cave
This 0.6-mile hike explores a unique sandstone cave that you can stand inside and above, and the hike can be extended to 1.55 miles by visiting a nearby vista point with a panoramic perspective of the Santa Monica Mountains.Bronson Cave
Bronson Cave in Griffith Park" alt="This short easy hike visits a man-made cave recognizable as the Batcave from the Batman TV series and hundreds of other locations on TV and film.Dawn Mine
This 6-mile hike venture up lust Millard Canyon above Millard Falls to an old gold mine.The Grotto
This 3.5-mile hike visits a creek flowing through a talus cave in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.Cave of Munits
This 2.1-mile loop crosses through an impressive cave to climb to a rocky peak with views over the San Fernando Valley.

Long Hikes

1. La Jolla Canyon Loop in Point Mugu State Park
2. Santa Anita Canyon Loop in the San Gabriel Mountains
3. Mount Baldy Loop in the San Gabriel Mountains
4. Hermit Gulch - Trans-Catalina Trail Loop on Santa Catalina Island
5. Nicholas Flat via Malibu Springs Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains

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La Jolla Canyon Loop
This 11.5-mile loop offers incredible ocean views, exploring Point Mugu State Park on the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains.Santa Anita Canyon Loop
This 9.5-mile loop visits a two peaceful creeks in sylvan canyons, a 60-foot waterfall, and plenty of beautiful wilderness.Mount Baldy Loop
This 11.3-mile loop combines the hair-raising Devil’s Backbone with Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail to reach the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountains.Hermit Gulch - Trans-Catalina Trail Loop
This 11.7-mile loop circles the ridges around Avalon, offering amazing views of the interiors of Catalina Island and the ocean beyond.Nicholas Flat via Malibu Springs Trail
This scenic 7-mile lollipop loop hike ascends an overgrown track to meadows and a pond on Nicholas Flat in Leo Carrillo State Park.

Loop Hikes

For extended loops, check out the some of the Long Hikes above. They are all fantastic loops too!

1. Sandstone Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains
2. Scenic and Overlook Trails Loop in Point Mugu State Park
3. Mount Chapel, Mount Bell, and Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park
4. Corral Canyon Loop in the Santa Monica Mountains
5. Towsley View Loop Trail in Ed Davis Park

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Sandstone Peak
This 6.25-mile loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains with sweeping 360-degree views.Scenic and Overlook Trails Loop
This 2.7 to 3.5-mile loop takes in tremendous ocean views above Big Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park.Mount Chapel, Mount Bell, and Mount Hollywood
This undulating 5.7-mile loop tops three prominent summits on a panoramic tour of Griffith Park.Corral Canyon Loop
This 2.5-mile loop offers ocean and canyon views from a unspoiled section of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu.Towsley View Loop Trail
This 5.4-mile loop explores two canyons and scenic ridges in the Santa Susana Mountains, passing the narrows of Towsley Gorge in Towsley Canyon.

Mountain Hikes

1. Mount Baldy Loop in the San Gabriel Mountains
2. Rocky Peak in Rocky Peak Park
3. Mesa Peak in Malibu Creek State Park
4. Calabasas Peak via Cold Creek Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains
5. Mount Chapel, Mount Bell, and Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park

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Mount Baldy Loop
This 11.3-mile loop combines the hair-raising Devil’s Backbone with Baldy Bowl – Ski Hut Trail to reach the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountains.Rocky Peak
This 4.75-mile hike climbs to a summit in the Santa Susana Mountains in Rocky Peak Park with views over Chatsworth and Simi Valley.Mesa Peak
This 6.5-mile hike ascends the Backbone Trail from beautiful Malibu Creek State Park to a subtle summit with substantial ocean views.Calabasas Peak via Cold Creek Trail
This 4.5-mile hike starts up a scenic single track formerly know as the Secret Trail to reach the summit.Mount Chapel, Mount Bell, and Mount Hollywood
This undulating 5.7-mile loop tops three prominent summits on a panoramic tour of Griffith Park.

Movie Hikes

1. The M*A*S*H Site in Malibu Creek State Park
2. Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains
3. Pacific Crest Trail and Foot Trail Loop in Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park
4. Bronson Cave in Griffith Park
5. Bantam Trail and Castair Trail in Trebek Open Space

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The M*A*S*H Site
This 4.75-hike visits the site where the exteriors of the film and television show MASH were filmed, an area that is preserved by Malibu Creek State Park.Paramount Ranch
This 0.25 to 4-mile hike explores a segment of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area that includes Western Town, an outdoor set cast as frontier towns in TV and film since the 1950s.Vasquez Rocks
This 3.4 to5.9-mile loop offers a dose of desert hiking close to LA, incorporating a piece of the Pacific Crest Trail to explore striking sandstone formations that appeared in Star Trek, Blazing Saddles, The Flintstones, and other shows and movies.Bronson Cave
This short easy hike visits a man-made cave recognizable as the Batcave from the Batman TV series and hundreds of other locations on TV and film.Trebek Open Space
This 1 to 2.5-mile hike explores a park next to Runyon Canyon that is named after Alex Trebek, who donated the land for the open space.

Ocean View Hikes

1. La Jolla Canyon Loop in Point Mugu State Park
2. Scenic and Overlook Trails Loop in Point Mugu State Park
3. Parker Mesa Overlook via East Topanga Fire Road in Topanga State Park
4. Corral Canyon Loop in the Santa Monica Mountains
5. Hermit Gulch - Trans-Catalina Trail Loop on Santa Catalina Island

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La Jolla Canyon Loop
This 11.5-mile loop offers incredible ocean views, exploring Point Mugu State Park on the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains.Scenic and Overlook Trails Loop
This 2.7 to 3.5-mile loop takes in tremendous ocean views above Big Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park.Parker Mesa Overlook via East Topanga Fire Road
This 5.7 to 7.8-mile hike takes in Pacific Ocean views en route to an overlook perched above Santa Monica Bay.Corral Canyon Loop
This 2.5-mile loop offers ocean and canyon views from a unspoiled section of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu.Nicholas Flat via Malibu Springs Trail
This scenic 7-mile lollipop loop hike ascends an overgrown track to meadows and a pond on Nicholas Flat in Leo Carrillo State Park.

Ridge Hikes

1. Devil's Backbone Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains
2. Parker Mesa Overlook via East Topanga Fire Road in Topanga State Park
3. Mandeville Canyon Loop in the Santa Monica Mountains
4. Winston Ridge and Winston Peak in the San Gabriel Mountains
5. Beaudry Motorway Loop to Tongva Peak in the Verdugo Mountains

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Devil's Backbone Trail
This ridge-top trail to the summit of Mount Baldy is probably LA's greatest ridge hike, with incredible views over the San Gabriel Mountains and the Mojave Desert.Parker Mesa Overlook via East Topanga Fire Road
This 5.7 to 7.8-mile hike takes in Pacific Ocean views en route to an overlook perched above Santa Monica Bay.Mandeville Canyon Loop
This 5-mile loop incorporates trails up the ridges on both sides of Brentwood's Mandeville Canyon to visit the historic towers on San Vicente Mountain.Winston Ridge and Winston Peak
This 4.85-mile partial loop bags a summit and a scenic ridge in the high San Gabriel Mountains.Beaudry Motorway Loop to Tongva Peak
This 6.15-mile loop climbs to the summit of Tongva Peak on the east end of the Verdugo Mountains.

Ruins Hikes

1. Echo Mountain via Sam Merrill Trail in San Gabriel Mountains
2. Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch from Will Rogers State Historic Park
3. Old Zoo Picnic Area in Griffith Park
4. Solstice Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains
5. Dawn Mine in the San Gabriel Mountains

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Echo Mountain via Sam Merril Trail
This 5.8-mile hike visits a historic railway and ruins from a century old resort overlooking Pasadena.Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch
This 4 to 5-mile adventure visits the ruins of an abandoned commune built by Nazi sympathizers in an overgrown canyon east of the Will Rogers State Historic Park.Old Zoo Picnic Area
This short 0.5-mile hike explores the abandoned exhibits and animal cages in the ruins of the old LA Zoo in Griffith Park.Solstice Canyon
This level 2.6-mile hike visits the ruins of a burned down ranch built alongside a creek and a small waterfall.Dawn Mine
This 6-mile hike venture up lust Millard Canyon above Millard Falls to an old gold mine.

Short Hikes

1. Vanalden Cave in the Santa Monica Mountains
2. Point Dume in Malibu
3. Amir's Garden in Griffith Park
4. Skull Rock in Topanga State Park
5. Quarry Loop on the Palos Verdes Peninsula

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Vanalden Cave
This 0.6-mile hike explores a unique sandstone cave that you can stand inside and above, and the hike can be extended to 1.55 miles by visiting a nearby vista point with a panoramic perspective of the Santa Monica Mountains.Point Dume
This 1-mile hike explores overlooks on a scenic headland jutting into the Pacific at the northeast end of Santa Monica Bay in Malibu.Amir's Garden
This 1-mile hike reaches a relaxing garden on the east side of Griffith Park that is a pleasant retreat for hikers.Skull Rock
This 1.5-mile hike descends Temescal Ridge to a head-shaped formation with great views over Santa Monica Bay.Quarry Loop
This 1.25-mile loop in Forrestal Nature Reserve delivers lots of ocean views as it circles an old bowl-shaped quarry.

Swimming Hole Hikes

1. Bridge to Nowhere in the San Gabriel Mountains
2. Rock Pook in Malibu Creek State Park
3. Hermit Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains
4. Icehouse Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains
5. The Grotto in the Santa Monica Mountains

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Bridge to Nowhere
This adventurous 10-mile hike requires several river crossings to reach an out-of-place bridge with a unique history.Rock Pool
This easy hike enters Malibu Creek State Park on South Grassland Trail, then forms a loop around Crags Road to visit Rock Pool - a special Malibu swimming hole.Hermit Falls
This 2.6-mile hike heads down Santa Anita Canyon's babbling creek to a 30-foot waterfall.Icehouse Canyon
This 7.2-mile hike travels through a picturesque canyon to a saddle with panoramic views and extended hiking opportunities.The Grotto
This 3.5-mile hike visits a creek flowing through a talus cave in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Urban Hikes

1. Bantam Trail and Castair Trail in Trebek Open Space
2. Hastain Trail in Franklin Canyon Park
3. Inspiration Point in Will Rogers State Historic Park
4. Mandeville Canyon Loop in the Santa Monica Mountains
5. Azusa Peak and Glendora Peak via Garcia Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains

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Trebek Open Space
This 1 to 2.5-mile hike incorporated Bantam Trail and Castair Trail in a park adjacent to Runyon Canyon.Hastain Trail
This pair of short loops (1.8 or 2.2 miles) explore a ridge in the Santa Monica Mountains above Beverly Hills.Inspiration Point
This easy 2.25-mile loop in Will Rogers State Historic Park leads to an overlook with views from Santa Monica Bay to downtown LA.Mandeville Canyon Loop
This 5-mile loop incorporates trails up the ridges on both sides of Brentwood's Mandeville Canyon to visit the historic towers on San Vicente Mountain.Azusa Peak and Glendora Peak via Garcia Trail
Azusa Peak and Glendora Peak via Garcia Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains" alt="This 2 2/3-mile or 4 2/3-mile hike ascends Garcia Trail to "the A" and one or two picturesque summits along Glendora Ridge Motorway.

Waterfall Hikes

1. Sturtevant Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains
2. Fish Canyon Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains
3. Hermit Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains
4. Cooper Canyon Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains
5. Santa Ynez Falls in the Santa Monica Mountains

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Sturtevant Falls
This 3.25-mile hike visits a 60-foot waterfall in a lush cottage-lined area of Santa Anita Canyon.Fish Canyon Falls
This 4.8-mile round trip hike leaves from an active rock quarry and progresses up a beautiful canyon to a mesmerizing multi-tiered waterfall.Hermit Falls
This 2.6-mile hike heads down Santa Anita Canyon's babbling creek to a 30-foot waterfall.Cooper Canyon Falls
This 3-mile hike leaves from Buckhorn Campground and visits a short waterfall in an enchanting glen of tall pines.Santa Ynez Falls
This 2.5-mile hike follows a shaded creek to a gorge containing a short seasonal waterfall.

Find More Trails

Hike Local: If you are an Angelino, and just want to see what trails are close to where you live, you can also check out hikespeak.com's Hike Finder Map.