I think we can all agree that Los Angeles is known for having some of “the best” – the best restaurants, the best beaches, the best parties, and also home to some of the bestย hiking.ย With hundreds of hiking trails to choose from in and around Los Angeles, you won’t have a hard time finding a trail with all of the best things: excitement, endurance, and of course, views. I recently asked theย LA Ladies – Hiking, Fitness & Wellness groupย to recommend their favorite hikes in Los Angeles. The list ranges from theย Los Angeles Classicsย toย Fun Trails to Hike with Friends, Booty Burners, and of course,ย SoCal‘sย Six-Pack of Peaksย taking you through the highest peaks in Southern California, challenging the most adventurous hikers to build their endurance in preparation for California’s highest peak, Mount Whitney.
AllTrails is a fantastic resource, but there is nothing like getting personal recommendations from the ladies who know it best. And yes, of course, there are plenty more trails to add to the list, but here are a few of our favorites to get you started!
A Los Angeles hiking list wouldn’t be complete without a few of the classics, and what screams LA more than hiking up to the Hollywood sign. While there are multiple routes to get you in front, to the side, and behind the Hollywood sign, theWisdom Tree, Cahuenga Peak, and Mount Lee Summit Looptrail is definitely my favorite way to make the climb.
TRAIL:ย Runyon Canyon Trail LOCATION:ย West Hollywood, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.10533,-118.34905 MILES:ย 2.7 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +748 ft Elevation Gain
Temescal Canyon
TRAIL:ย Temescal Canyon Trail LOCATION:ย Pacific Palisades, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.0867315,-118.6109973 MILES:ย 4 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +928 ft Elevation Gain
TRAIL:ย Ascot Hills Trail LOCATION:ย Near Downtown LA, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.07016,-118.18956 MILES: 2.2ย miles RT ELEVATION:ย +574 ft Elevation Gain
Fun Trails To Hike With Friends
Fryman Canyon Trail
TRAIL:ย Fryman Canyon Trail LOCATION:ย Studio City, California,GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.13317,-118.39165 MILES:ย 2.6 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +456 ft Elevation Gain
Eaton Canyon
TRAIL:Eaton Canyon Trail LOCATION: Altadena, California, GPS COORDINATES:34.17621,-118.09841 MILES: 4.4 miles RT ELEVATION: +521 ft Elevation Gain
Los Leones Trail
TRAIL:ย Los Leones Trail LOCATION:ย Pacific Palisades, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.04721,-118.56002 MILES:ย 4.4 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +1,190 ft Elevation Gain
North Bane Ridge Trail
TRAIL:ย North Bane Ridge Trail to Sidewinder Loop LOCATION:ย Chino Hills, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.053172,-118.1888584 MILES:ย 6.2 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +918 ft Elevation Gain
Top Of the World
TRAIL:ย Top of the World via Canyon Acres Trail LOCATION:ย Laguna Beach, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 33.55295,-117.76777 MILES:ย 2.4 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +862 ft Elevation Gain
Canyonback Nike Loop
TRAIL:Canyonback Nike Loop LOCATION: Encino, California, GPS COORDINATES:34.12817,-118.50272 MILES: 6 miles RT ELEVATION: +1,184 ft Elevation Gain
Switzer Falls
TRAIL: Switzer Falls via Gabrielino Trail LOCATION: Angeles Crest Scenic Byway, GPS COORDINATES: 4.2160077,-118.2272022 MILES: 3.6 miles RT ELEVATION: +695 ft Elevation Gain
Fern Canyon Trail
TRAIL:Fern Canyon Trail LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, GPS COORDINATES: 34.1315,-118.28309 MILES: 3.3 miles RT ELEVATION: +620 ft Elevation Gain
La Canada Teepee via Crosstown Trail
TRAIL:ย La Canada Teepee via Crosstown Trail LOCATION:ย La Canada Flintridge, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.1818586,-118.1980759 MILES:ย 2.7 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +1,312 ft Elevation Gain
Adventure Pass is Required
The La Canada TeePee Via Crosstown Trial will have your adrenaline pumping as you climb over 1,300ft into the San Gabriel Mountains. This popular trail is perfect for runners, hikers, and for grabbing those epic views of DTLA, Burbank, and on a clear day, even the ocean. Although the hike is strenuous, you will be rewarded with breathtaking 360-views, lavender fields, and of course, the teepee. This trail begins in the foothills of the Angeles Crest Mountains in a small residential area. Parking is limited, and you do need an adventure pass to hike this trail.
Circle X Ranch
TRAIL:ย Grotto Trail LOCATION:ย Malibu, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.11004,-118.93735 MILES:ย 2.5 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +561 ft Elevation Gain
Vasquez Rocks
TRAIL:ย Vasquez Rocks Trail LOCATION:ย Agua Dulce, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.48868,-118.32168 MILES:ย 2.7miles ELEVATION:ย +311 ft Elevation Gain
Booty Burners
Bridge to Nowhere
TRAIL: Bridge to Nowhere via East Fork Trail LOCATION: Mount Baldy, California,GPS COORDINATES:34.23696,-117.76546 MILES: 9.5 miles RT ELEVATION: +1,246 ft Elevation Gain
Mount Disappointment
TRAIL:ย Mount Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak LOCATION:ย Angeles Crestย Scenic Byway,GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.25449,-118.10205 MILES:ย 4.4 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +1,578 ftย Elevation Gain
Adventure Pass is Required
Jones Peak
TRAIL:ย Jones Peak Loop LOCATION:ย Sierra Madre, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.16951,-118.04921 MILES:ย 5.3 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +2,513 ft Elevation Gain
TRAIL:ย Via Redbox Canyon LOCATION:ย Angeles Crestย Scenic Byway, California;ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.25884,-118.10434 MILES:ย 7.2 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +1,788 ft Elevation Gain
Adventure Pass is Required
TRAIL:ย Via Colby Canyon LOCATION:ย Angeles Crestย Scenic Byway, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.26962,-118.14071 MILES:ย 6.7 mile RT ELEVATION:ย +2,736 ft Elevation Gain
TRAIL:ย Inspiration Point Loop LOCATION:ย Altadena, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 34.204,-118.13042 MILES:ย 10 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +2,746 ft Elevation Gain
If you’re not keen to hike the full 10 miles, you can end your journey atย Echo Mountain, 5.4 miles RT. Echo Mountain follows the same trail as Inspiration Point, and you still are rewarded with great views and an intense workout.
The Six-Pack of Peaks is well-known to California locals’ as the training checklist to prepare for Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. There are multiple routes to hike up to each of the six peaks ranging from different milage to elevation and even the starting points. You should do your own research before attempting any of these hikes and make sure that you are physically prepared for the elevation gain and possible elevation sicknesses.
Mount Wilson
DISTANCE:ย 14miles ELEVATION:ย +4,200ft Elevation Gain PEAK ELEVATION:ย 5,713ft RECOMMENDED TRAIL:ย Mt. Wilson
Cucamonga Peak
DISTANCE:ย 12 miles ELEVATION GAIN:ย +4,300ft Elevation Gain PEAK ELEVATION:ย 8,859ft RECOMMENDED TRAIL:ย Cucamonga Peak
DISTANCE:ย 17 miles ELEVATION:ย +4,702ft Elevation Gain PEAK ELEVATION:ย 10,649ft RECOMMENDED TRAIL:ย San Bernardino Peak
Mount San Jacinto
DISTANCE:ย 12 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +4,689ft Elevation Gain PEAK ELEVATION:ย 10,649ft RECOMMENDED TRAIL:ย Mt. San Jacinto
Mount Gorgonio Peak
DISTANCE:ย 18 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +5,840ft Elevation Gain PEAK ELEVATION:ย 11,503ft RECOMMENDED TRAIL:ย San Gorgonio Peak
Climbing Mount Whitney - The Highest Peak In The Contagious US
Mount Whitney
Do you need to complete the six-pack of peaks to train for Mount Whitney? Absolutely not. Most adventure lovers choose to do the six-pack for the community, endurance, and of course, bragging rights. You can definitely complete Mount Whitney without any serious training, but Mount Whitney is tough. If you are lucky enough to grabย permitsย to complete this incredible hike, just remember to take your time and really prepare for it, especially how you’re going to combat the elevation change. Elevation sickness is the #1 reason that hikers are not able to summit.
2021 was my first time summiting Mount Whitney. We backpacked in 3-days to break up the grueling +6,646ft elevation gain by climbing ~2,000ft/day. Although the hike was extremely difficult, it was one of the most rewarding experiences and one of my favorite hikes to date.
TRAIL:ย Mount Whitney Trail LOCATION:ย Lone Pine, California,ย GPS COORDINATES:ย 36.58691,-118.24024 MILES:ย 20.9 miles RT ELEVATION:ย +6,646 ft Elevation Gain
Share your personal favorites in the comments below, and come say hi on my socials: PrettylilTraveler <3
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Happy Hiking.
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