Tips for Hiking in LA

Hiking in LA is pretty much like hiking anywhere, however, for those who are new to the area, or new to exploring Los Angeles hiking trails and parks, we have a few tips. These tips may seem obvious to some... if thats you, then go explore other parts of our stupendous site!

We will try to cover a few different topics, including where to find good hiking in the LA area, what you should bring, how you should dress and other precautions that you should take when planning a trip. We don't mean to scare you off hiking, we just want to make you feel more comfortable about exploring our beautiful area.

For those of you new to LA or hiking, we hope these little tips will make your exploring better, safer and more fun.

Tips for Hiking in LA

• Where to Hike: The LA area is full of hundreds of hiking areas, trails and parks. Many people assume that just because its a big, metropolitan city that it is all concrete and asphalt. Not so! Griffith Park, Topanga, the Hollywood Hills, Malibu and more, there are miles and miles of hiking trails and beautiful places to explore. Go back and check out our Los Angeles Hiking Trails page to learn about more.
• What to Bring: What you bring on a hike depends a lot on where you are going and how long you intend to spend out. However, as a general rule, there are two things you should always bring on just about any day hiking in LA, water and sunscreen! For those of you new to LA, it is almost always warm and sunny here. This is a good thing! It means there are more days in the year to enjoy the outdoors. However, on a long day out hiking in the sun you may not realize just how much sun you are getting and how dehydrated you are getting. Whatever your skin type, we strongly recommend covering your precious skin in a good sunscreen before going out and bring more for reapplication. A hat can be useful too. Also, whether you realize it or not, you will get dehydrated walking out in the warm sun all day. Bring plenty of water (or your favorite form of rehydrating liquid). Other things to consider bringing include a backpack (to more easily carry water, food, sunscreen, a hat, etc.), food (we especially love to bring some beef jerky) and your cell phone (just for emergencies).
• What to Wear: In most areas, when hiking in LA you can wear just about anything, but LA does have poison oak and other prickly plants around. So pants are generally better than shorts if you are likely to be on any narrow trails. Also, comfortable sneakers or hiking boots are better for traction and protection than sandals or flip flops. A hat is always nice to protect your face from the sun and reduce glaring sun. As mentioned above, also be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen on your exposed bits.
• Precautions: While casual hiking in most parts of LA is very safe, there are always a few things to keep in the back of your mind in terms of safety. First of all, as mentioned above, there are some poisonous plants around, including abundant poison oak. Familiarize yourself with the appearance of the plant and wear long pants and closed toe shows to avoid contact. In addition to plants, there are some animals that can be dangerous in the area. Rattlesnakes will usually hide long before you see them, but they are around in the hills in and around Los Angeles and you may come across one when hiking in LA. Wearing pants and thick shoes or boots will help to avoid potentially dangerous bites should you accidently "bump" into one. If you see one, keep your distance and make lots of noise. They will usually slither off and hide. Coyotes and mountain lions are also around, but rarely make an appearance. Just in case, keep your distance and most will run off if you even get close. If you happen to startle one, it helps to appear to be much bigger than them so that they don't consider anything. This is one of the reasons many people carry a large walking stick when they hike, so that you can wave it over your head and appear big and menacing. Avoid hiking alone and do not run from animals. Check out other tips for mountain lion and coyote safety before setting out to hike. Of note, neither of us have ever seen a mountain lion or coyote on a hike, but they are out there. Coyotes tend to be more active at night, so definitely be aware and carry a big stick if you go for hikes or walks in or near wilderness areas when it is getting dark.