6 Best Hikes in Los Angeles (West Side Edition)
Best Hikes in Los Angeles
One of our favorite things to do, and one of the things we love most about living in Los Angeles, is hiking. There are no shortage of options here, everything from hikes you can do in 90 minutes to hikes you can spend all day on, hikes that are flat and easy to hikes that are intense and challenging, ones with epic views and ones that take you to see waterfalls. We are truly so fortunate to have so many beautiful hikes so accessible to us here in. And it’s something we definitely don’t take for granted. We try to hike a couple of times a week, usually at one of the spots I’m including on this list below. And since I always seem to get asked questions about what hikes to do in LA, especially here on the west side, I thought it was high time I start a list to coral all the info in one handy dandy spot.
I’ve tried to include a bit of variety as far as level of ease and location, but really these are just the best of the hikes we do the most frequently, mostly because they’re some of the easiest for us to get to here on the west side (they take us 30-45 minutes to get to from Venice or Santa Monica, depending on time of day and traffic). But the epic views of most of them don’t hurt either!
NOTE: I will be sure to update this list any time we discover a new and noteworthy hike. Also, I did include one hike in Malibu but there’s actually so many good hikes there that we love that I honestly feel like it needs it’s own separate hiking guide so expect that at some point (hopefully sooner rather than later ha!).
Los Liones in the Palisades
-Medium level, gets harder the further up you go
-Partially shaded on the bottom, full sun up top
-Plenty of parking + it’s free
-No fee to enter
-Gets especially busy on the weekends, and even more so in summer, but does thin out as you get higher up (basically past the lookout point)
-More info can be found here
One of the first hikes I ever did in LA, and probably one of my favorites. The views are amazing, it’s challenging enough but not too difficult (until you get further up), and it’s definitely a good hike for when you want to get something in but don’t have a ton of time (just hike to the lookout point).
Tuna Canyon in Topanga
THINGS TO NOTE
-Medium-difficult level (there’s some pretty flat, easy parts, and then there are some really steep challenging parts)
-Full sun
-Parking is on the side of the road, can be a bit tight and tricky (it is a narrow dirt road, after all)
-No fee to enter
-More info can be found here
The views of the coast are unmatched on this hike, but you definitely have to work a bit for them. The road to the trail head gets narrow and steep (and harrowing, at least to me), so it’s definitely a trek, but I’m telling you, it’s worth it. Another reason it’s worth it- that same trek is what keeps this trail from getting too packed and crazy, even on weekends. Once you’re there, there are a few trails you can take, some being easier than others, but all of which you’ll get decent views up and down the coast.
Temescal Canyon in the Palisades
THINGS TO NOTE
-Medium-difficult level (I think it’s harder going + easier coming back)
-Full sun
-Parking lot (paid) + street parking (free)
-No fee to enter
-Gets especially busy on the weekends
-Restrooms available
-More info can be found here
Super convenient, lots of trails, good views, easy to get to, definitely lots to love about this hiking area! I tends to get a little busy for my taste (I feel like it’s sometimes the Runyon of the west side haha), so it’s not always my first choice for hiking, and I most definitely avoid it on weekends, but it’s a great mid-week option that isn’t too far andI know will get me a decent workout.
Westridge in Mandeville Canyon
THINGS TO NOTE
-Medium-difficult level (I think it’s harder going + easier coming back)
-Full sun
-Parking lot + plenty of street parking (both free)
-No fee to enter
-Nice wide trail, not overly packed (even on weekends)
-Restrooms are available at the summit
-More info can be found here
Ok, I think this may be my favorite hike. I feel like it is kind of under-the-radar (and I may or may not regret sharing about it), but it’s so good. The trail is nice and wide, it never feels crowded, even on weekends (honestly sometimes it feels like we’re two of only a handful of people on the trail) and it’s definitely a good workout (plus there are additional trails that can make it even harder if you want it to be).
The full thing takes about 3-3 1/2 hours round trip, with the half way point being a good spot for a picnic (there’s actually tables, water fountains and even bathrooms), but you definitely don’t need to do the full thing (if we’re short on time we only do about half of it). Also, lots of great views of all parts of LA (from ocean to downtown to the valley) throughout the hike, too.
Murphy’s Ranch in the Palisades
THINGS TO NOTE
-Medium level
-Mix of sun and shade
-Street parking (free)
-No fee to enter
-More info can be found here
This is a bit of an interesting hike, or should I say, the land this hike is on has a bit of an ugly, dark history. It’s a decent hike, easy-medium level, relatively quiet, not overly long, there’s a really steep set of stairs if you want to kick it up a notch. But here’s the one cool/creepy thing to note about this hike- there are several abandoned structures remaining from the homestead that was once on this land that can be spotted while you’re hiking.
And I say it’s cool/creepy because I know a lot of people think it’s cool, but I definitely get a creepy vibe here, probably because of the dark history of what this place once was (read more about that here). However, from a purely hiking stand point, it’s a decent enough one, and especially good for during the week as it’s a bit easier and shorter.
Escondido Falls in Malibu
THINGS TO NOTE
-Easy level
-Mix of sun and shade
-Parking lot + plenty of street parking (parking lot is paid, street is free)
-No fee to enter
-Gets especially busy on the weekends, and even more so in summer
-More info can be found here
This hike is super easy and, as the name implies, takes you to a water fall (during rainy season), which is kind of cool. It’s not overly long and rather easy, definitely a good thing to do as part of spending the day in Malibu, but be warned, it does get really busy, especially on the weekends.
