Runyon Canyon has more ring lights than trail markers. If you want an actual hiking experience in LA — with ocean views, empty trails, and the chance to see a coyote instead of an influencer’s tripod — these 7 trails are where Angelenos actually go. From a flat coastal walk along the Palos Verdes cliffs to a lung-burning scramble up the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains, every corner of LA has something better than Runyon. We hiked them all, checked the parking situations (because this is LA), and mapped the difficulty spread so you can pick based on how much suffering you want on a Saturday morning.
At a Glance
🏔️ Easiest
Palos Verdes Shoreline — flat, coastal, 2 mi
⛰️ Hardest
Sandstone Peak — 6.1 mi, 1,600 ft gain
💧 Best Waterfall
Escondido Falls — 150 ft, after rain
🌎 Best Views
Parker Mesa — Santa Monica Bay panorama
📅 Best Season
Oct–May (cooler, clearer, waterfalls flowing)
💰 Parking Cost
Free at 5 of 7 trailheads
The 7 Hikes at a Glance
| Trail | Area | Distance | Elevation | Difficulty | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palos Verdes Shoreline | South Bay | 2–4 mi | 200 ft | Easy | Free |
| Monrovia Canyon Falls | San Gabriel Valley | 1.6 mi | 350 ft | Easy | $5 |
| Solstice Canyon | Malibu | 2.9 mi | 666 ft | Easy-Mod | Free |
| Escondido Falls | Malibu | 3.8 mi | 400 ft | Easy-Mod | $12 |
| Mt. Hollywood (Bird Sanctuary) | Griffith Park | 3–4 mi | 680 ft | Moderate | Free |
| Los Liones → Parker Mesa | Pacific Palisades | 7.3 mi | 1,300 ft | Mod-Hard | Free |
| Sandstone Peak (Mishe Mokwa) | Circle X Ranch | 6.1 mi | 1,600 ft | Challenging | Free |
All 7 trails verified open as of April 2026. Several popular LA trails (Temescal Gateway, Eaton Canyon, Echo Mountain) remain closed from the January 2025 wildfires — check NPS.gov/samo or AllTrails before heading out.
The 7 Hikes, Easiest to Hardest
1. Palos Verdes Shoreline Trail — South Bay
Easy • 2–4 miles • 200 ft gain • 35 min from DTLA
This is the hike for people who hate hiking but love views. The Terranea Discovery Trail runs along dramatic ocean cliffs with Catalina Island visible on clear days, tidepools at low tide, and whale watching spotting scopes installed along the path. Gray whales pass through December–May; blue whales show up July–October. The terrain is flat enough for strollers. You can extend the walk to 3–4 miles by linking the Bluff Cove to Lunada Bay segments.
Parking: Free at Pelican Cove parking area (31300 Palos Verdes Dr South). Rarely fills up except holidays. The catch: “May Gray, June Gloom” — coastal fog kills the views May through mid-June. Clear winter mornings are the sweet spot. Pro tip: Check tide tables before going — low tide opens up the tidepools and sea caves along the cliffs.
2. Monrovia Canyon Falls — San Gabriel Valley
Easy • 1.6 miles RT • 350 ft gain • 30 min from DTLA
With Eaton Canyon closed until at least December 2027 (wildfire damage), Monrovia Canyon is the best easy waterfall hike left in the San Gabriel foothills. The 30-foot waterfall flows year-round but is at its best after winter rain. The trail follows a shaded, tree-lined creek through a canyon with stone steps, alder trees, and enough greenery that you forget you’re 30 minutes from downtown LA. Dog-friendly.
Parking: $5–6 per vehicle at the trailhead (1200 N Canyon Blvd, Monrovia). The catches: Closed every Tuesday. Weekend reservations required — they open on Mondays at midnight for the coming weekend. No reservation needed on weekdays, which is another reason to go on a Wednesday. Park hours are 8am–5pm weekdays, 7am–5pm weekends — no sunset hikes here.
3. Solstice Canyon — Malibu
Easy-Moderate • 2.9 miles RT • 666 ft gain • 40 min from DTLA
If we had to pick one hike for someone visiting LA who’s never been on a trail, this would be it. A shaded creek-side path leads to two sets of historic ruins — the Keller House (believed to be the oldest stone building in Malibu, burned in 2007) and the Roberts Ranch mansion, where tropical garden remnants still poke through the rubble. At the end: a 30-foot waterfall tucked into the canyon wall. The combination of ruins, waterfall, and riparian canyon feels like something from a different country, not 40 minutes from the 101.
Parking: Free, but the lot only holds about 20 cars. Open 8am to sunset. If it’s full, park on Corral Canyon Road (adds about a mile round trip). The catch: Weekends fill by 10am. The shaded canyon makes this one of the better summer options in LA — while most Santa Monica Mountain trails bake by noon, Solstice stays cool.
4. Escondido Falls — Malibu
Easy-Moderate • 3.8 miles RT • 400 ft gain • 50 min from DTLA
The tallest waterfall in the Santa Monica Mountains — a 150-foot multi-tiered cascade that’s genuinely impressive after a good rain. The catch: the first mile is along a paved residential road (not exactly wilderness), and only the lower tier (about 50 feet) is publicly accessible. The upper falls are on private property and off-limits — rangers enforce this, and you’re financially responsible for any rescue if you trespass. Don’t be that person.
Parking: $12 at the Winding Way lot. Limited spaces, no overflow. The catch: The waterfall is seasonal — it’s flowing and spectacular January through April after rain, and often bone-dry by late summer. Check recent trip reports on AllTrails before driving out. Best timing: Arrive before 9am on weekends, ideally a weekday morning after a rainy week.
5. Mount Hollywood via Bird Sanctuary — Griffith Park
Moderate • 3–4 miles RT • 680 ft gain • 15 min from DTLA
Yes, it’s Griffith Park. No, it’s not the tourist-packed Observatory path. The trick is starting from Ferndell Nature Area (free parking, more available), hiking up through the Bird Sanctuary, and taking the Hogback Trail to Mount Hollywood summit (1,625 ft, the second-tallest peak in the park). You’ll see maybe 20% of the people compared to the Observatory route and get true 360-degree views — the Hollywood Sign up close, DTLA skyline, San Fernando Valley, and the Pacific on clear days.
Parking: Free at Ferndell. The Observatory lot is paid and fills up by mid-morning on weekends — skip it. The catch: Summer smog kills the views. October through February is when LA’s air is clearest and the panoramas are actually worth the climb. Pro tip: Start at Ferndell before 8am on a clear winter morning. The light on the Hollywood Sign is perfect and you’ll basically have the summit to yourself.
6. Los Liones Trail → Parker Mesa Overlook — Pacific Palisades
Moderate-Challenging • 7.3 miles RT • 1,300 ft gain • 35 min from DTLA
Reopened February 2026 after the Palisades Fire closure. The landscape is dramatically different now — burned trees, stripped vegetation, more exposed terrain — but hikers report the ocean views are actually more expansive with the tree cover gone. Parker Mesa Overlook delivers a panoramic sweep of Santa Monica Bay, the Malibu coastline, and Catalina Island that honestly justifies the 7+ miles of work to get there. This is the hike we recommend when someone says “I want the best view in LA.”
Parking: Free street parking on Los Liones Drive (580 Los Liones Dr, Pacific Palisades). Limited spots — arrive early. The catch: Post-fire conditions mean significantly less shade. Bring extra water (we’d say 3 liters minimum), sun protection, and start early. The first 1.3 miles through the canyon are exposed now. Avoid this one entirely in summer until the vegetation recovers. Best timing: Clear winter or spring morning, start by 7:30am.
7. Sandstone Peak via Mishe Mokwa Trail — Circle X Ranch
Challenging • 6.1-mile loop • 1,600 ft gain • 90 min from DTLA
The highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains at 3,111 feet. This is the hike for people who want to actually earn their view. The Mishe Mokwa loop takes you past Balanced Rock, Echo Cliffs, and Split Rock (a boulder you can squeeze through) before a final push to the summit. On a clear day, you can see the Channel Islands, downtown LA, and the San Gabriel Mountains from the top. It’s the closest thing to a “mountain summit” experience within LA County without going to the Angeles National Forest.
Parking: Free dirt lot at Mishe Mokwa Trailhead (12896 Yerba Buena Rd, Malibu). Overflow at the Sandstone Peak Trailhead 0.75 miles up the road. No permit needed. The catch: It’s far — 90 minutes from downtown, which is why most Angelenos never do it. Exposed sections get brutal in summer. Best timing: October through May, start at sunrise for the best light on the rock formations and cooler temps. Budget 3–4 hours for the full loop.
⚠️ Gear & Prep That Matters in LA
LA hiking is different from Pacific Northwest hiking. Most trails are exposed, dry, and hot for 9 months of the year. A few things that East Coast and Midwest transplants don’t always realize:
💧 Water: Bring 2x what you think you need. We carry 1 liter per hour on exposed trails. There is no shade and no water on most LA trails. If it’s above 80°F, consider postponing or sticking to shaded canyons (Solstice, Monrovia).
☀️ Sunscreen: Non-negotiable. SPF 50+, reapply every 90 minutes. Most LA trails have zero tree cover once you hit the ridgeline. We’ve seen people get sunburned in January here.
🚗 Parking: Arrive by 8am on weekends. Popular trailheads (Escondido, Solstice) fill by 9–10am. Weekday mornings are dramatically less crowded at every trail on this list.
🐍 Rattlesnakes: Real and present, March through October. Stay on the trail. Watch where you step, especially when stepping over rocks or logs. We’ve seen them at Solstice Canyon and on the Mishe Mokwa loop. They’ll leave you alone if you leave them alone.
🔥 Fire season: Check LAFD and NPS.gov/samo for closures before heading out. Some trails close during fire warnings, typically October through December. After the January 2025 fires, several major trails (Temescal Gateway, Eaton Canyon, Echo Mountain) remain closed through at least 2027.
Which Hike Should You Do?
“I barely hike but want great views” → Palos Verdes Shoreline (flat, coastal, free)
“I want a waterfall” → Escondido Falls (Jan–Apr after rain) or Monrovia Canyon (year-round)
“I’m bringing kids” → Monrovia Canyon Falls (short, shaded, dog-friendly)
“I want the best photo op” → Los Liones to Parker Mesa (panoramic ocean views)
“I want the Hollywood Sign without the crowds” → Mt. Hollywood via Bird Sanctuary
“I want to feel like I actually worked” → Sandstone Peak (6 miles, 1,600 ft, summit at 3,111 ft)
“I want ruins and a waterfall on an easy trail” → Solstice Canyon
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best hike in LA that isn’t Runyon Canyon?
Depends on what you want. For ocean views, Los Liones Trail to Parker Mesa Overlook (7.3 miles, moderate-challenging) has the best panoramic coastline view in LA. For an easy waterfall hike, Monrovia Canyon Falls (1.6 miles, 30-ft waterfall, $5 parking). For a summit challenge, Sandstone Peak via Mishe Mokwa (6.1 miles, 1,600 ft gain, highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains at 3,111 ft). All three are significantly less crowded than Runyon.
Are LA hiking trails safe?
Yes, with basic preparation. The biggest risks aren’t crime — they’re heat and dehydration. Carry at least 1 liter of water per hour on exposed trails, wear sunscreen (even in winter), and start early. Rattlesnakes are present March through October — stay on the trail and watch where you step. Check NPS.gov/samo and LAFD alerts for fire-related closures before heading out. Cell service is spotty on canyon trails (Solstice, Escondido), so download offline maps.
What time should I start hiking in LA?
Before 8am, especially on weekends. Two reasons: parking fills at popular trailheads by 9–10am, and temperatures on exposed ridgeline trails climb fast after 10am. October through May, you have more flexibility — you can start at 9am comfortably. June through September, start at dawn or stick to shaded canyon trails (Solstice Canyon, Monrovia Canyon). Golden hour (5–6pm) is beautiful for west-facing coastal trails like Palos Verdes.
What’s the best easy hike in LA for beginners?
Palos Verdes Shoreline Trail — flat, 2 miles, coastal cliffs, free parking, Catalina Island views on clear days. It barely qualifies as a hike and that’s the point. If you want something with a destination, Monrovia Canyon Falls (1.6 miles to a 30-ft waterfall) or Solstice Canyon (2.9 miles to mansion ruins and a waterfall) are both beginner-friendly and shaded.
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Sources & References: Trail distances and elevation data from AllTrails and NPS.gov/samo, cross-referenced with Modern Hiker and Hikespeak. Parking fees verified via MRCA, City of Monrovia, and NPS websites (checked April 2026). Fire closure status from US Forest Service (Angeles National Forest), MRCA, and NPS Santa Monica Mountains alerts. Whale watching season data from Point Vicente Interpretive Center and NOAA. Monrovia Canyon reopening and reservation system from City of Monrovia Parks & Recreation.