Nature and Hiking Parks in Los Angeles

Many people think the idea of nature and hiking parks in Los Angeles is ludicrous. I mean we all know that LA is a big urban sprawl for miles and miles, right? All the nature must have been overrun by that bulldozer of progress years ago.

In fact, it couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, LA is a big city and there are many ugly, very "city" parts of it. But the patches of nature and beauty abound if you look for them. I didn't get that right away. In fact, coming from the rural Midwest, I was depressed at the lack of nature when I first moved here. Many parts of LA are very pretty and have an abundance of trees on the streets and in peoples yards. But the open natural spaces seem scarce at first glance. Many of the so-called "parks" in Los Angeles are just glorified baseball, football and soccer fields with very little nature or even open free space to picnic and relax.

White this is true, I did find that there are hundreds of parks in Los Angeles that are truly "parks" in the sense of the word I grew up with, many of which are nature preserves and have miles of beautiful hiking trails. Unfotunately, many of these are not that well labelled as such and there are no websites or guides that lists all the hiking trails, nature and parks in Los Angeles in one place. We've had to slowly explore and research to find them.

While many of the best and biggest areas for hiking in LA and parks in Los Angeles are on the outskirts (Topanga, Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve, Malibu Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, etc.), they really aren't that far for a day or half-day trip for hiking and/or picnicing. There are many smaller but also great areas in the middle of the city itself, such as Griffith Park, Coldwater, Temescal and many hiking trails in the Hollywood Hills.

And don't forget the extra nice thing about hiking in LA! You can do it virtually year round! Whereas I miss the verdant lushness of those few spring and summer months in the Midwest, it was only that. Three or four months (much of which was dreadfully hot and humid) to enjoy the green outdoors. The rest of the year was cold and icy.

Topanga State Park
Topanga is one of the most beautiful areas in LA. It is a vast hilly valley on the west end of the city running from the Pacific ocean to the valley. While some of it is developed with homes and limited businesses along Topanga Canyon Blvd, there are hundreds of acres of protected (at least so far) state park areas, most of which are accessible to the public.

This is a huge resource for nature lovers and hikers alike. The natural wildlife is beautiful and diverse as you wind through the valleys. There are tons of trailheads! More...

Griffith Park
Smack dab in the middle of the city, Griffith Park is much more than just a great place to hike and picnic with great views of the city. It also has tons of other activities for the whole family including the LA Zoo, Shane's Inspiration playground, a carousel, pony rides and miniature train rides, the train museum, the Greek Theater and more!

People think Central Park in New York is impressive but this one is much bigger! If you don't want to travel far and want to score some nature and fun, this is the place for you. It is one of our favorite parks in Los Angeles. More...

Malibu Creek State Park
We just discovered this beautiful area in the Malibu hills recently and its already one of our favorite hiking areas in Los Angeles. It has been the site of filming for countless TV shows and movies.

Most people know Malibu for its private beaches and expensive estates, but there is so much more. Miles of beautiful hiking trails and nature to explore. The history in the area is also interesting, from its Native American roots and native wildlife to Hollywood filming. The visitor center along the trail is particularly cool, especially if you have kids. More...

Los Angeles Hiking Trails
Los Angeles and its environs is chock-full of hiking trails, the problem can be finding them. We haven't found any one good source online or elsewhere that lists them all.

While there are too many to list all here, we will try to cover some of the richest hiking friendly areas around LA. Some of hiking parks in Los Angeles are no more than a trail head without a name and others are large parks or nature preserves with dozens of different trails. More...

Tips for Hiking in LA
If you are a hiking enthusiast already, you probably don't need any tips from us enthusiastic amateurs. But if you have never hiked in parks in Los Angeles before we have a few tips for you.

From where to go to hike to tips on what to bring and wear. Not that hiking in LA is that much different from hiking anywhere, but it may help to know a few things before you set out with the family. Included are some precautions to help make your trip safe. More...

Los Angeles Beaches Guide
Don't forget our miles and miles of beaches! Every beach has a distinct personality and they all have something to offer as far as finding nature in the city. Some have great tidepools for catching hermit crabs and others are great for rock hunting and others still are great for swimming.

Even in winter, it is endless space for relaxation, walking or a picnic on the sand and the best part is that you'll have the place nearly to yourself. More...