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Hiking Beacon Hill Loop in Griffith Park

September 5, 2018 By Jeff Hester Leave a Comment

Hike the Beacon Hill Loop Trail in Griffith Park

Looking for a short, after-work hike in Griffith Park with fewer crowds and great city views? This 3.8 mile loop hike with a stop at the easternmost peak in the Santa Monica Mountains might be exactly what you’re looking for. The trail follows broad double-track dirt trails that are perfect for trail running, dog walking […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, dog-friendly, easy, Griffith Park, LA County, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Mountains, vista

Hiking La Tuna Canyon Trail

January 15, 2017 By Jeff Hester 7 Comments

Hiking the La Tuna Canyon Trail

La Tuna Canyon Trail is a little gem on the northwest side of the Verdugo Mountains. The trailhead is officially in Sunland, and easy to reach from both the 210 and 5 freeways on – what else – La Tuna Canyon Road. The Verdugo Mountains are easily accessible and provide great 360-degree views of LA and the […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, dog-friendly, LA County, Verdugo Mountains

Hike Los Liones Canyon to Parker Mesa Overlook

August 12, 2016 By Jeff Hester 4 Comments

Hiking Los Leones Canyon Trail to Parker Mesa Overlook

Los Liones Canyon winds it’s way through brush that at times spills over the trail, creating a tunnel. It climbs, and climbs… and climbs (you’ll really feel it on a hot sunny day), finally reaching the epic coastal views of Parker Mesa Overlook. This is a great seven mile out-and-back hike with decent vertical gain […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 6-8 miles, coastal, LA County, moderate, State Park, sunset, Topanga State Park, vista

Skull Rock and Temescal Loop

June 23, 2015 By Jeff Hester 1 Comment

The Temescal Loop trail is one of my favorite hikes on days when the sun dips low. This variation includes a side trip further up the ridge to Skull Rock. And yes, it really does look like a skull (with a little imagination). With the addition of a small side trip to Skull Rock, this […]

Filed Under: State Parks, Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, coastal, easy, LA County, Pacific Palisades, Skull Rock, Temescal Canyon, Topping State Park, vista, waterfall

Hiking Mt Baldy: Climb for Heroes 2015 Recap

April 20, 2015 By Jeff Hester 3 Comments

On April 12th, I had the privilege of hiking up 10,064′ Mt. Baldy, raising money for The Heroes Project. The annual event is called the Climb for Heroes, and the money helps wounded veterans — soldiers who have lost one or both legs in service — redefine who they are as they summit the highest […]

Filed Under: Hiking News Tagged With: 11+ miles, dog-friendly, LA County, peakbagging, scenic, strenuous

Hiking Portuguese Bend Reserve

February 13, 2015 By Jeff Hester 6 Comments

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. […]

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

Chantry Flats to Sturtevant Camp and Mt Zion

January 23, 2015 By Jeff Hester 13 Comments

The beautiful Santa Anita Loop takes you on a 10-mile hike from Chantry Flats to Sturtevant Camp, then on to Mt Zion and back past Hoegee’s Trail Camp and along the Lower Winter Creek Trail. It’s got a 50 foot waterfall, babbling creeks, historical wilderness cabins, deep granite canyons and towering Alder and pine trees. It feels like […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 8-10 miles, dog-friendly, LA County, moderate, peak, peakbagging, scenic, waterfall

Cooper Canyon Falls

August 27, 2014 By Jeff Hester 21 Comments

Cooper Canyon Falls is a beautiful waterfall that flows almost year round, but roars in April-May as the spring snow melts. The falls can be spectacular when you time your hike right, and I’m surprise more people don’t talk about this trail. This hike includes a side trip to Cooper Canyon Campground — a wilderness campsite right […]

Filed Under: Backpacking, Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, Angeles National Forest, Backpacking, dog-friendly, LA County, moderate, Pacific Crest Trail, PCT, waterfall, wilderness

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About Jeff Hester

I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking trails throughout Southern California--and occasionally beyond. I personally hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more...

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