Hiking Runyon Canyon Park

Views of LA

Runyon Canyon Park gets a bad rap. The park lies just beyond Hollywood Boulevard, and attracts a steady stream of dog walkers, hikers and trail runners. It’s not unusual to overhear a conversation about script development or a new pilot. It’s not a wilderness trail. You won’t find solitude here. But if you live in [...]

Mt. Hollywood in Griffith Park

Griffith Observatory

Mt. Hollywood at 1,625 ft is the second tallest peak in Griffith Park, with amazing views of the Griffith Observatory, downtown LA, the Hollywood Sign and much more. There are many trails that lead to Mt. Hollywood, but my favorite trail begins near the Ferndell Nature Area. This trailhead has plenty of parking, and some [...]

San Gabriel Peak, Mt Disappointment, Mt Deception, Mt Markham and Mt Lowe

View towards Mt Wilson

A little over two years ago, Derek (@100Peaks), Peter (@ADKinLA) and I journeyed out into the Anza Borrego desert and hiked up Whale Peak. Thus was born the first Hiking Blogger Summit. Last year we had an expanded gathering with a hike in the local Schabarum Regional Park. And this weekend, Derek, Peter and I were [...]

Fish Canyon Falls

Fish Canyon Falls panorama

Looking for an awesome, easy waterfall hike in Southern California? Check out the Fish Canyon Falls. This 80 foot tall waterfall has three tiers and a beautiful, clear pool at the the bottom. The trail itself winds along a tree-lined canyon beside a babbling creek. The payoff? An awesome waterfall, without having to climb thousands [...]

Mt. Lee, the Hollywood Sign and Bronson Caves

Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is a Southern California icon. The historic sign began it’s life as a real estate developer’s advertisement, but took on a life of it’s own. Today it’s a symbol of the importance of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Seen in movies and TV, and instantly recognizable around the world, the Hollywood [...]

Escondido Falls

Upper Escondido Falls in Malibu

Waterfalls in Malibu? You bet! In fact, the multi-tiered, 150 foot Escondido Falls are the highest waterfalls in the Santa Monica Mountains. This is an easy hike through oak-lined Escondido Canyon, just off Pacific Coast Highway in the middle of Malibu. There are a few of things you should know before you hike to Escondido [...]

Peters Canyon Loop

View of the Reservoir

Peters Canyon Regional Park is centrally located in the city of Orange, near foothills of Tustin and Irvine. Because it’s located smack dab in the middle of Orange County, and because it actually has some decent hills with views extending to the coast, Peters Canyon is one of the more popular places to hike in OC. [...]

The 2nd SoCal Hiking Bloggers Tweetup

Bloggers, hiking

Southern California is blessed with an abundance of wonderful trails to explore, and an equal abundance of hikers who share their experiences on a hiking blog. Not only does this make finding new trails easier, but it often gives you better insight on the trails, and sometimes with an entertaining story thrown in, to boot! [...]

Batiquitos Lagoon Trail

Batiquitos Lagoon panorama

Batiquitos Lagoon in north San Diego County is one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the southern coast of the United States. Located between Carlsbad and Encinitas, the lagoon is managed as a wildlife preserve by the California Department of Fish and Game. This lagoon is home to several protected nesting areas and water [...]

Salt Creek Trail

Views stretching out to the ocean

One of the challenges of winter is that during the week, it’s already dark outside when I leave the office. I don’t mind hiking in the dark, but many people aren’t comfortable hiking in the wilderness at night, and most of the regional trails are officially closed from sundown to sunrise. The Salt Creek Trail [...]