Los Angeles Official Visitor Guide 2008 - (Page 51) Whether you’re looking for epic views of the Los Angeles Basin, sweeping vistas of the coast or thrilling glimpses of waterfalls and canyons, the following trails provide a great introduction to the variety of hiking experiences you can find throughout LA. You’ll also discover just how easy it can be to escape to the solitude of nature. Sometimes it’s just a matter of parking the car and getting outside. Most of the hikes listed here are easy to moderate, so it’s not necessary to be an experienced hiker to enjoy these trails. But you will need to keep a few things in mind when you’re planning your excursion. It’s important to wear sturdy hiking shoes, carry plenty of drinking water, use sunscreen and wear sunglasses. Don’t forget to take along a camera, and make sure you stay on the trails. Take A Hike: Heart-of-Hollywood Hike LA’s Best Trails trail: Runyon Canyon Loop Distance: About 3 miles round-trip Special Feature: The views at Cloud’s Rest, the dogs off leash and the occasional celebrity sighting From Hollywood Boulevard, head north on Fuller Avenue. Park at the end of Fuller and enter the well-marked park. Take the trail to the right and complete the loop counterclockwise. By no means is this hike a wilderness experience, so if you’re looking for solitude, this might not be the hike for you. On the other hand, this is a great hike for peoplewatching, and it gives beginning hikers a chance to check out the Hollywood Hills and the amazing views at the trail summit, known as Cloud’s Rest. Whether you’re wearing the latest hiking gear or just sandals and sun hats, this is a fun hike highlighted by million dollar mansions and priceless views of the Hollywood sign, the Sunset Strip and the rest of the LA Basin. Hiking with dogs? This is the trail for you as the area has evolved into LA’s de facto dog park. topanga State park trek trail: Los Liones Trail to Parker Mesa Overlook Distance: About 7 miles round-trip Special Feature: The magnificent views at Parker Mesa Overlook This hike is somewhat more difficult, with switchbacks and steep hill climbs in the first two miles. Also, the hike has an elevation gain of about 1,300 feet, making it a tougher climb. The hike begins in Pacific Palisades at the end of Los Liones Drive, just north of Sunset Boulevard. There’s a parking lot at the end of the street where you can leave the car. From there, follow the trail up to East Topanga Fire Road and follow that to the turnoff for the Parker Mesa Overlook. Head up this final stretch to the awaiting views of Santa Monica, the coast and Pacific Palisades. All the effort it took to make the hike will be quickly forgotten as you gaze out from your vantage point atop the bluff. Enjoy a picnic lunch or relax on a bench while you enjoy the overlook before making the return hike. Griffith park trails trails: Griffith Observatory West Trail Loop and Brush Canyon Trail Distance: The West Trail Loop is about 2.5 miles; the Brush Canyon Trail is 2 miles Special Feature: Views of Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign and the LA Basin on the Griffith Observatory West Trail Loop; peace and quiet on the Brush Canyon Trail and spectacular views near Mount Hollywood Drive The first hike starts at the Fern Dell picnic area near Los Feliz Boulevard. You can pick up the trail near the creek past the restrooms. Stay to the right and head uphill toward the Griffith Observatory. You’ll be able to stop and enjoy views of the city along the way. As the trail flattens out, you’ll see a trail to the right leading up to the observatory. On the way back, stay right all the way down the hill. The trail will curve around a bit and then take you back to the Fern Dell picnic area. The second hike leads up Brush Canyon from the end of Canyon Drive. You can park in the lot on Canyon Drive, located just past Bronson Park. From there, head uphill past the gate and pick up the trail on the fire road heading toward the Pacific Electric quarry. You’ll pass a park and a picnic area and then climb out of the canyon. After about ¾ of a mile, the trail intersects with the Mulholland Trail. Follow the trail to the right and continue another ¼ mile to Mount Hollywood Drive. To get back, follow the same route, taking a left at the Mulholland Trail junction. Photo: Hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains ©iStockphoto.com/BreAnn Mueller Will rogers State park trek trail: Rustic Canyon Loop/Inspiration Point Trail Distance: About 6 miles round-trip Special Feature: Exploring what was once the private ranch of a Hollywood star Head to Will Rogers State Park in Santa Monica. The main road to the park is just off Sunset Boulevard about a half mile east of Chataqua Boulevard. You can park in the car near the visitor’s center. The hike begins just behind the main ranch house at the park, next to the sign for Inspiration Point Trail. After about a mile, you’ll see the turnoff for Inspiration Point. It’s a quick detour and worth the effort to head up this side route for some spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the LA Basin and the Santa Monica Mountains. Follow Backbone Trail to the junction with Rustic Canyon. Follow that trail back to Will Rogers Park. After the hike, explore the park and enjoy a picnic on the massive lawn in front of the house. Santa Monica Mountains Waterfall trek trail: Escondido Canyon and Falls Distance: 4.2 miles round-trip Special Feature: The waterfall at the end of the trail Head northwest on the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Santa Monica for about 17 miles. Just past Latigo Canyon Road, you’ll see the turnoff for East Winding Way where you can park in the well-marked lot. Follow the paved road toward the mountains. It’s a little less than a mile to the end of East Winding Way. You’ll see the entrance of Escondido Canyon Park clearly marked at the end of the pavement. From here, it’s about a mile-long trek to the falls. The trail crosses Escondido Canyon Creek several times, so be prepared to get your feet wet if you’re hiking in the rainy season. This is a gradual climb that drifts in and out of tree covering, alongside canyon walls. Soon, you’ll be standing at the base of the 50-foot-high Escondido Falls, admiring the multi-tiered cataract flowing over moss-covered rocks. In the springtime, the waterfall is usually quite active, but the amount of water can vary depending on when you visit. You can scramble up the rocks to the upper level and see even more of the falls — the upper tier is about 100 feet high. Wading in the pool beneath the falls is a great way to cool off before you head back along the same route. 51
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.