Trekking in Fall Hikes

Take a break from pumpkin carving, costume-creating and party-planning this fall to take advantage of the picturesque scenes surrounding Santa Monica. The fall is a perfect time to enjoy the outdoors without the grueling heat and countless tourists of summer. There are plentiful hikes right in our backyard that provide a mini vacation from the havoc of living in a city.Sandstone peak, a trail about 20 minutes from Santa Monica, will take you to the highest point of the Santa Monica Mountains- assuring a view of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Bay. The trail has a rocky terrain, and reaching the peak is a fun challenge. Because Sandstone peak is not a hike many have on their radar, it is almost always a quiet setting, perfect for relaxing and appreciating the view.Just a few miles outside of Santa Monica, trails such as Temescal and Los Liones offer a more moderate workout with an equally beautiful aesthetic. Los Liones is about a 1.3 mile trek up a hill to reach the viewing point- where on a clear day you can see as far as Catalina Island. Temescal’s 7.6 mile round- trip peak offers a 360-degree view triangled in between Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Calabasas. Both border Pacific Palisades, which is just a fifteen minute drive from most places in Santa Monica.Will Rogers, a brief but sight- filled hike in Malibu, begins at a polo field. There is often a polo match going on, and the sidelines are perfect for a picnic.The trail, which passes stables of horses, cuts through the Malibu hills and returns back to a horseback riding facility.Malibu Creek State hike is tucked away in the Malibu Mountains, and has entertaining features like natural springs/rock climbing. The trail passes multiple ranches and beautiful fields that offer an atmosphere much different from the busy streets of Santa Monica.Step outside and indulge in a mini getaway this fall.