As someone who enjoys hiking in the mountains, winter can feel like a perilous time, as many of Southern California’s high-alpine trails are either painfully cold or covered in snow. Luckily, the Santa Monica Mountains are the perfect destination for those trying to get their fix of tall peaks and never-ending vistas during the colder… Read more »
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15 Refreshing Creek Hikes in the Bay Area
I just love exploring creeks in the Bay Area’s rainy season (roughly November through March). Finally, FINALLY, empty creek beds are filled with water and, for a limited time, we get to hike in water-filled forests. When I’m on a creek hike, everything calms down and tunes in to the shhh sounds of a rushing… Read more »
Silver Falls Loop in Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is certainly not short on scenery … but sometimes those epic views and panoramas can take quite a bit of huffing and puffing to get to. That is not the case with the Silver Falls Loop on the beautiful Ohanapecosh River, which is a relatively easy loop hike from one of… Read more »
Verdugo Motorway and Whiting Woods Motorway Loop
It’s no surprise that of the mountain ranges easily accessible to Angelinos, the San Gabriels and Santa Monicas receive most of the spotlight. They are rugged and expansive and offer jaw-dropping scenery. As a result, the Verdugo Mountains aren’t on the radars of many hikers, despite its proximity to the city and its equally impressive… Read more »
Hahamongna Watershed Loop
Hahamongna Watershed Park, named after a tribe of the Tongva Nation who lived in the area, is a unique river basin where the Arroyo Seco first leaves behind the San Gabriel Mountains on its journey to connect with the Los Angeles River. In its native tongue, Hahamongna means “Flowing Waters, Fruitful Valley” – an apt… Read more »
Getty View Trail
Tucked away in Bel Air is a little gem of a hike. The Getty View Trail sits just east of Sepulveda Pass and is a short but rewarding trek along a fire road that is the perfect add-on for those visiting the Getty Center. Not only will this easy trail give you a new perspective… Read more »
Granite Mountain and Roundtop Trail
As a Los Angeles resident who spends most of my time at or near sea level, it’s always special when I can get up to higher elevations. I’d had a hankering to stretch my legs in the mountains for the past few weeks and finally embarked on a hike to Granite Mountain and Roundtop to… Read more »
Sisar Canyon Road to White Ledge Camp
Cradled between the Topatopa and Sulphur mountains sits the town of Ojai. This tourist destination is known for its boutique shops and hotels, thriving arts scene, pink moment, and of course, superb hiking. Having rarely explored this part of Southern California myself, I wanted to find a trail that gave me a sampler of the… Read more »
9 Wildlife-Watching Hikes in the Bay Area
The Bay Area’s richly diverse habitats, from tidal mudflats to ocean edges, chaparral-covered hills to redwood streamsides, are home to an incredible variety of wildlife. And it is so fun to spot them on a hike! Peeking over mixed landscapes and waterways, we have the chance to see whales and sea lions along the coast, condors… Read more »
Scholl Canyon Trail
Diving along the 134 by Eagle Rock, you’ll notice a section of undeveloped green space just north of the freeway. And if you’re like me, then I’m sure you’ve asked yourself more than once if it was open to the public. Well, I finally decided to look into this and learned about the Scholl Canyon… Read more »