Hiking Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail is a rewarding experience, rich with history. First, Echo Mountain itself is the site of the ruins of the Echo Mountain House — a hotel built in the late 1800’s by Thaddeus Lowe. There were no roads to this hotel — you reached it by an incline […]
M*A*S*H Hike in Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park was one of the first areas I hiked when I moved to Southern California. This easy out-and-back trail travels alongside Malibu Creek through some great terrain and old growth oak trees, with a special bonus — a visit to the site of the Robert Altman’s 1970 movie hit M*A*S*H, as well […]
Burbank Peak, Cahuenga Peak, Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign
Are you a peak bagger? I have a hiking friend who loves to bag peaks — or for the uninitiated, hike to the summit. His goal is to reach the summit of as many of the high and prominent peaks as he can. Â He would love this trail, which takes you up three peaks in […]
Hiking Runyon Canyon Park
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
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
A little over two years ago, Derek (@100Peaks), Peter (@ADKinLA)Â 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 […]
Bee Rock and Old Zoo in Griffith Park
Bee Rock juts above the western mountainside of Griffith Park. The sandstone outcrop is pocked with holes, and with the shape, it looks a bit like a beehive. This is a short hike with over 600 ft of total vertical gain, and a fascinating swing through the Old Los Angeles Zoo. While the old zoo […]
Mt. Wilson via Chantry Flats
Standing prominently above Pasadena, Mount Wilson is a Southern California landmark. The 5,713 foot summit is home for an observatory responsible for the most detailed photos of Mars as well a vast array of antennae for local LA radio and television stations. While the summit is steeped in astronomical wonder and tremendous views of Los Angeles, the […]
