Los Angeles Hikes

Description:

Point Mugu State Park is a secluded spot away from it all. There are 70 miles of hiking trails and camping areas for those who would like to stay for a while. Reservations are necessary for the camping facilities. Also in the park is a tall-grass prairie preserve as well as sycamore trees and beautiful canyons. Whether you are just making a picnic out of it or want to spend a weekend camping, Point Mugu is a beautiful place in which to do it.

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This 1.5-mile beach, located 30 miles north of Santa Monica, was named after Leo Carrillo, a radio and TV performer. It allows leashed dogs everywhere except between towers 2 and 3. If you walk up under the freeway you will find lots of nice trails, but be careful of snakes. There's a snack bar across the street at the base of the mountain. The beach also features caves and the potential to observe marine animals as they pass by.

Description:

Point Dume State Beach preserves a wide strip of white-sand beaches backed by tall bluffs and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area west of Los Angeles. The park encompasses headlands, cliffs, secluded coves and tidepools. The beach offers views of the coast, including the sight of migrating California gray whales between November and May. Amenities include hiking trails, restrooms and lifeguard stations.

Recreation opportunities abound at this State Beach. Visitors can enjoy hiking, sun bathing, viewing scenery, wildlife watching and surfing. Swimming is permitted at Point Dume, but bathers should be aware of strong currents that sometimes exist.

This beach is located in Los Angeles County,18 miles west of Santa Monica. The entrance is on Westward Road.

Description:

Zuma! It is derived from the Chumash word for "abundance." Certainly, Zuma and neighboring Trancas Canyons satisfy this description. The perennial streams running through these canyons give rise to an abundance of animal and plant life. These same natural resources have influenced and given rise to a long and rich cultural history.

While venturing through the canyons, look and listen for the signs of life around you. Walk carefully along the trails and discover tracks of deer, rabbit and coyote. Marvel at the delicate homes of funnel web spiders hiding in the earth's tiny crevices. Listen for the shy wrentit, the "voice of the chaparral." Though rarely seen, its call sounds like a ping-pong ball echoing throughout the canyon.

For more than 10,000 years, Zuma and Trancas Canyons have been home to animal, plant and human communities. Chumash ancestors walked here, gathering food and materials for tools and shelter. During the Spanish period (1769-1848), a Mexican Land Grant united the canyons for the first time under one name‹Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit. The 13,330-acre grant included coastal areas from Santa Monica to Point Mugu.

Frederick and May Rindge bought the property in 1892 and renamed it Rancho Malibu. They adopted a policy of no through roads and no right-of- way granted to trespassers. May Rindge continued this policy after her husband's death. As the legendary "Queen of Malibu," she depleted her fortune while trying to maintain the integrity of her property. Still, after twenty years, the U.S. Supreme Court forced her to allow the Pacific Coast Highway through her ranch.

This scenic highway made the area more accessible to a greater population, forever changing California's coast. However, Zuma and Trancas Canyons remained minimally developed. Throughout their history, these canyons have had many names, many residents, and many owners. Preserved by the National Park Service, their zuma or their abundance of resources and beauty remain for you to experience. To get there take the Pacific Coast Highway and turn north on Busch Drive right near the entrance to Zuma Beach parking areas. Head north on Busch Drive about 1.5 miles and park in the dirt lot at the Zuma Ridge Trailhead Kiosk.

Description:

Solstice Canyon Trail is an easy 2.1-mile stroll that affords views of Keller House, which is believed to be the oldest existing stone building in Malibu. On your way to Tropical Terrace, see if you can spy the low concrete retaining walls of a former fish pond in a grassy area overlooking the creek. Many other clues to the past remain even though the Roberts' Family home, once located at Tropical Terrace, burned in 1982. Look for house foundations and a concrete bomb shelter. Walk across the creek into a hidden sanctuary and garden. It's hard to imagine now, but at one time giraffes, camels, buffalo, African deer and exotic birds roamed the canyon on the Roberts' Ranch.

Solstice Canyon Trail, southwest of Tropical Terrace, is a hike through chaparral and coastal sage scrub to the west ridge of Solstice Canyon. From here you can see some of the best ocean views in the Santa Monica Mountains. Look for "Deer Valley," an area near an oak woodland and meadow known for its abundance of wildlife.

From Malibu take the Pacific Coast Highway west to Solstice Canyon. Park in second lot for trail access.

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This enchanting oak woodland has long been a source of dreams, visions and memories. Inhabited for thousands of years by the Chumash people, this area became part of Rancho Las Virgenes after Spanish colonization. The original coast live oak, used as the marker in the 1881 land grant survey, still stands just west of the swimming pool. The upside-down letter "T" is still evident in the bark. The "vision of enchantment" continues at this site today with hiking, concerts, picnics, and art exhibits. Explore this peaceful refuge and create some memories of your own. Dreams - At the turn of the century, Harry Miller purchased the ranch as a weekend retreat from his residence and automobile factory in Los Angeles. His patented master carburetor and "Miller Specials," featured at Indianapolis 500 car races, brought him fame. In 1926, Harry built many structures including the stone ranch house, the "look out tower" and the aviary. The Depression and his attempt at aircraft-engine development resulted in financial ruin, the loss of the ranch and an end to his dreams. Visions - In the mid 1930s, Warren Shobert and Arthur Edeson purchased the ranch, transforming the place into "Shoson"‹a fairyland of charm and a paradise for children and adults. Later, a dam was constructed on Triunfo Creek, creating a small lake. The resort was renamed "Lake Enchanto." Competition from other, larger amusement parks and resorts led to the decline of "Lake Enchanto." It fell into disrepair and closed around 1960. Memories - Actor Peter Strauss was deeply moved by the area's natural beauty while filming the mini-series "Rich Man, Poor Man" at Malibou Lake in 1976. He purchased the property and restored the site to its original splendor, living here until 1983. Due to his sensitivity and concern for the natural environment, Strauss sold the ranch to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The National Park Service purchased the ranch in 1987 as part of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, dedicated to the preservation of our natural and cultural history. What to look for today? The Peter Strauss Trail affords a 0.6-mile easy, round trip hike. This pleasant trail is suited for the novice hiker. It traverses chaparral and oak riparian habitats. Late winter and spring are the best times to view native plants in bloom. Flora includes yellow star thistle, golden yarrow, foothill penstemmon, horehound, coffeeberry, buckbrush, peony , poison oak, and many others. The Terrazzo Dance Floor / Patio was made in 1939 of imported Italian terrazzo tile with a pointed star to commemorate Hollywood. The patio was a popular place for Big Band concerts and dancing in the 1940s. In the 1950s, country singers such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and the Mandrell Sisters performed here for a local television station. The largest swimming pool on the west coast was built here in 1940. It had a capacity for 650,000 gallons of water and could accommodate up to 3,000 people. Built during the same era was Lake Enchanto Dam. This dam created the centerpiece of Lake Enchanto making it popular for fishing, rowing and swimming. The dam was breached in the late 1960s by severe flooding. Part of the dam structure still exists in the creek bed near the picnic area.

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American Cinema plays a starring role in the cultural life of the United States and the world. Since before the advent of "talking pictures," Paramount Ranch has served as a setting for hundreds of cinematic productions.

Lights! Camera! Action!...In 1927, Paramount Pictures purchased 2,400 acres of the old Rancho Las Virgenes for use as a "movie ranch." For 25 years, a veritable who's who of Hollywood practiced their craft at Paramount Ranch including director Cecil B. Demille and actors Bob Hope, Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert. The diverse landscape was the real star of the show. It offered film makers the freedom to create distant locales such as colonial Massachusetts in The Maid of Salem, ancient China in The Adventures of Marco Polo, a South Seas island in Ebb Tide (1937) and numerous western locations including San Francisco in Wells Fargo. The art of illusion was mastered on the landscape.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...The golden era of movie making at Paramount Ranch came to an end when changes to the studio system prompted Paramount Pictures to sell the ranch. Paramount Ranch found renewed life as a film location when William Hertz bought the southeast portion in 1953. An ardent fan of movie westerns, he built a permanent western town utilizing Paramount Pictures' old prop storage sheds. As a result, television companies began producing westerns at the ranch such as The Cisco Kid and Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. William Hertz sold the property in 1955. The Paramount Racetrack opened a year later, and some considered it one of the most challenging in the U.S. Although it closed a year later, after several fatal accidents, the racetrack was featured in The Devil's Hairpin, filmed in 1957. Most of the track still winds through the grasslands of the park.

Ride Off Into the Sunset...From 1957 to 1980, the ranch changed ownership several times, but filmmaking continued. After purchasing the property in 1980, the National Park Service revitalized the old movie ranch. From 1991 to 1998, Paramount Ranch was used as the setting for the television show, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

At Paramount Ranch, the National Park Service maintains a connection between past movie productions and place names. Marco Polo Hill is named for the set built there circa 1936. The Hacienda Trail leads past the sites where Paramount built a Hacienda set in the late 1920s. Witches Wood received its name from the fortune tellers who set up booths each year for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire during the 1970s and 1980s. The Backdrop Trail recognizes the portion of the ranch that could be used for any type of shot because it had no telephone poles or distinctive features. Whether watching filming or exploring the area, experience the drama and grandeur of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Note: Western Town is only a set. Walk carefully on the boardwalks and do not lean or climb on the buildings. Smoking is not allowed on the boardwalks or while traveling on trails. Dogs must be on leash at all times and are allowed on designated trails, access roads and developed areas. For the consideration of others, please clean up after your pet. Trail closures may be in effect during and following significant rainfall to protect park resources. Trails will be re-opened when dry enough to sustain public use. Wasps and bees are plentiful during the summer months. Please cover foods and sweet beverages while picnicking.

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Situated on a big hunk of the most coveted real estate in Southern California and surrounded by the rapidly encroaching megalopolis of the LA area, Malibu Creek State Park Campground is a precious gem. It is beautiful! Once owned by Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, and 20th Century-Fox, the park now covers over 7,000 acres. This is a great place to tent camp in fall, winter, and spring.

Description:

This park covers 9,000 acres and offers spectacular views of both the ocean and the valley. There is a self-guided trail that teaches you about the ecology as you walk along the path. There are pleasant, green meadows that make a great picnic spot. No camping facilities available, but this can be an enjoyable day trip. There is water and sanitary facilities available. The park can also be accessed from Will Rogers State Park. Located in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga State Park features 36 miles of trails through open grassland, live oaks and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The park is located entirely within the Los Angeles city limits and is considered the world's largest wildland within the boundaries of a major city. More than 11,000 acres of land are preserved in the park. The park is bound on the south by Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, on the west by Topanga Canyon, and on the east by Rustic Canyon. Numerous geologic formations can be found in the park, including earthquake faults, marine fossils, volcanic intrusions, and a wide variety of sedimentary formations. A good place to start a visit to Topanga State Park is Trippet Ranch, once a "gentleman's ranch" for a weekend getaway from the city.

The park offers excellent recreational opportunities for hikers as well as mountain bikers (restricted to fire roads) and equestrians.

From Pacific Coast Highway, travel north on Topanga Canyon Boulevard, pass the post office at the center of "town," then turn right on Entrada Road. Keep to the left at every opportunity until you reach the park's main parking lot (about one mile). From the Ventura Freeway (101), exit at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, drive south over the crest of the mountains and proceed three miles to Entrada Road and turn left.

Description:

Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles is a refuge for wildlife and people known as Franklin Canyon. It is an island of open space surrounded by the city. Picnic under sycamore trees or hike along chaparral covered slopes. Watch for ground squirrels scurrying around their holes or red-tail hawks soaring overhead. The animals who stay in this refuge are little affected by the great events that transformed a small pueblo into a major metropolis.

The history of the canyon is separate but inseparable from the city that surrounds it. Edward L. Doheny discovered oil in Los Angeles in 1892. The wealthy Doheny family later owned 6 ranches, including a 400 acre parcel in Beverly Hills purchased in 1912. The Spanish style home in lower Franklin Canyon was built on the northern end of their property around 1935 to serve as a family retreat.

Oil provided the fuel for prosperity, but water was scarce in this semi-arid environment. In 1914, William Mulholland and the Department of Water & Power (DWP) began construction of a reservoir in upper Franklin Canyon to distribute water newly brought from the Owens Valley. Water and oil transformed Los Angeles from a small town into a major metropolis. Ironically, DWP ownership of the reservoir and adjoining properties helped discourage further development in this canyon.

The National Park Service purchased the Franklin Canyon Ranch in 1981. That year, the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom began the continuing service of providing free educational programs to the public and local schools. Today, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy manages daily park operations in Franklin Canyon. As a part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, this special refuge is available for everyone to enjoy.

There are several trails ranging from an easy 0.3-mile woodland walk to a 2.3-mile strenuous stretch through chaparrals. Included in the trail system is a pathway for seniors and a Braille and handicapped path. See links for trail details. Dogs must be on leash at all times and are not allowed to swim in any bodies of water. For the consideration of others, please clean up after your pet. Trail closures may be in effect during and following significant rainfall to protect park resources. Trails will be re-opened when dry enough to sustain public use. Bicycles are allowed on fire roads, but not on trails.

Description:

Runyon Canyon, nestled in the heart of Hollywood, gives any visitor to Los Angeles the power to enjoy nature and work up a sweat. Situated on 130 acres of protected recreation park land, Runyon Canyon is primarily known for its off-leash hiking, but a secluded children's park also allows families and yoga groups to enjoy the Canyon's natural beauty. Upon entering, visitors can choose three different trails that loop around each other, differing in their intensity and physical impact. Runyon Canyon is essentially off-leash, so dogs and their owners run gleefully and unimpaired. There are no services, so visitors should be prepared to take their own food and equipment. With its proximity to Hollywood, celebrities from across the gamut are seen frequenting the park and exercising to keep their celebrity figures. The Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory and Downtown are viewed brilliantly from the Canyon's summit.

Description:

Head inside the Hollywood Hills and you will be pleasantly surprised by this reservoir from where you can get a great view of the Hollywood sign. It is amazing to realize that this peaceful spot is only a few minutes away from bustling Hollywood Boulevard. There is also a 3.1 mile paved trail around the lake that takes you right across the dam (that broke and flooded Hollywood in the movie Earthquake). No dogs are allowed, and the path usually closes at dusk.

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These famous 50-foot-high white sheet-metal letters have come to symbolize the movie industry and the city itself. The sign was erected on Mount Lee in 1923 as an advertisement for a real-estate development. The full text originally read HOLLYWOODLAND and was lined with thousands of 20-watt bulbs around the letters (changed periodically by a caretaker who lived in a small house behind the sign). The sign gained dubious notoriety when actress Peg Entwistle leapt to her death from the "H" in 1932. The LAND section was damaged by a landslide, and the entire sign fell into major disrepair until the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce spearheaded a campaign to repair it (Hugh Hefner, Alice Cooper, Gene Autry, and Andy Williams were all major contributors). Officially completed in 1978, the 450-foot-long installation is now protected by a fence and motion detectors. The best view is from down below, at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Bronson Avenue. Tip: It may look like it on a map, but Beachwood Drive does not lead to the sign. If you want to reach the sign on foot, it requires a rather arduous 5-mile round-trip hike on the Brush Canyon Trail in Griffith Park -- the trail head is at the end of Canyon Drive. For more information call the Griffith Park headquarters at tel. 323/913-4688.

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Mining tycoon Col. Griffith J. Griffith donated these 4,107 acres to the city in 1896 as a Christmas gift. Today Griffith Park is the largest urban park in America. There's a lot to do here, including 53 miles of hiking trails (the prettiest is the Fern Dell trail near the Western Ave. entrance, a shady hideaway cooled by waterfalls and ferns), horseback riding, golfing, swimming, biking, and picnicking. For a general overview of the park, drive the mountainous loop road that winds from the top of Western Avenue, past Griffith Observatory, and down to Vermont Avenue. For a more extensive foray, turn north at the loop road's midsection, onto Mount Hollywood Drive. To reach the golf courses, the Museum of the American West, or Los Angeles Zoo, take Los Feliz Boulevard to Riverside Drive, which runs along the park's western edge.

Near the zoo, in a particularly dusty corner of the park, you can find the Travel Town Transportation Museum, 5200 Zoo Dr. (tel. 323/662-5874), a little-known outdoor museum with a small collection of vintage locomotives and old airplanes. Kids love the miniature train ride that circles the perimeter of the museum. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm; admission is free.

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These caves, located in Griffith Park, are the result of an old quarry dug in 1903 by the Union Rock Company in order to mine materials to use in building the surrounding streets. After the quarry closed in the 1920s, it became a spot for movie shoots. Scenes from Invasion of the Body Snatchers were shot here and more recently, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Description:

This is a popular and accessible hike that starts right where Lake Avenue ends at its intersection with E. Loma Alta Drive. From there you walk 0.2 miles east to the trail head of the Sam Merrill Trail, where you head down into the creek bed and then climb up the east side of Los Flores Canyon. The next 2 1/2 miles are uphill to reach Echo Mountain. At the top are the ruins of the cool and very steep Mt. Lowe Railway, which ran from 1893 to 1936 and once made this place a famous tourist destination. You can also walk around the grounds of Ye Alpine Tavern, long ago destroyed in a fire.

The views from up here are really grand; there is also access to a wide network of trails in the San Gabriel mountains from here.

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Eaton Canyon Nature Center has a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, many highlighting nature conservation. Come enjoy a moonlight walk, guided hike or a picnic. The park also provides training programs for naturalist docents and junior park rangers. Be sure to visit the nature center with its informative exhibits, brochures, classroom, auditorium and gift area. The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset. Dogs must remain leashed. Environmental education, guided hikes and walks, and picnicking comprise the outdoor recreation enjoyed at Eaton Canyon.

Eaton Canyon Nature Center is located in Pasadena (one block north of New York Drive), a short distance from the Interstate 210 and Route 2 juncture.

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The popular Millard Canyon Falls is half a mile east of Millard Campground. The drop is approximately 50 feet in height. Walk past the picnic tables and the camping area 1.25 miles on an easy-to-follow fire road. This route leads past boulders, which may require some scrambling to reach the stunning falls. Caution: Pool at bottom of these falls is not deep enough for swimming. From Pasadena, travel Interstate 210 north, exit Lake Avenue and go north to Loma Alta Drive. Turn west (left) on Loma Alta and drive to the Chaney Trail (flashing yellow light). Follow signs to the campground.

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The Monrovia Canyon Falls hike begins behind the Nature Center located in Monrovia Canyon Park. This low impact area is a wilderness park located just south of the Angles National Forest. There are three trailheads leading to the falls. From behind the Nature Center, the hike is 1.5 miles round trip; from the middle parking lot, the hike is 2 miles; and from the park's entrance station, it is 3.4 miles.

When visiting the park, be sure to stop in the Nature Center, which exhibits local flora and fauna. Picnicking is permitted; reservable areas available. The park does charge an entrance fee. The park is open Wednesday through Monday, 8 AM to 5 PM. From the 210 Fwy exit Myrtle Avenue north and drive 2 miles. Turn right on Scenic Drive and follow it east until it turns into Canyon Blvd and drive one mile.

Description:

Recreational opportunities in this Wilderness Area included numerous hiking and backpacking trails leading to the many peaks, canyons, rivers and streams. Entry points at West Fork/ Lower Bear Creek, Coldbrook/ Upper Bear Creek, Devil's Canyon, Three Points, Mt. Waterman Trail from Buckhorn. Wilderness permits not required for entry.

Horseback riding, hiking, and backpacking are enjoyed on this wilderness area.

The San Gabriel Wilderness Area is located north of the LA Basin within the Angeles National Forest. A wilderness permit is not required for entry into the San Gabriel Wilderness. The three access points into the Wilderness area from Highway 2 are: (1) near the Chilao Visitor Center at Devil's Canyon Trailhead, (2) at the junction of the Santa Clara Divide Road and Highway 2 at the Three Points Trailhead, and (3) near Buckhorn Campground at the Mt. Waterman Trailhead. An Adventure Pass or Golden Passport is required for parked vehicles at trailheads.

Description:

From the top of the ski lift, follow a path easterly a few hundred feet then turn left and follow the fire road up the ridge. The fire road ends at the Devil's Backbone, and it is trail from there on up. Total trip one-way is about 3.5 miles and 2,200 feet elevation gain. The first part of the trip is through sparse pine forest, giving way farther up to a few stunted lodgepole and rare limber pines and bare rocky terrain. Keep an eye out for small alpine type plants along the way. An interesting short side trip from the summit is to walk over the nearly barren ridge southwest and half a mile to West Baldy, a slightly lower summit. You may see a few scraps of wrecked aircraft along the way. Enjoy the magnificent view from the top and return the way you came, although it is possible for properly equipped experienced hikers to return by other routes if car shuttles can be arranged. If the ski left is not operating or if you prefer to hike, you can follow the fire road up from the bottom of the ski lift past San Antonio Falls to Baldy Notch. This will add another 3.5 miles distance each way and about 1,500 feet more climbing. The crown jewel of the San Gabriel Mountains, majestic Mt. San Antonio (10,064 feet) towers over all other peaks in the range. More popularly known as "Mt. Baldy" or "Old Baldy," it is the highest point in the San Gabriel Mountains. It is not, however, the highest mountain in Southern California. That distinction goes to 11,502-foot Mt. San Gorgonio, popularly known as "Old Grayback," which is in the San Bernardino Mountains within the San Bernardino National Forest. Mt. Baldy is visible from much of Southern California and conversely much of Southern California can be seen from its summit, air pollution permitting. Not only is Mt. Baldy high, it is massive, somewhat pyramidal in shape and fairly symmetrical - it looks like a king of the mountains should look. It is one of the most photographed objects of the Southern California landscape. Its snow-covered summit has appeared on post cards and tourist literature lauding the attractions of Southern California for nearly a hundred years. Seen with its snowy summit glowing like a live coal at sunset or with snow blowing in a great plume from the top, it is an awe-inspiring sight.

Description:

Recreational opportunities in this Wilderness Area included numerous hiking and backpacking trails leading to the many peaks, canyons, rivers and streams. Entry points at Icehouse Canyon, Thunder Mountain and Lytle Creek. Wilderness permits required for entry. Permits available at Mt. Baldy Visitor Center, Glendora Ranger Station and Lytle Creek Ranger Station. Horseback riding, hiking, and backpacking are enjoyed on this wilderness area. The Cucamonga Wilderness Area is located northeast of the Los Angeles Basin, within both the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests.