Author: Kara McVey
The weather is warming up, the sun is out and Los Angeles is getting back into its groove. When it’s cold, it’s easy to forget that L.A. isn’t just traffic and shopping malls — it’s home to a wide variety of public gardens, parks and trails. Here are a few popular paths for L.A. hikers.
There are dozens of different hikes near Occidental in the Griffith Park area. The Bronson Canyon trail starts at the bottom of Griffith Park and leads up the side of the mountain, past several swanky Hollywood Hills homes to a close view of the Hollywood sign. Because of the canyon’s rocky terrain and central location, the Bronson Caves have often been used as a filming location — the 1960s “Batman” series used one of the caves as the entrance to the Batcave.
The Bronson Canyon hike is between an easy and a moderate climb along a well-trodden dirt path, taking a little less than two hours. If you’d like to get up closer to the sign, you should try the Mount Lee hike. The trail begins in a residential neighborhood in the hills around Hollyridge Drive and goes via Mount Lee Drive up the side of the mountain. The area immediately surrounding the Hollywood sign is fenced off, but the letters still make for a great photo opportunity. The hike is somewhat more strenuous than the Bronson Canyon hike but should still only take a couple of hours.
Runyon Canyon is farther west along the Santa Monica Mountains. A few different trails run around the canyon, ranging from half an hour to about an hour and a half to hike. The different paths have different features — the hike up to Indian Rock is more strenuous, while the main loop clockwise is a relatively easy climb. Along the hike, there are numerous types of birds, native plants and insects. At some times of the day, the air is filled with the faint buzzing of cicadas, and at the top of the trail there are often lizards skittering along the side of the path. For much of the hike, the path has a full view of the mountain and streets below. The hike is less out of the way than the rest of the hikes listed here, which makes it very popular for Angelenos, but it is also less of a wilderness-like setting. The trail is notable for its open dog policy, frequent celebrity sightings and panoramic views of the city.
Temescal Canyon is farther away — located at the junction between Temescal Canyon Road and the PCH, the drive takes about half an hour. The road leads directly from the ocean to the trails, which are nestled in the canyon’s woodsy terrain. There are signs for the trailheads all around, and most people park along the side of the road or higher up the mountain in one of the few small lots. The hike is mostly pretty easy, with some steeper areas up towards the top of the trail.
The more difficult hike runs in a loop up to Skull Rock, usually taking two to three hours to complete. Along the way, there are a couple of seasonal waterfalls that have water trickling down them during the rainy seasons. The canyon is also home to many secluded groves, where people frequently picnic and play music. Between its trails, its towering sycamores and its views of the Pacific, Temescal has become a favorite hiking spot among locals.
For new hikers, Will Rogers Park is an ideal place to start. Located farther inland from Temescal, this State Historic Park offers a different way to enjoy the day. The park is situated in the Santa Monica Mountains in the Pacific Palisades and was once owned by actor Will Rogers. His ranch house still stands as a reminder of old Los Angeles life, and docents offer frequent tours of this historic landmark.
Around the park, there are often people on horseback, as well as people playing games of pick-up soccer or hiking around the park and up to Inspiration Point. The trail is more flat than Temescal Canyon trails, and the standard hike loop up to Inspiration Point is only a couple of miles long. The park has a remarkable variety of plants and flowers but is less shaded than Temescal and usually much hotter. One warning: Parking at the property is 12 dollars, but there is often parking available outside the State Historic Park.
These hikes represent just a few of Los Angeles’ most popular hiking destinations. The city offers literally hundreds of different spots for residents to climb, hike and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re an avid hiker or you just bought your first pair of running shoes, there’s a trail in LA for you.
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