• COVID-19 Park and Trail Closures
  • Learn about the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
  • Shop
  •  

SoCal Hiker

  • Find a Hiking Trail
    • All Areas
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Los Angeles
    • Orange County
    • Oregon
    • San Francisco Bay
    • Washington
  • Trail Guides
  • Six-Pack of Peaks
    • Colorado Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Bergen Peak
      • Rocky Mountain
      • Birthday Peak
      • Horseshoe Mountain
      • Grays Peak
    • New England Six-Pack of Peaks
    • NorCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mount Umunhum
      • Mount Saint Helena
      • Mount Tamalpais
      • Mount Diablo
      • Mount Sizer
      • Rose Peak
    • Oregon Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Tumalo Mountain
      • Black Butte
      • Black Crater
      • Maiden Peak
      • Mount Bachelor
      • South Sister
    • SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mt. Wilson
      • Cucamonga Peak
      • Mt. San Antonio (Mt Baldy)
      • San Bernardino Peak
      • San Jacinto Peak
      • San Gorgonio
  • Backpacking
    • High Sierra Trail
    • John Muir Trail
      • Overview of the John Muir Trail
      • Training
      • Day-by-Day Itinerary
      • Resupply Addresses
      • JMT Discussion Forum
    • Lost Coast Trail
    • North/South Lake Loop
    • Rae Lakes Loop
    • Red Peak Pass Loop
    • Theodore Solomons Trail
    • Trans-Catalina Trail
    • Wonderland Trail
  • Gear
  • Forums
    • Latest Topics
    • Ask a Question
    • Campfire
    • Trails
    • Trail Reports
    • Gear Wisdom
    • Classifieds
  • Login

Hiking Portuguese Bend Reserve

February 13, 2015 By Jeff H 6 Comments

Hiking Portuguese Bend Reserve

The Rancho Palos Verdes peninsula is a prominent feature in Southern California geography. It protrudes into the Pacific Ocean as if it could almost touch Catalina Island. The hills of Palos Verdes really stand out against the flat terrain surrounding it, making it instantly recognizable from a hike on nearly any hill or mountain in SoCal.

img
Trail Details
Distance: 3.1 miles

Time: 60-90 min.
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 855 ft
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Year-round
Download the GPX

Portuguese Bend Reserve in Palos Verdes is a 399 acre park established in 2005. It’s a great place for a hike with views of the Pacific. Catalina Island feels incredibly close. And this sweet little 3.1 mile loop takes you up the Rim Trail, past an awesome pillow lava outcrop called Ailor’s Cliff in honor of conservancy founder Bill Ailor.

Getting There

The trail begins at the top of the park. Yep, it’s one of those inverted hikes where you hike downhill in the beginning and uphill at the end. Don’t let that dissuade you from checking it out. There is free street parking along Crenshaw Boulevard near Burrell Lane (heed the street signs).  You can calculate turn-by-turn directions here on Google Maps.

The Trail

Once you’ve parked, you’ll walk to the end of Crenshaw where you’ll see a gate that marks the entrance to the park. Beyond, the road becomes a dirt double-track trail called the Burma Road Trail. This is one of many mixed-used trails in the park, shared by hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and horses.

Entrance to Portuguese Bend Reserve

At 0.5 miles, bear right on the single track trail marked as Peacock Flats Trail. You may see evidence of restoration still underway from a wildfire in the park in 2009. The trail reconnects with the Burma Road Trail, where you’ll bear right and follow the broad trail as it curves south.

At 1.7 miles, we reached the junction with the Rim Trail. This trail is steep and can be slippery, but gives you an up-close view at Ailor’s Cliff — one of the most interesting geological features in the park.

This little footbridge leads up the Rim Trail.


At the top of Ailor’s Cliff — and right at the 2.0 mile mark — you’ll reach a junction with the Paintbrush Trail. Turn around, soak in the views and catch your breath. Then bear left on the Paintbrush Trail. The rest of the uphill will be much more gradual.

Paintbrush Trail

Another 0.3 miles down the trail you’ll reach the Ishibashi Trail. Follow this uphill back to the Burma Road Trail. You’ll find a pit toilet near this junction — the only break you’ll find before you reach your car.

The Ishibashi Trail
Rare shade

This was a great park, and if you live in the area, it’s definitely worth checking out. It was cool to see how close Catalina Island seemed. It almost looked like you could swim there.

This trail would be an easy trail. I’ve labeled it moderate only for the steep, sketchy Rim Trail. As you can see from the map, there are lots of options in the park, so you can remix this hike to make it easier, longer or whatever you’d like.

Portuguese Bend Trail Map

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: Portuguese Bend Loop.gpx

More Portuguese Bend Resources

  • Portuguese Bend Reserve – official website
  • Portuguese Bend to Sacred Cove – A longer hike that goes all the way down to the tide pools of Sacred Cove.

Map of Portuguese Bend Reserve

Portuguese Bend Weather Forecast

The location could not be found.

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, coastal, dog-friendly, LA County, Palos Verdes

Like what you found here at SoCal Hiker? This site is a labor of love. Share your support for the site and help us development of new trail guides and expanded coverage -- make your next outdoor equipment purchase through our advertisers.

You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Jeff H

About Jeff H

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Comments

  1. Kovas Palubinskas (@KovasP) says

    February 13, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    A short hike with views and elevation change sounds really great for a quick day hike to just get out

    Reply
  2. gopeacefullyKari Walker says

    March 23, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    I have been searching high & low for the black and white map of all the trails in Portuguese Bend.
    Yours is the first site where I found a map almost as good because yours was enlarged enough to read. Thanks ever so much. I am headed up to meet friends in the am. You are lucky that your life partner likes to hike with you. Mine did, but not interested any more. Thanks again.

    Reply
    • Jeff HJeff Hester says

      April 1, 2015 at 5:50 am

      Thanks for the kind words, Kari! Glad you find SoCalHiker useful. If you’re looking for people to hike with, be sure to check out our event calendar (link at the very top menu on the site).

      Reply
  3. erinhikes says

    June 28, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    Portugese Bend Reserve is near and dear to my heart! I have been hiking up and down all of these trails for years as training hikes for bigger adventures and also just to get some miles in on the weekend somewhere close to home if I’m too busy to drive up to the mountains. I’ve never had a map for the area because I can never seem to find a good version of one, so every trip is an adventure including different combinations of trails or just different trails all together. I actually JUST discovered Ailor Cliff a few months ago. Thanks for giving Palos Verdes some love!

    Reply
  4. Ashley says

    May 28, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    I know this article was published 3 years ago but just wanted to provide an update for anyone who lands on this page: Rim Trail is closed (due to erosion, I believe) as of late May 2018. So, plan an alternative route to the one listed before you go!

    Reply
  5. Beth C. says

    August 24, 2018 at 9:13 pm

    I have very fond memories of hiking the Peacock Flats area with my dad and dog — way back in the late ’60’s when we lived in Rolling Hills for a few years. Was recently back in the area to poke around, but sadly did not have time to find this hike again. Thanks for the pictures.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About SoCal Hiker

Jeff on Mount Rainier

I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking and backpacking trails with enough detail to make it an enjoyable experience for you. And while I started with trails in Southern California, I’ve expanded across the west. We hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more…

Connect with SoCal Hiker

  • 22,751 Fans
  • 11,946 Followers
  • Followers
  • 1,717 Followers
  • 5,281 Subscribers
  • 342 Subscribers
SoCalHiker was selected one of USA TODAY's 10 Best Hiking and Outdoor Blogs
Get our day-by-day guide to thru-hiking the John Muir Trail
Get up-to-day wildfire status throughout California

Products

  • Mt Shasta Benchmark Mount Shasta Benchmark $39.95
  • San Bernardino Peak Mug San Bernardino Peak Mug $15.95
  • Mt Whitney Replica Benchmark Mt Whitney Benchmark $39.95
  • Mt San Jacinto Benchmark $39.95

Sponsors

Sponsor SoCalHiker and see your banner here

Featured Posts

Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness

Hiking this out-and-back route up Belknap Crater you'll traverse an other-worldly … [Read More...]

Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail

The Oregon Coast is rugged, beautiful and often uncrowded. This bluff-top … [Read More...]

Join Team SoCalHiker at the Climb for Heroes

Team SoCalHiker is climbing Mount Baldy again as part of the annual Climb for Heroes … [Read More...]

Lastest Comments

  • Amy Courtney on Ridgeline Trail
  • Jay Eleanor on Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail
  • Charles Krim on Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail
  • 11 Best California Bikepacking Routes | Wild Lumens on Inside Crystal Cove State Park
  • Ted Thed on Burbank Peak, Cahuenga Peak, Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign
Get your SoCalHiker stickers now

Get your SoCalHiker stickers!

Latest Posts

  • Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness October 20, 2022
  • Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail August 25, 2022
  • Join Team SoCalHiker at the Climb for Heroes August 23, 2022
  • Hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop in the White Mountain National Forest August 18, 2022
  • Hiking Turtlehead Peak from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area July 15, 2022

Recent Forum Topics

  • How to deal with accidents while hiking in the winter?
  • Warm Tips for your hiking in winter
  • Some tips for hiking.
  • Keep your body warm in the winter hiking
  • The benefits of hiking, more than you can imagine!

The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series

Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge SeriesThe Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series gives you an opportunity to explore your world while supporting a great cause. There are eleven challenges around the country. Hike or run them at your own schedule.

Flex your adventure muscles!

Learn more here.

 

Search

Tags

3-6 miles 6-8 miles 8-10 miles 11+ miles Arizona Backpacking coastal dog-friendly easy family-friendly High Sierra Trail hiking Hiking The John Muir Trail hipster inspiration JMT John Muir John Muir Trail Kings Canyon National Park LA County moderate Mount Rainier National Park Muir Monday National Park Orange County Oregon out of bounds Pacific Crest Trail peak peakbagging quote scenic Sequoia National Park Sierra Nevada Six-Pack of Peaks State Park strenuous Thru-hiking Utah vista Washington waterfall wilderness Wonderland Trail Yosemite

Copyright © 2023 SoCalHiker.net · Metro Theme on Genesis Framework with WPEngine Hosting · Contact SoCal Hiker · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

 

Loading Comments...