Besides the waterfall (best seen during the spring), the other highlight of the hike are the ruins of Roberts Ranch House. COVID-19 Update (as of 6/16/2020): The Solstice Canyon Trail is currently open, as well as parking lots and restrooms. Jason and I always hike with a small daypack to carry a few essential items. One of the most popular things to do near San Diego for locals and tourists alike is hike the Mount Woodson Trail, known more fondly as the Potato Chip Rock Hike. They’re commonly found in the shrubbery around the trail and even on the trail sometimes, so stay on the path and be mindful as you hike. Otherwordly desert landscapes. Alpine. Hike on excellent trail to the summit of 8,041' Waterman Mountain (aka Mt Waterman), in the magnificent San Gabriel high country. Great ideas for hikes. And a plethora and a half of hikers exploring them. Orange County - Laguna Coast WIlderness Park. The trail is a moderate and steady climb of 1,050 ft to the back of the Hollywood Sign on the peak of Mount Lee. My husband went to CSU of Channel Islands and even though the University isn’t actually on the island, it alerted me to it’s existence and I really want to visit. I recommend starting on the scenic Devil’s Backbone Trail from Manker Campground and then coming back down on Baldy Bowl Trail for a nice 11-mile loop. Ready for some activity? The Best Hikes in Southern California Los Angeles, AKA cement city, is probably not the first place that comes to mind when you think of scenic mountain hikes enveloped by nature. After living abroad for five years in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Greece, and Portugal she has finally found a home in San Francisco, California. In fact, it’s a popular training hike for those who want to eventually hike Mount Whitney and other more intense peaks in California and beyond. While the California Coastal Trail winds along the 1,200 miles of the state’s coast, not many people have to time to hike the entire distance. Of course, if you are at the very beginning of your training regimen, you might start with lower mileage and elevation … Beginning at the Switzer Falls Picnic Area, hikers hop on the Gabrielino Trail to reach the two-tier Switzer Falls. Located 2 hours east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree comprises two deserts: the Mojave and the Colorado. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons. A good cardio workout with great city and ocean views, and dog friendly. 2 Trails. Take a look at our favorites below or browse them all! You may also find the Wikipedia entry on hiking useful and entertaining. To get to Scorpion Anchorage and the start of the hike, you’ll need to take an hour-long ferry from Ventura – keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins! Nice hike up easy to follow but sometimes crowded trail to mostly year round flowing 40' waterfall. Cucamonga Peak. So beautiful! “ This is a popular, fairly strenuous hike that is mostly steps, but it is lots of fun, has great views from the top, and is a good stair workout ! Blossom Valley. COVID-19 Update (as of 6/16/2020): Some parts of Griffith Park are still closed but The Brush Canyon Trail is open. 9. You just helped me to add more places to visit next time I can travel there! But once you do, you’ll be able to take all the Lion King poses or yoga tree poses your heart desires. Find the top rated hiking trails in California, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Burbank & Glendale. Go early in the day or on a weekday to avoid the crowds and to have more solitude on your hike. Located at the base of Verdugo Mountains, Sun Valley encompasses the San Fernando Valley region and shares a border with areas like Burbank and … And one of the best ways to experience the region’s stunning deserts, palm trees, and coastal views is by hitting the trails. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of the ocean, rocky cliffs, and Ventura and Santa Barbara in the distance. j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? Secluded beaches. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There is something so magical about being out in the open air with the people you love. If you are seeking an easy trail that’s under three miles and provides the most magnificent view at the top, you’ll want to wander along this enchanting path that will take you to the top of the world. In order to get onto the rock, you have to be okay with making a slightly scary leap. Escondido Falls. The conversation just flows freely when you're able to relax and chat as you walk! Inside the pack is water, granola bars or … The house was originally designed by Paul Williams in 1952 as a relaxing retreat in the canyon, but it was burned down by wildfires in the 1980s. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA—Southern California is a region home to hills, valleys, and plenty of hiking trails. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast! Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. After living in the region for five years, these are my picks for the top day hikes in Southern California to get out in nature and really see just how beautiful California can be. And since our weather is so good we can hike all year! This short out-and-back trail will give you a nice scenic view over Borrego Palm Canyon, and it’s a great way to end a few hours of hiking in the desert. Riverside And San Bernardino Counties. If you’re looking for a full day of hiking, there are various other trails that go through Solstice Canyon that are around 3-4 miles long. Early spring’s magic is the wildflower bloom! Minus the very beginning of the hike, the trail is mostly unshaded and it can get very hot so it’s best to hike early in the day or just before sunset. This way, you can do an out-and-back hike where you turn around and walk back the way you came once you reach the waterfall. These are good to add on if you’re looking for a longer day of hiking in Malibu. Snow-covered mountains. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, GPS maps, elevation profiles, directions, … Also, if you’re looking for a difficult but manageable mountain hike, Mt Baldy is a good one to start with. 1 Trails. Hiking Mount Baldy, also known as Mount San Antonio, is a rite of passage for any outdoorsy Los Angeles local and anyone looking for a hiking adventure near the city. For those who are looking for a serious hike, one of the more difficult hikes in Southern California is hiking Mount Baldy on the Devil’s Backbone Trail and the Baldy Bowl Trail. Mountains are beautiful and exciting, but must be respected as well. Take a look at some of our other posts: We’ve also got a ton of other posts to help you explore California. You will hike 5 miles to the famous bridge that was seemingly built in the middle of nowhere. Although Lia’s lived in California for a decade – and Jeremy for over three decades – we’re woefully unfamiliar with Southern California. One of the great things about hiking tall peaks in Southern California is that you’ll quickly gain a geographic awareness of the surrounding area. These photos are stunning! Today we're sharing some of our family's favorite spots for kid-friendly hiking … Your email address will not be published. Mount San Gorgonio is the highest peak in Southern California at 11,503ft. Joshua Tree National Park has long been a popular destination for hikers in Southern California. Hummingbird Trail in Simi Valley. If you’re looking for amazing views over the Inland Empire, you’ll find some of the best hikes in southern California at Cucamonga Peak. 3 Easy Hikes by the Ocean in Orange County, California When I am sitting in my yard in Rhode Island, where I transplanted to from California, my memories of home always include being by the beach. I definitely want to do some of these hikes one day! Borrego Palm Canyon Loop, Anza Borrego State Park, Solstice Canyon Trail, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Yucca Point Trail, Torrey Pines State Reserve, Cowles Mountain Hike, Mission Trails Regional Park, Ryan Mountain Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, Smuggler’s Cove Trail, Channel Islands National Park, El Moro Canyon Loop Trail, Crystal Cove State Park, Day Hiking Essentials for Southern California, 8 Scenic Day Hikes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, The Ultimate 10-Day Highway One Itinerary, 8 Places to Visit in California’s Central Coast, Self-Guided Beer & Bike Tour in Los Angeles, California, different trails at Torrey Pines State Reserve, The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks, & Restaurants, Ultimate Camping Checklist: 42 Car Camping Essentials, 10 Magical Things to Do in Washington DC in the Winter (& Why You Should Spend Christmas in Washington DC), 24 Tips & Essentials for Remotely Working: How to Work From Home … or Anywhere, 9 Things to Do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the Winter, 12 Must-Visit Paso Robles Breweries (& Distilleries), 9 Fantastic Things to do in Fort Collins, Colorado: A Local’s Guide. Joshua Trees, pristine beaches, and mountain climbs: there’s a lot that Southern California has to offer, from Disneyland to major cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. It’s also home to one of the rarest trees in the world – the Torrey Pine Tree. The Easy Trail In Southern California That Will Take You To The Top Of The World There’s no shortage of stunning hiking trails in Southern California to satisfy your inner explorer. Wow, Smuggler’s Cove Trail looks super cool and I didn’t even know about it before! Hiking tip: Watch out for rattlesnakes along the hike. Would love to go to Joshua Tree as well Thanks so much for sharing this! Contributor Bio: Mimi McFadden is a travel blogger, avid hiker, and paneer enthusiast. Southern California is known for its hot, dry climate and near-perfect year-round weather (minus maybe its deserts that get scorching in the summer). Drop us a comment below! I’ve never been to California but I had no idea there were so many great trails. Climbing almost 4,000 feet in elevation over 11 miles isn’t an easy feat, but if you’re looking for an all-day hike near Los Angeles, it’s well worth the journey. And once you reach the top of the 1,700-foot mountain, you’ll be rewarded with even more views of the Griffith Observatory, Lake Hollywood Reservoir, Dodger Stadium, and the Santa Monica Mountains in the distance – as well as the back of the Hollywood Sign for that perfect Instagram-worthy shot. If you’re like me and you love to spend time hiking or being outdoors, Southern California is one of those places that you can go that will offer you a wide range of different hiking trails. Well graded though shadeless trail to lovely tree-lined stream with multi-tiered waterfall 100' total height, Great beginner’s loop trail featuring expansive ocean, city, and canyon views, a lovely seasonal stream with waterfalls, and old growth oak and sycamore forest. If this description of Southern California surprises you, it’s time to head out and explore! You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog, The Atlas Heart. Towards the end, you’ll reach a shady fan palm oasis, and a little further on a seasonal waterfall that usually pops up in the spring. The full loop includes more of an elevation change on the way back if you continue on from the waterfall. Malibu has a lot of great hikes, but a local favorite is the Solstice Canyon Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! That’s a great hiking bucket list indeed! Southern California has a veritable plethora of hiking trails. However, last year I visited for the superbloom so that got me out of the city and away from the beach. Also crucial to your new activity is knowledge and proper use of also of hiking gear. Hiking Mount Baldy, also known as Mount San Antonio, is a rite of passage for any outdoorsy Los Angeles local and anyone looking for a hiking adventure near the city. Great beginner’s loop trail featuring seasonal waterfalls, nice views down San Juan Creek basin, and old growth oak forest. This beachside trail takes you on an easy jaunt along the golden cliffs of Torrey Pines and down to the beach for a sandy afternoon near the water. This blog post was created by a contributing writer. … The Borrego Palm Canyon Loop is a relatively easy and quick hike that takes you through the San Ysidro Mountains, past various types of cacti and desert brush, to an oasis in the middle of the canyon. One thing to note is that Crystal Cove State Park gets very busy in the summer and on weekends. San Gorgonio is the tallest mountain in Southern California, at just over 11,500 feet. Rushing waterfalls. Are you a blogger, writer, or just an avid traveler with lots of travel tips to share? There are many hiking trails in the area so a good place to start is at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. Mount Baldy is the highest point in Los Angeles County at 10,064 feet. 99.9% of hikers are firmly in the day-hike only camp, and usually it’s just a matter of not knowing how to start and where to go to gain some backpacking experience. Exotic red sandstone formations like Sedona (on a much smaller scale) in the OC with super easy access. COVID-19 Update (as of 6/16/2020):  Anza Borrego State Park is currently open with limited parking. Our contributing writer Mimi has lived and hiked all over SoCal. I’d love to do the Brush Canyon Trail – what a view!!! '&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= Share what you know about this area! (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); Because it’s such a popular hike … Nice guide. The best of Southern California is often enjoyed outdoors along one of its many hiking trails that showcases its abundant beauty. Credit: Flickr. So many beautiful hikes! There are numerous trails to get up to the summit of Mt Baldy. Helpful. Note that Southern California is blessed with a wonderfully diverse array of different types of terrain, so you can continue to find challenge and excitement in your hikes as your conditioning level improves. 4. It’s easy to get turned around because some of the trails are a little overgrow in spots. In addition to its most popular feature, the Mount Woodson Trail takes you through chaparral and granite boulders on your way to the tallest peak in the area. I love hiking in Joshua Tree so it was great to see it listed. COVID-19 Update (as of 6/16/2020): Channel Islands National Park is currently open and boat transportation is running again, although at limited capacity. It starts as early as January and it’s over by April – at least at lower elevations (we definitely don’t think of the Sierra Nevada which is mostly covered by snow even in April). Starting from Scorpion Anchorage and ending at Smuggler’s Cove, this 7.7-mile hike takes you past diverse ecosystems and highlights some of the unique nature that makes the Channel Islands such a special place. Which Southern California hiking trail is at the top of your list? There are some steep inclines as you make your way to the top, but along the way you’ll be treated to a colorful display of wildflowers (in the spring), grassy hills, oak trees, willow trees, and glimpses of the ocean. The trail is a fairly short and straight-forward out-and-back hike, but the real challenge comes in the steep elevation change of 1,069 feet in a mere 1.5 miles. Hike into a wonderful sea side canyon featuring great ocean views, old growth oak trees, interesting historical ruins, and a lovely seasonal waterfall. An often overlooked state park, Anza Borrego is one of the most beautiful and underrated places to go hiking near San Diego. All campsites still remain closed. Everyone has to start somewhere, no matter what the activity. Hiking Preparation. In my opinion, a great training hike will be at least 7+ miles long round trip and will have a minimum of 3,000+ feet of total elevation gain. COVID-19 Update (as of 6/16/2020): Crystal Cove State Park is currently open, including parking lots, the beach, and all hiking trails. If you're looking for great California state park trails, check out Mount Tamalpais State Park. COVID-19 Update (as of 6/16/2020): Torrey Pines State Reserve is currently closed. After you have done your initial research, pick one of the beginner hikes below and go for it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the San Gabriel Mountains, Switzer Falls is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in Southern California. Required fields are marked *. There are 5,267 moderate trails in California ranging from 0.6 to 349.1 miles and from -246 to 13,041 feet above sea level. Along the way, you’ll have sprawling views of Los Angeles behind you and the Hollywood Sign in front of you – it doesn’t get much more LA than that! Exposed granite, great views, and healthy alpine forest give this hike a flavor of the Sierras, but much closer to home. This collection of trails in Southern California (Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County) lists hikes roughly from north to south. The reserve is just north of La Jolla in Northern San Diego County, and features 2,000 acres of coastal views, sunshine, and desert flora and fauna. These hikes offer easy access with parking at the trailhead, and also a nice combination of scenic value and easy to moderate terrain. Another great feature of Southern California hikes is that we can have snow in the winter and nice weather down below, so we can drive to the snow, take a day hike, and drive home to sun and warmth. Southern California doesn’t only boast sunny weather to make it a perfect destination. Your email address will not be published. This popular hike starts off on a wide paved road in Malibu and winds up into the hills between multi-million dollar mansions with perfect ocean views. It’s frequented by runners, bikers, walkers, and dog owners … 3 years ago we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. We’ve only experienced a small fraction of hiking trails in California, so I asked fellow bloggers and outdoor enthusiasts to share their thoughts on the best hikes. One of the most overlooked national parks in California, the Channel Islands located off the coast of Ventura/Oxnard are an outdoor paradise for the adventurous hiker. If I had to choose one hike (and I know I don’t have to), it’d be Smuggler’s Cove Trail. Please read this. The trail is beautiful and interesting. Every season is hiking season with unique beauties in California. Here you can pick up a map of the various places to hike. Psst: Looking for more outdoor adventures in California? The Bridge to Nowhere Trail in San Gabriel Mountains is one of the popular spots for hiking in Southern California. Hiking between October and May is the best time to take advantage of cooler weather as well as enjoy waterfalls, wildflowers and greenery from California’s seasonal winter rains! The trail almost has a tropical feel to it, which is a nice change from the usual dusty hikes in the region! Perhaps the most important information you can have is knowledge of hiking safety, so that you and your hiking companions remain safe. Because it’s such a popular hike in the Los Angeles area, it’s best to leave at sunrise or tackle it on a weekday when there are fewer crowds. 10) Mount Baldy, San Bernardino County. This trail is relatively flat, and can even be walked in just a pair of comfortable sneakers as opposed to hiking boots. Easy, uncrowded, and surprisingly scenic loop in an unspoiled canyon close to civilization. Although this is the Channel Island’s most popular hike, you often won’t come across more than a handful of people on the hike (it really is that underrated). Photo by Raymond Serna. If we’ve missed one of your favorite trails, let us know in the comments below. The 360-degree panoramic view of Joshua Tree from the summit gives you a good overview of the landscape and the main highlights the park has to offer. At the top, you’ll get stunning views looking out over Palomar Mountain, Lake Poway, and the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Areas Within Southern California. If you’re visiting Joshua Tree for the first time, this can be a good hike to start with to get your bearings in the park. You can’t find a much more scenic hike than the Yucca Point Trail at Torrey Pines State Reserve. A popular mountain hike near San Diego, the Cowles Mountain hike is a short but steady climb to the highest point in the city of San Diego at 1,593 feet. Easy hike to lovely 18' waterfall in a beautiful mountain canyon, but a rough road to … Definitely worth it. There are an endless number of trails for hiking in Southern California, so how did I base my criteria for a great training hike? No. They vary from a few hours to a few days. The trails that range from going along the coast, trails through the redwood forests and trails through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Whether you’re looking for good views at the top of a mountain, cacti explorations, or breezy coastal walks next to the ocean, the hiking in Southern California is diverse, scenic, and one-of-a-kind. “ Ryan Mountain Trail,located in Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California is a terrific half day hike to one of them any scenic trail hikes in Joshua Tree National Park! Take it away, Mimi! Stick to the trails or use the road. Gray Butte Trail, Mt Shasta . But I understand that there are an overwhelming amount of options for hiking in California… Once you’re done climbing down from the ridge, head to Crystal Cove State Beach to lay out near the water and enjoy the perfect weather of Orange County. You can see the oceans, mountains, and the desert all in one day if you really wanted to.In each SoCal county, you’ll find various hiking trails and majestic views, but there are a few hikes that rank highest on the scale. You’d be forgiven if you didn’t realize this, as on most days, Mount Baldy is obscured in the city’s ever-present smog. There are numerous hikes you can tackle to get up to the Hollywood Sign, but the Brush Canyon Trail is by far the most popular choice. The map and table included below contain all the Southern California Beginner hikes from the different areas covered on this site. I am so impressed by all those landscapes! Accessing the summit will give you miles of views – from the ocean to the desert – on a clear day. Angeles National Forest. The most well-known feature of this hike is reaching Potato Chip Rock, which, as the name suggests, is a rock that looks like a thin potato chip. This hiking trips trail boasts the highest point in Los Angeles County; where you’ll discover some of the most challenging day hikes, and hidden waterfalls, located in beautiful Southern California. Jason and I always hike with a small daypack to carry a few.... 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