In Los Angeles County, discoveries range from hiking trails and protected areas to stretches of coastline, historic sites and cultural destinations. Nearly 60 hiking and recreation trails sit alongside Pacific beaches; natural highlights include seasonal wildflowers and the landscapes of Placerita Canyon. This range offers different ways to shape your trip to Los Angeles: outdoor activity, the coast or history.
Trails through varied landscapes
The hiking opportunities in Los Angeles County include nature centers, protected areas and a regional network of multi-use trails. The parks also have miles of multi-use trails for mountain biking. So, alongside longer trails, the options include protected natural areas and park landscapes. You can choose which of these aspects to explore based on your interests.
At Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, the landscape protects a Mojave Desert grassland habitat. Seasonal spring blooms typically appear from mid-February through May, though the timing varies from year to year. Eight miles of trails lead through the reserve, including a paved, wheelchair-accessible section. Those who want to experience more than just the flowers can also look out for meadowlarks, lizards, gopher snakes, coyotes and bobcats.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area offers a different scale, with access to more than 500 miles of trails. The Backbone Trail stretches 67 miles from east to west through the Santa Monica Mountains. Its twelve trailheads make it possible to hike the trail in sections. Mountain biking is permitted on 43 miles of the trail; restrictions vary by section. The recreation area also includes historic and cultural sites, including former movie ranches and centers of Indigenous communities.
Coastal stretches and activities on the water
The beaches also offer different points to consider when planning your trip. Venice Beach has almost three miles of coastline and 238 acres of beach. Activities there include swimming, beach volleyball, fishing and surfing. Hermosa Beach has almost two miles of oceanfront and 94 acres of public beach, with surfing and swimming areas as well as volleyball nets. Volleyball tournaments and surf festivals take place at Hermosa Beach throughout the year. If a particular event matters to your plans, check the dates.
Las Tunas Beach adds more activities to the mix: the beach is used for fishing and scuba diving, as well as swimming, surf fishing and surfing. Bus 1 and the free LA County Free Beach Shuttle go to Venice Beach. Las Tunas Beach is accessible via Bus 534 at the Pacific Coast Highway/Tuna Canyon stop. Routes and stops may change, so check your connection before traveling.
History, art and distinctive places
Placerita Canyon State Park brings landscape and history together in one place: sandstone formations, seasonal streams and oak-lined riparian woodlands shape the landscape. The park also preserves the site of California’s first gold discovery, in 1842. Vasquez Rocks Natural Area is home to the ancestral Tataviam village of Mapipinga. The area also offers hiking and horseback riding trails, including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.
The parks in Los Angeles County also preserve different traces of history. Listed historic resources include 19th-century buildings and parks from the WPA era of the 1930s. Art installations range from colorful murals and mixed-media works to sculptures and living orchards. Together, the parks’ historic sites and public art offer a wide range of experiences.
Other cultural destinations each have their own highlights: more than 3.5 million fossils have been discovered at the La Brea Tar Pits. Rose Bowl Stadium is a National Historic Landmark; it has hosted nearly 100 Rose Bowl games and five Super Bowls. Santa Monica Pier dates back to 1909 and is home to the Pacific Park amusement park. The Getty Center in the hills above West Los Angeles offers art collections and landscaped outdoor courtyards. Universal Studios Hollywood combines a film studio and theme park, with rides and special attractions. At Walt Disney Concert Hall, offerings include a self-guided tour of its garden and performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Burbank, Los Angeles, Marina Del Rey, Gardena, Hawthorne, Compton, Rancho Palos Verdes, La Mirada, Signal Hill, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs, Mission Hills, Rowland Heights, Artesia, Bell, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Carson, Culver City, El Segundo, Glendale, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pomona, Redondo Beach, Rosemead, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, West Covina, Diamond Bar, San Gabriel, Arcadia, Lancaster, Norwalk, Avalon, Lawndale, Downey, Monrovia, Torrance, Palmdale, Claremont, Glendora, Whittier, Bellflower, South Gate, San Dimas, Hacienda Heights, La Crescenta-Montrose, Westlake Village, El Monte, La Puente, Agoura Hills, Baldwin Park, Hawaiian Gardens, Lynwood, Malibu, Pico Rivera, South El Monte, Azusa, Lomita, Duarte, Commerce, Hidden Hills, Paramount, Cerritos, South Pasadena, Cudahy, Canoga Park, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Topanga, Valencia, San Marino, Alhambra, Altadena, Lake Hughes, La Verne, Palos Verdes Estates, Walnut, Irwindale, Vernon, Gorman, Del Aire, Rolling Hills, Lake Los Angeles.
For the main travel overview: California.
