Branch out to these breathtaking LA hikes
Jadyn Miyahira, Staff Writer
Behind LA’s acclaimed entertainment industry lives a pastime medium for many LA locals: hiking. From trails overlooking the vast California coast to treks within forests of green, there is a large assortment of outdoor adventures for everyone to participate in.
Los Liones Trail
The Los Liones Trail, located in Topanga State Park, twists around the Santa Monica Mountains, providing hikers with a fantastic view of Santa Monica, the Palisades and the ocean at the trail’s finale.
The hike consists mostly of a steep zig-zagged trail surrounded by expanding vegetation and will sometimes hit rocky and unstable ground. Moderate to hard in difficulty, this trail can prove to be quite strenuous in hot and dry conditions as there isn’t a lot of sun cover. The Los Liones trail, only a 2.6-mile trek there and back, is concentrated with greenery, wildflowers and even the occasional California Quail.
“Topanga is shrouded by mystery and full of secrets,” Samo student Ethan La Chapelle (’22) said.
Although you may find yourself in a sweat at the end of the trail, there are benches and a stunning view at the top to mitigate your exhaustion. With such an extensive view, it may even be possible to catch a glimpse of the Samo campus.
Traversing Los Liones on a Sunday at 8:30 a.m. still held many masked hikers. Because the trail was also considerably narrow, there were several times when it was necessary to break the six-foot rule or to stop completely to let other parties pass.
For anyone up for a short-yet-dense-with-activity kind of hike, the Los Liones Trail would be perfect. The neighboring shrubs hold a profusion of different kinds of wildlife, so keep your eyes open for any critters!
Temescal Canyon Loop
The Temescal Canyon Loop, located within the Temescal Canyon State Park, is an entertaining hike with a magnificent view.
This hike was moderate in difficulty, but of course, the higher you go up the mountain, the more exposed you are to the drenching sun. Bring lots of water and maybe a hat to provide more protection, especially if you go in the middle of the day. This 2.6-mile-long trail is conveniently looped, allowing hikers to intake new sights at every turn.
Prior to the start of the Temescal Canyon Loop is the Temescal Ridge Trail, which is a short detouring hike filled with overhanging trees and greenery—a brief expedition that diversifies your experience. The Loop, unlike the Ridge Trail, was very dry and hot even on a colder day. The trail going up the mountain was almost at a constant incline, and the ground was often rocky and very trip-inducing. However, the view at the top was stunning, exposing the ocean and Catalina Island. One difficulty on this hike was the abundance of forking turns and lack of signage; so snap a picture of the trail map before you venture in!
Before 9 a.m., the trail was not very crowded; however, as the hour passed, the crowds started trickling in. At some points, the trail was very narrow, which made it difficult to pass other hikers without halting to the side, so going around 8 a.m. would be ideal on the weekend.
For hikers of all levels, the Temescal Canyon Loop is a very exciting excursion. Even if you would only like to hike part of the trail, there are several spots at the bottom to picnic or relax.
Park to Playa Trail
The Park to Playa Trail is one of Culver City’s hidden gems. With the constantly changing scenery, this trail will leave you in awe.
The trail, which can be accessed from several different locations in LA, spreads across 13 miles of land and—at some points—can overlook Santa Monica, Westwood, Hollywood and Downtown LA in one sight. Overall, this hike was easy in difficulty, but definitely demanding enough to break a sweat, even in the chilly morning.
There are a plethora of astonishing sights along the Park to Playa Trail. For instance, there was a rock-climbing wall, the Park to Playa Bridge, a large fishing pond and even a charming Japanese garden. Similarly, the sight of the city (or cities) below was extremely impressive, considering that not many hikes in LA yield such a panoramic view.
At 8 a.m. on a Saturday, this trail was peaceful and was only beginning to attract a crowd; luckily, most of the paths were wide enough to sufficiently pass others at a safe distance. Besides hikers, there were also bikers and several dog walkers enjoying the trail as well.
The Park to Playa Trail is one of the most entertaining hiking trails in LA and is certainly worthy of being repeated. Because this trail encapsulates so many different atmospheres and landscapes, it is perfect for both casual and extreme hikers.
Inspiration Point trail
Inside of Will Rogers State Park, the Inspiration Point Trail is a well-known hike with a fantastic view. If you want to go on a casual, last-minute hike, this trail might be the one for you.
The trail, scoping 2.1 miles of chaparral-filled mountains, is an easy trek for all skill levels. The top of the trail contains several benches and provides hikers with a fantastic view of the city below, as well as the ocean. Like many hikes in LA, Inspiration Point is dry and exposed to the sun, so please stay cool and hydrated if you choose to go.
While trekking the Inspiration Point Trail, you may encounter several different kinds of wildlife, such as birds and small rodents. Additionally, swelling greenery and wildflowers are a definite sight that will be constant throughout the hike. Because this trail can be extended via many bifurcating paths, it can get quite confusing to determine which ways to go; referencing the trail map would help alleviate this difficulty.
This trail can get crowded very quickly, as it is one of the more popular hikes in the LA area. The ideal time to explore Inspiration Point on the weekends would be around 8 a.m.
For hikers of all experience and age, Inspiration Point is a very satisfying trail. Aside from hiking, it is also ideal for picnicking and general exploration.
“Will Rogers is a perfect place to enjoy the outdoors. Whether that’s taking a hike, horseback riding or lying on the green grass with friends, it’s an ideal spot to unwind and relax,” Isabella Gaeta (’22) said.
