In the mood for a hike this week? Check out the best hiking trails in SoCal outlined below and perhaps even add them to your lust-list of great outdoor adventures. Some of these hikes may be no-brainers that you’ve experienced before, but there are many on this list that are off-the-beaten-path hidden gems that offer a unique twist. These scenic hiking spots in SoCal are unlike anywhere else in the nation, and we’d highly recommend that you bring a few bottles of water and a whole heart for adventure as you take them on, one by one. Go out and experience them all!
- Potato Chip Rock on Mt. Woodson
Flickr/kirybabe A hike to the peak of Mt. Woodson in Poway isn’t complete without a potato chip. Potato Chip Rock, that is. Because it looks like, you know, a potato chip. This remote hike in SoCal remains one of the most popular in the region.
- Bridge to Nowhere – San Gabriel Mountains
Wikimedia Commons You will navigate rocks and streams on this moderate 10-mile hike as you wind your way to an old abandoned bridge built in 1936 that literally leads to nowhere. The bridge draws a crowd not only for hiking enthusiasts, but it’s also a popular spot for bungee jumping. I think I’ll stick with hiking, thank you!
- Mt. San Jacinto
Flickr/Mitch Barrie This hike in San Jacinto State Park kicks things off in Chino Canyon where you take a thrilling ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway that climbs 6,000 feet to Mountain Station. From here you can hit the trails and experience the breathtaking views at the summit. The hike remains one of the best outdoor adventures in SoCal, with both locals and tourists taking it on every year.
Wikimedia Commons If you’re afraid of heights, this may not be the way to go!
- Ice House Canyon Trail
Flickr/US Dept of Agriculture A great year-round hike located in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains. Be prepared for snow if you check this out in the winter.
- Mt. Wilson Trail
Flickr/Genji Arakaki Towering above Pasadena, Mt. Wilson is hard to miss, and it offers one of the best hiking trails in SoCal. There are several trails you can take to reach the top. The Chantry Flats route seems to be the most well-traveled; clocking in at over 13 miles round trip, it’s also the longest hike on this list.
- Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone Peak
Flickr/kara brugman Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica mountain range. The view at the top is a nice little reward for experiencing this 6-mile hike. It’s a true SoCal adventure!
- Kelso Dunes
Wikimedia Commons/Binksternet A 4-mile hike up and over sand dunes in the Mojave National Preserve. Feeling thirsty yet? This remote hike in SoCal is one of the most devastatingly hot, so make sure you prepare ahead of time.
- San Clemente Beach Trail
Flickr/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy This unexpected trail that runs along the railroad tracks at San Clemente Beach is a great way to get your engine running in the morning. Stellar ocean views can be seen on this flat and walkable 4.5 mile roundtrip trail.
- Slot Canyon
Yelp/Paul L. No, this is not a set-piece from a Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk and Company get stranded on some random rock planet. This is the real deal right here in Southern California. It’s called Slot Canyon and it’s a unique hike in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where you navigate your way through some pretty narrow rock sculptures. Be prepared to suck in your gut as this adventure can be a tight squeeze.
- Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve
Flickr/C.C. Chapman A peaceful coastal hike with a variety of scenery including ocean views, train tracks and colorful wildflowers in the spring. If you time your hike just right you will also see the seal pups out on the rocks soaking up the sun at the Seal Sanctuary.
We hope you’re inspired to get outside and check out some of these great spots. Where are some of your favorite hikes in and around Southern California? Please let us know in the comments so we can include them in the next list.
Flickr/kirybabe
A hike to the peak of Mt. Woodson in Poway isn’t complete without a potato chip. Potato Chip Rock, that is. Because it looks like, you know, a potato chip. This remote hike in SoCal remains one of the most popular in the region.
Wikimedia Commons
You will navigate rocks and streams on this moderate 10-mile hike as you wind your way to an old abandoned bridge built in 1936 that literally leads to nowhere. The bridge draws a crowd not only for hiking enthusiasts, but it’s also a popular spot for bungee jumping. I think I’ll stick with hiking, thank you!
Flickr/Mitch Barrie
This hike in San Jacinto State Park kicks things off in Chino Canyon where you take a thrilling ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway that climbs 6,000 feet to Mountain Station. From here you can hit the trails and experience the breathtaking views at the summit. The hike remains one of the best outdoor adventures in SoCal, with both locals and tourists taking it on every year.
If you’re afraid of heights, this may not be the way to go!
Flickr/US Dept of Agriculture
A great year-round hike located in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains. Be prepared for snow if you check this out in the winter.
Flickr/Genji Arakaki
Towering above Pasadena, Mt. Wilson is hard to miss, and it offers one of the best hiking trails in SoCal. There are several trails you can take to reach the top. The Chantry Flats route seems to be the most well-traveled; clocking in at over 13 miles round trip, it’s also the longest hike on this list.
Flickr/kara brugman
Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica mountain range. The view at the top is a nice little reward for experiencing this 6-mile hike. It’s a true SoCal adventure!
Wikimedia Commons/Binksternet
A 4-mile hike up and over sand dunes in the Mojave National Preserve. Feeling thirsty yet? This remote hike in SoCal is one of the most devastatingly hot, so make sure you prepare ahead of time.
Flickr/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
This unexpected trail that runs along the railroad tracks at San Clemente Beach is a great way to get your engine running in the morning. Stellar ocean views can be seen on this flat and walkable 4.5 mile roundtrip trail.
Yelp/Paul L.
No, this is not a set-piece from a Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk and Company get stranded on some random rock planet. This is the real deal right here in Southern California. It’s called Slot Canyon and it’s a unique hike in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where you navigate your way through some pretty narrow rock sculptures. Be prepared to suck in your gut as this adventure can be a tight squeeze.
Flickr/C.C. Chapman
A peaceful coastal hike with a variety of scenery including ocean views, train tracks and colorful wildflowers in the spring. If you time your hike just right you will also see the seal pups out on the rocks soaking up the sun at the Seal Sanctuary.
Looking for more amazing outdoor destinations? Check out the best natural attractions in Southern California.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Ramona, CA 92065, USAAddress: Bridge to Nowhere, Redwood City, CA 94063, USAAddress: Mount San Jacinto, California, USAAddress: Ice House Canyon Trail, Mt Baldy, CA 91759, USAAddress: Mount Wilson Trail, Mt Wilson Trail, Sierra Madre, CA 91024, USAAddress: Mishe Mokwa Trail, Westlake Village, CA, USAAddress: Kelso Dunes, California, USAAddress: Beach Trail, San Clemente, CA 92672, USAAddress: 245 Williams Way, Moab, UT 84532, USAAddress: Carpinteria Bluffs Trail, Carpinteria, CA 93013, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
best hiking trails in SoCal July 18, 2020 Meghan Kraft What are the most beautiful hikes in SoCal? Hiking in SoCal provides some of the most beautiful and evocative natural views in the United States. With the desert to the east and the rugged coastline to the west, the Southern California region lends itself to beautiful outdoor adventures. We’d recommend hiking to the Hollywood Sign if you’re a pop culture junkie, mainly for its low mileage and stunning views of Los Angeles at the top. Mt. Baldy is also a popular spot to hike, for the rocky landscape that provides a bit of oomph and awe. The three-mile hike to Sturtevant Falls leads you to a gushing waterfall and along a quiet, lovely stream. You can even take the full 15-mile loop if you’re looking to challenge yourself! What are the best family-friendly hikes in SoCal? It’s always fun to take the kids outdoors, but their willpower is a bit lower than that of older siblings and adults. If you’re looking for a shorter, kid-friendly hike in SoCal, you have a couple of choices. We’d recommend the leafy Ferndell Trail in Griffith Park, which is only a half-mile long and packed to the gills with gorgeous scenery. The Discovery Trail is found in Franklin Canyon Park, at the shady one-mile hike is great to spot wildlife and birds. It’s found in Beverly Hills, right in the heart of the Los Angeles Region. Which hikes in SoCal are short and sweet? Head to Mission Viejo to hike 2.2 miles in Wilderness Glen Park, or check out the quick waterfront mile hike at the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. It presents as a stunning oasis, with a small lake to boot! Even the Guy Fleming Trail in Torrey Pines State Reserve is only a half-mile long, with a great view waiting for you at the end.
The OIYS Visitor Center
best hiking trails in SoCal
July 18, 2020
Meghan Kraft
What are the most beautiful hikes in SoCal? Hiking in SoCal provides some of the most beautiful and evocative natural views in the United States. With the desert to the east and the rugged coastline to the west, the Southern California region lends itself to beautiful outdoor adventures. We’d recommend hiking to the Hollywood Sign if you’re a pop culture junkie, mainly for its low mileage and stunning views of Los Angeles at the top. Mt. Baldy is also a popular spot to hike, for the rocky landscape that provides a bit of oomph and awe. The three-mile hike to Sturtevant Falls leads you to a gushing waterfall and along a quiet, lovely stream. You can even take the full 15-mile loop if you’re looking to challenge yourself! What are the best family-friendly hikes in SoCal? It’s always fun to take the kids outdoors, but their willpower is a bit lower than that of older siblings and adults. If you’re looking for a shorter, kid-friendly hike in SoCal, you have a couple of choices. We’d recommend the leafy Ferndell Trail in Griffith Park, which is only a half-mile long and packed to the gills with gorgeous scenery. The Discovery Trail is found in Franklin Canyon Park, at the shady one-mile hike is great to spot wildlife and birds. It’s found in Beverly Hills, right in the heart of the Los Angeles Region. Which hikes in SoCal are short and sweet? Head to Mission Viejo to hike 2.2 miles in Wilderness Glen Park, or check out the quick waterfront mile hike at the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. It presents as a stunning oasis, with a small lake to boot! Even the Guy Fleming Trail in Torrey Pines State Reserve is only a half-mile long, with a great view waiting for you at the end.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hiking in SoCal provides some of the most beautiful and evocative natural views in the United States. With the desert to the east and the rugged coastline to the west, the Southern California region lends itself to beautiful outdoor adventures. We’d recommend hiking to the Hollywood Sign if you’re a pop culture junkie, mainly for its low mileage and stunning views of Los Angeles at the top. Mt. Baldy is also a popular spot to hike, for the rocky landscape that provides a bit of oomph and awe. The three-mile hike to Sturtevant Falls leads you to a gushing waterfall and along a quiet, lovely stream. You can even take the full 15-mile loop if you’re looking to challenge yourself!
What are the best family-friendly hikes in SoCal?
It’s always fun to take the kids outdoors, but their willpower is a bit lower than that of older siblings and adults. If you’re looking for a shorter, kid-friendly hike in SoCal, you have a couple of choices. We’d recommend the leafy Ferndell Trail in Griffith Park, which is only a half-mile long and packed to the gills with gorgeous scenery. The Discovery Trail is found in Franklin Canyon Park, at the shady one-mile hike is great to spot wildlife and birds. It’s found in Beverly Hills, right in the heart of the Los Angeles Region.
Which hikes in SoCal are short and sweet?
Head to Mission Viejo to hike 2.2 miles in Wilderness Glen Park, or check out the quick waterfront mile hike at the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. It presents as a stunning oasis, with a small lake to boot! Even the Guy Fleming Trail in Torrey Pines State Reserve is only a half-mile long, with a great view waiting for you at the end.
