5 of The Best Hiking Trails for You in Los Angeles
After finishing college, still living in Louisiana, I wrote down the pros of possibly moving to L.A., and one thing on that list was free outdoor attractions — like public property with naturally raised areas of land. Now, if you’re from Cali, you may be thinking, “what? you were happy about hills?!” And the answer is yes. Yes, I was. And, yes, I am.
The Los Angeles area boasts easily over a hundred hiking trails! That’s a whole lot to sort through if you aren’t really that into the great outdoors, or if you’ll only be in L.A. for a short stay. So, I’ve narrowed it down for ya!
Here are five hiking trails worth checking out while in Los Angeles:
Most Popular — Tourist Destination
1. Runyon Canyon Loop
2000 North Fuller Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Distance: 2.7 miles
Spotting celebrities at Runyon is “probably the worst kept secret in LA.” Go ahead and come here with your daytime beat and cutesy little workout fit, that you don’t workout in; you won’t be alone. Then flick it up! Don’t be shy. This hotspot has currently been hashtagged on Instagram 341,000 times! It’s not unusual to come here to be cute and be seen, while also managing to get in a mild exercise.
The address listed here will navigate you to the entrance where the bicycle parking and a concession stand are located. If you’re driving a motor vehicle, as you get close, you’ll want to start looking for a street parking spot you can slide into. It’s okay if you’re a couple of blocks away, your hike will start early. Yaay!
2. Mulholland Trail at Griffith Park
3200 Canyon Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
Distance: 2.7 miles
Another super popular tourist destination is the infamous Hollywood Sign, and this trail will put you right in front of it for the perfect photo-op!
The address included here is my preferred parking area when I’m driving because I always find a spot and the directions aren’t confusing. It’s a bit of a walk, but you came out here to go hiking anyway, right?! You’ll get on the trail and navigate yourself towards the Hollywood Sign using the easy-to-follow directional signs posted along the way.
Most Popular Among Locals
3. Lake Hollywood Reservoir Walking Trail
6398 Weidlake Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
Distance: 3.5 miles
Tucked further away into the hills, the immediate area around this destination is less residential. It’s not completely ducked off, nothing in Los Angeles really is, but there’s definitely less traffic at this one. As opposed to Runyon, where the street leading up to the entrance is lined with huge apartment buildings.
The hike can begin from a few places. The address I chose to include on this list is an alternate starting point for Lake Hollywood Reservoir Walking Trail. It is 1.25 miles from here to the North Gate along the west side of the reservoir.
4. Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
6050 Jefferson Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
Distance: 2.3 miles
No matter when riding along Jefferson Boulevard and passing the Culver City Stairs, you see little dots making their way to the top. This Instagram picture of mine, from 2016 that I embedded below, does no justice to the popularity of this intense outdoor workout spot. Neither do its hashtags; #culvercitystairs and #baldwinhillsscenicoverlook barely have 50-thousand posts combined (versus the nearly three-hundred-fifty-thousand #runyoncanyon boasts). So, this may not be the location that’ll make your pic go viral.
If you park at the bottom of the hill, down along the street, you can hit the stairs first before walking the park’s trail. Which is what you may want to do, if you plan on doing the stairs at all. You saw me say intense, eh?! I wouldn’t lie to ya. In addition to these killer stairs, there’s also a paved walkway along the street that goes up the hill, and there are dirt paths throughout. I don’t too often see people coming here to be cute; they’re getting it in over here, honey!
Low Key
5. Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
4100 South La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90056
Distance: 7 miles
Okay, if you don’t need views of a lake, the city skyline, the Hollywood Sign, or any of that jazz, and you simply want a peaceful trail where you can go a little longer, this park is for you.
No need for me to give you some alternate address, because parking isn’t difficult here like it often is at the aforementioned destinations. There are plenty of areas to park and hop onto the trails, which wind through trees and lawns, and around community centers and basketball courts.
One of these hikes has got to be for you!
From easy to difficult terrain, from a low key move to a poppin’ scene, from short to long, there is a hiking trail to fit your fitness level and taste. Tell me which one seems like it’ll be the best for you.
