Half Day LA Hikes

Is there a better way to start the New Year than a hike to the beautiful Parker Mesa overlook?

Winter and spring are the perfect seasons for hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains when the area is green from the winter rains and spring wildflowers are in full bloom.  Our winter schedule is focused mostly in this beautiful area!

Our return trip is mostly downhill and generally moves a lot faster, so we plan to finish up by 1:30 or so depending on how long we linger at the mesa. 

With all the rain we have had, expect the trail to be muddy in spots.

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Parking at the trailhead fills up quickly so please consider our carpooling options.

Charmlee Wilderness Park is located near Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains.  This hike will combine a couple of trails in the park to create a counter-clockwise loop.  This hike has a little bit of everything, from the depths of Clyde Canyon to the beautiful ocean views from the rolling coastal hills.  The trail passes through oak forests, grassy meadows with wildflowers nearly always in blooming and along coastal bluffs.  

We will begin the hike through Clyde Canyon rising gently to the cliffs above the ocean.  We will stop to enjoy amazing ocean views and a snack before heading back through the rolling grasslands to the trailhead.   

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks!

Trailhead Directions

Parking at the trailhead can be difficult please consider carpooling.

 

Most of the uphill gain is in the first half of the hike starting to come down from our peak elevation just before Eagle Rock.  We plan to have lunch around noon and enjoy the views. Our return hike is mostly downhill and will not take as long to get back to the trailhead.  We plan to be finished around 2pm or so depending on how much time we spend at the top.

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Parking is limited at the trailhead so please consider our carpooling option!

This beautiful hike starts off ‘old school’ on a small and barely visible single track running along the creek.  After we pass the waterfall, we continue up the trail to one of the most bizarre ruins in LA, Murphy’s Ranch.  This place was designed in the 1930’s as a self-contained compound for Nazi sympathizers living in LA with its own power generating capability, water, and gardens carved into the canyon walls.  The main house was designed by the same architect who built the house at Solstice Canyon but was never built.  The original owners were taken into custody after the bombing of Peal Harbor.  But the ruins still remain, and we can explore them.

From here we will continue up the canyon toward the Boy Scout camp before turning left for a short but steep ascent to the Backbone Trail.   We will make a stop at Inspiration Point for lunch with an amazing view before returning on the well-maintained trail to the trailhead near the Polo Field.  

Hiking poles are definitely a plus for this one as the first 2 miles of trail is often muddy and somewhat overgrown with occasional streal crossings. 

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Escondido falls is a beautiful 50’ cascade runs strong this time of the year.  Expect a few stream crossings and depending on the water levels you may get your feet wet! This is an easy half day hike, but the scenery is beautiful and for waterfall lovers its one of the best in SoCal. 

We will hike to the falls and enjoy the lower falls.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity.  Bring plenty of snacks.

Trailhead Directions

Parking is limited at the trailhead please consider our carpooling options.

The views are amazing on Echo Mountain and one of the coolest features is the Echo Phone!  You have to come on the hike to see what that’s all about.  We will have lunch and linger at Echo Mountain before returning.  

We will return down the same trail to the trailhead and have some time to explore the Cobb estate.  This was originally a family estate, then a convent, and eventually owned by the Marx brothers before becoming a park in 1971. 

The hike will finish around 2pm.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking is limited so please consider participating in our carpool!

Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica mountains and the first hike in the annual RDY 7 Summits of SoCal challenge.  

We will meet at the trail head at 9:00 am and should be finished around 1 depending on our pace and how long we linger.  

This is a beautiful hike typical of the range with amazing views.  There isn’t much shade or large trees along the way so be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen!

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks, we won’t have lunch at the peak on this one because it’s a shorter distance hike.  

Trailhead Directions

Parking is limited at the trailhead so please consider our carpooling option.

 

Note: this is not a good first-time hike.  If you have never hiked before I recommend that you start with one of our shorter hikes in the easy to moderate range before trying this one.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Parking is limited at the trailhead so please consider our carpooling option.

Springtime brings beautiful wildflower displays on almost every hike, but few can match the vast swaths of orange and yellow blanketing the rolling hills of Antelope Valley. This is a relatively easy hike that takes us to all of the best overlooks, hilltops and buttes in the California Poppy Preserve State Park.  The hike combines two loop trails into a figure 8 that fully explores this beautiful park.

We will meet at the visitors center at 9am to set out on our trek.  Plan to have a light lunch or heavy snack on one of the hilltop overlooks before we return to the trailhead around 12:30 depending on how long we linger on the way.  This weekend brings the Lancaster Poppy Festival which we will plan to stop and enjoy in the afternoon on the way back to LA.  The festival is fun and there are usually a lot of vendors, rides, and of course fried fair food check their website for event info and pricing. 

This hike is fully exposed with little or no shade most of the way.  So, plan to bring plenty of water and wear a hat!  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

This is a popular weekend due to the poppy Festival so parking may be tight, please consider carpooling.

 

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking is extremely limited here. Please consider carpooling.

 

This is an out and back trail.  Near the beginning we will pass through the ruins of the old Switzer Camp that was later operated as more of a resort/venue called Switzer Land.  We will have some time to explore on the way back if we want to.  

When we are finished, we hike back the way we came.  There is an extension to this hike into Bear Canyon that’s another mile or so down the Arroyo Seco that we can take if the falls are crowded.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Parking at the trailhead is limited please consider carpooling.

Cooper Canyon Falls is a beautiful hike in the Angeles National Forest especially this time of the year.  The 30ft waterfall’s flow is driven by snow melt and so it will be roaring loudly this time of year.  We will be hiking clockwise loop that takes up along a beautiful section of the Pacific Crest Trail through pine and cedar forests.  We will pass through the PCT’s Cooper Canyon Camp listening to the sounds of the creek along the way before arriving at the waterfall.  

It’s a steep climb to get down to the base of the fall but well worth the effort. We will have lunch and enjoy the area before continuing along the Burkhart Trail through Buckhorn Campground on our way back to the parking area.

Cooper Canyon Falls is one of the most beautiful falls in the area, but unlike many of the waterfall hikes, this one earns a moderate rating because of the steepness, especially getting down to the base of the falls where there is a rope in place to assist, so we will enjoy the falls without the crowds!  But we will take our time so it’s an accessible hike to most people and well worth the effort.

As with most hikes around LA this one has some steep sections and I highly recommend hiking shoes and hiking poles.  If you want to get in the water and walk back to the fall you might bring a pair of water shoes but its snowmelt and so its very cold.  

We will meet at the trailhead to head out at 9am and should be finished by 2 depending on how long we linger at the falls and nearby springs.  There are two trailheads for this loop so please be sure to meet at the one below. 

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking can be crowded so please consider carpooling which we coordinate in the WhatsApp group.

The hike down is much faster as we will be moving downhill. We plan to finish up around 4-5pm depending on our pace and how long we want to linger at the top!

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking is in a neighborhood and very limited so please consider carpooling.

Echo Mountain is one of the best hikes in LA and tacking on the extra 4 mile loop to Inspiration Point is well worth the effort!  In fact, it’s hard to find a list of top-rated trails that doesn’t include this one, even national trail lists and yes, the haunted hikes of LA list.  The trailhead begins through the ruins of the historical Cobb estate which is the alleged haunted part then follows much of the historic Mount Lowe railway route.  The railway was designed as a tourist attraction in conjunction with the resort at Echo Mountain.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking is on the street and is limited so please consider carpooling.

Mt San Antonio is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains and LA County. It’s a hike that should be on every SoCal hiking bucket list.  This is also one of our Seven Summits Challenge Hikes.

.

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

Parking at the trailhead can be tight so please consider carpooling!

San Gorgonio is the tallest peak in the San Bernardino range and that says a lot given the elevation of the range.  Altitude will be a consideration on this one so we will plan to move at a slower pace and make sure everyone has an enjoyable albeit challenging experience. We are leaving earlier than most hikes due to the distance.

We will be hiking in mixed forest much of the way until we get to tree line where the rest of the way is very exposed so wear a hat and bring your sunscreen.  Water is also going to be an important consideration.  There are streams along the route from Vivian Creek however many of these dry up after the snow has fully melted so we will check the conditions before we go and plan accordingly.

The hike is beautiful, and we will have lunch at the peak to soak in views from the ocean to Nevada!  We plan to finish up around 4pm depending on our pace and how long we linger at the summit. 

Be sure to wear hiking boots and plan to layer for the summit.  It will be much colder and windier up there than at the trailhead.  

What to bring: 3 liters of water, electrolytes, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes, hiking poles (optional but a good idea), day pack or hydration pack with plenty of snacks and lunch.

Trailhead Directions

Sawmill is the highest peak in Kern County and home to the condor sanctuary in the rugged Chumash preserve.  Mt Pinos is the highest peak in Ventura County and on this trail, we will stand on both! We will begin this hike a little later because it’s a little more driving distance to get there and we will have reasonably good tree cover for the hike.  

This is a fun hike that is very accessible to anyone with a reasonably good fitness level and the views from the summit are breathtaking.  We will hike to the top of Sawmill Mountain with its massive cairn where we will linger and eat our lunch while enjoying the sweeping view across the central valley.

What to bring: 3 liters of water, electrolytes, sunscreen, hat, sturdy hiking shoes or boots, hiking poles (optional but always a good idea), day pack or hydration pack with snacks and lunch.

Trailhead Directions

Parking at the trailhead is plentiful but please consider carpooling to save on gas! We will have the carpool thread set up in WhatsApp.

San Jacinto Peak is one of the classic summits in SoCal.  The views are mind-blowing in every direction but especially looking out over the desert that is more than 10k feet below.  This route is the easiest route to summit San Jacinto, but it’s still very challenging.  You will be hiking at a much higher elevation than where you will start out and its 6 miles to the top.  The hike itself is one of the most beautiful in the area.  

We will start out hiking through a high valley that is popular with rock climbers before heading up through pine forest.  You will notice the crowds thinning as you continue on toward the summit.  There are several high camps that are popular with hikers utilizing the lower part of the trail.  The last 2 miles of the hike are in the boulder fields, adding to the beauty and the challenge.  It’s a really great hike!

Regardless of the temperature in the desert, it will likely be very chilly at the top and extremely windy.  Layering is key and you should plan to carry a jacket to put on as you get into the higher elevation areas.  Gloves and ear protection are also important because the normally high winds blowing cold air will make any exposed skin feel extremely uncomfortable.  We will find a sheltered place at the summit to enjoy our lunch in the warm sun!  

As you return from the summit you will shed your layers going lower.  I do NOT recommend wearing shorts for this hike.  

We should be finished up by 5pm or so depending on how long we linger at the summit and will catch the next available tramway back down.  

The cost of the tram is $31 round trip, and you will need to purchase your ticket when we get there.  Advanced purchases are limited. 

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), midweight gloves and ear protection recommended, hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is highly recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch there is a high calorie burn on this route so be sure to have breakfast!

  

Trailhead Directions

We will have a carpool chat going in Whats App.

Devil’s Punchbowl is one of the most beautiful and unique places to hike around LA.  Its located on the northeastern side of Angeles National Forest when the Mohave Desert meets the San Gabriel’s. The Punchbowl fault runs parallel to the San Andreas fault and created the surreal landscape of the canyon.  Massive slabs of sandstone set up on end and then eroded over time.  

We begin our hike to Devils Chair in a desert landscape that quickly gives way to a beautiful hike through the pine forests of the San Gabriel’s.  

The Devil’s Chair is a breathtaking point overlooking the 300-foot-deep canyon with the unique rock formations, behind you the mountain rises to 8,000 feet!  We will return from the point and stop for lunch along the way overlooking the canyon before heading back the way we came.  

When we return to the parking area and visitors center, you will have an option to hike around the Punchbowl formation itself which is well worth the extra mile.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch!

Trailhead Directions

There is a large parking area near the visitors center but carpooling is always suggested.

This is one of the most amazing hikes around.  You will experience the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains, hike a rugged trail with several stream crossings, and in the end arrive at one of the most interesting sites in SoCal.   The bridge spanning the San Gabriel River was built back in the 1930’s as part of a road project through the canyon.  The road washed away a few years later and was never rebuilt.  So now all that’s left is a large bridge leading nowhere.  You probably recognize this area on social media, film and television commercials. 

We will hike to the bridge and have lunch and spend some time soaking in the beauty of the canyon and the bridge.  There are swimming holes under the bridge too if you want to wear your swimming suit under your hiking clothes.

Anyone who would like to try the famous bungee jump that has operated on this bridge for decades can. But this is not part of what we are offering. You can visit their website and book through them. You will need to hike to the bridge with the bungee company and then you can have lunch and hike out with us. The bridge is owned by Bungee America and you can reserve a jump at https://www.bungeeamerica.com if you wish.

Pack your lunch, 3 liters of water, snacks, electrolytes, and hiking poles (you will want those for stream crossings).  Also, for this hike you will want appropriate shoes for the river crossings, you will be in the water on a few of them.  Most crossings will be shallow depending on rain, but a pair of water shoes or flip flops can be nice to keep your boots dry, some people just prefer to go barefoot or just get their boots wet. Weather permitting you may want to wear shorts in case the crossings are deep in places.   

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking can be difficult so please consider joining the carpool chat!

Located in Malibu Creek, this really cool hike leads to the MASH site where you will experience the iconic scenery from the set of the popular film and TV series.  The site is marked with the areas where the show’s Army tents once stood, features an old ambulance and even the famous chopper pad.  There are picnic tables under a camouflage net where we can enjoy a snack, explore the area and then return.  Depending on time we may add a couple of spur trails in the area too.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is highly recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and a light lunch if you want to enjoy it at the site.

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking can be tight so please consider joining the carpool chat!

But its Black Friday!?! 

Many years ago, REI decided to close its stores on largest shopping day of the year and #optoutside…I really loved the idea of consuming the beauty of nature over the chaos of mass consumption door buster deals.  And so, a tradition was born for me.  

This year we have planned a fun but iconic hike in Griffith Park, home to many LA attractions and hiking trails.  On this hike we will check out the Bronson caves, famous from the Batman series, then hike to our ever present Hollywood sign, enjoy our lunch at the Wisdom Tree and return.   

Parts of this hike are paved, and while I always recommend hiking poles (see our day hiking gear list) you may want to put the rubber tips that come with the poles on them to save wear and tear.  Or just stow them on the paved sections.

There are many ways to get to the sign, we will be taking the route that leads from Canyon Drive.  Parking can be tight so try to join a carpool if you can.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is highly recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch.

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking is tight so please consider joining the carpool chat!

This is a fun trail with great views and plenty of cool things to see.  We will hike the loop counterclockwise up the Sostomo trail and then the Deer Valley Loop.   This area has great views of the ocean and canyon below.  Depending on the weather we can have lunch at the top of the Deer Valley loop.  It’s a great spot to stop and soak in the views but sometimes can be very hot.  If its too hot we will eat below at the waterfall. 

Getting the hard part of the hike out of the way early, we will be heading downhill from there.  At the base of the Deer Valley loop we will find the waterfall and the ruins of a house built in the 1950’s by a famous architect.  It burned and was never rebuilt, eventually becoming part of the Santa Monica Mounts NRA.  What remains offers a shady and cool place to take a break and explore the falls.  

Then as we head back along the shaded trail we will pass the Keller House, which burned in a wildfire, but the stone walls are still intact.  This is one of the oldest remaining structures in Malibu.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is highly recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks and lunch.

Trailhead Directions

Trailhead parking can be tight so please consider joining the carpool chat!

It’s the day after Christmas and time to get out and get some fresh air!   

Temescal Canyon Park is one of several fun but short hikes in the metro area.  The loop can be done in under three miles, but we are going to take a side trip at the top to see Skull Rock, which is a cool rock formation carved by the wind.  

You are going to love the views of the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu, Downtown, and even Catalina on a clear day!  We will hike this one clockwise and there is plenty of shade cover especially on the return trip heading past the waterfalls.  This is a short hike so we will not plan to have lunch, but definitely bring snacks for the summit. There is a lot of loose gravel coming back down so you will want to have your hiking poles on this one.  

At the end of the trail there is an old conference and retreat center that we will pass through.  It’s a pretty cool spot that was built in the 1920’s as a Presbyterian conference center.  There are picnic tables and a nice park area at that site.  

What to bring: water, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes (hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended), hiking poles, day pack or hydration pack with a 3 liter water capacity, an additional bottle containing electrolytes is highly recommended.  Bring plenty of snacks.

Trailhead Directions