Outdoor Los Angeles

Los Angeles Highlights

Kayak from Royal Palms State Beach to Cabrillo Beach for spectacular views of the scenic Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina Island. You'll see thick kelp beds, colorful tide pools, and the historic Point Fermin Lighthouse.
Literally across the street from trendy Pacific Palisades, the Temescal Canyon loop hike offers broad ocean vistas and a serene passage down woodsy Temescal Canyon.
Whether recreating with kids, the dogs, or with your buddies, the L.A. area promises adventure for everyone. Mountain-biking trails, day-hike trails, beaches, and camping spots await those looking for an escape from the city.

By Travel Expert: Karen Kefauver

Find hiking, horseback riding, biking, and more at Griffith Park. While there, you can also listen to an outdoor concert at the Greek Theatre, visit the Los Angeles Zoo and the Museum of the American West, or take a ride on the merry-go-round. The local Sierra Club chapter organizes evening and moonlight hikes.
Just a few blocks from Hollywood Boulevard, get your heart pumping at Runyon Canyon, where you can hike up to the ridge for views of the Los Angeles area. You'll see plenty of off-leash dogs, and maybe some movie stars in workout clothes.
At Will Rogers State Historic Park, hikes range from a two-mile loop to the nearly 60-mile Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains. Horses are welcome here; you can even take riding lessons in the park.
Trails meander past former movie and TV backdrops at Malibu Creek State Park. The rock pool served as the setting for Swiss Family Robinson and Tarzan; find it along the Gorge Trail.
The San Bernardino National Forest is a little ways from central Los Angeles, but it encapsulates the huge variety of terrain found in the area. In the winter, you can ski among the pines in the morning and then hit the beach for a sunset surf session.

By Travel Expert: Cameron Walker

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