Hiking in LA

One amazing thing about living in LA is all the hiking spots nearby. By nearby I mean within less than a 45 minute drive provided traffic is normal for a weekend. Some can even be accessed by public transportation (Griffith Park trails for one).

The trails vary from leisurely 1 to 2 mile strolls with minimal slope to 10+ mile treks up "mountains" and along ridge lines. The "mountains" immediately around the LA basin are pretty nominal in size (around 1000-ft elevation gain from trailhead with the tallest being around 3000-ft above sea level), but are plenty sufficient for weekend hiking. Most trails are wide loose gravel trails. Many are current or former fire roads built to allow access to put out fires and also serve as fire breaks. Some are true trails that are only a foot or two wide. Depending on the park, they may or may not be marked well, so plan ahead and be familiar with your route. The rock that comprises these mountains is very old, so while the range itself is young and still growing, the rock is incredibly brittle and therefore off-trail hiking or rock climbing are really not an option.

typical trail (fire roads are the same material, just wider)

Surprisingly, very few people get out on the trails. There are 10 million people in LA County, but apparently only a handful of them like to hike. I'm not complaining! There are fewer people out on most of the trails around LA than on the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin. Usually there will be a fair number of people on the trail near the trailhead and then as you go up, you see fewer and fewer people until you can walk for 30 minutes without running into anyone. Last weekend my husband and I climbed to the top of an unnamed peak in the Verdugo Mountains and sat at the peak looking at the amazing 360 degree view of the mountain range and Burbank and no one came by while we were there.

Most trails have very little shade (no trees to speak of) unless you are on the back side of the mountain or in a canyon. Temperatures can fluctuate wildly on different sides of the mountain, so wear layers and bring a small backpack to hold layers you've removed. Also, bring water which is common sense for any hiking, but you can end up sweating a lot more than you expect even on a cool winter day. A walking stick is also a good idea because some of the steep parts of the trail are a challenge with all the loose material.