Search Results for:

Mount Emma and Old Mount Emma Trail

After a relatively sedentary December, I was looking for a trail to jolt me into the new year when I stumbled across one that would take me to the peaks of Mount Emma and Old Mount Emma. With about 2,400 feet of elevation gain in just over five miles, and the added bonus of bagging… Read more »

Garden to Sky

The 3.1-mile round-trip Garden to Sky hike on Catalina Island is an exceptional day hike up Avalon Canyon to rewarding vistas of the island’s coastline, deep canyons, and San Gabriel Mountains. It’s easy to bump up the mileage by making a loop on the Trans-Catalina Trail or connecting to other nearby trails. You may even… Read more »

Gould Mesa Trail Camp via the Gabrielino Trail

As many of you have either heard about or experienced, Southern California’s 2024 winter has been wet. With multiple atmospheric rivers battering the West Coast, many of LA’s waterways have filled up to their banks. The Arroyo Seco is no exception. To experience its power firsthand, my partner and I ventured to Pasadena to hike… Read more »

Three Sisters Rock via the Pacific Crest Trail

After several days of rain, I was itching to get outside. So, I gathered a group of friends and drove to Acton for an adventure along the iconic Pacific Crest Trail to Three Sisters Rock. While on paper this hike’s length and elevation gain looked challenging, it was surprisingly mellow and cruisy (minus the last… Read more »

Backbone and Overlook Trail Loop

As someone who enjoys hiking in the mountains, winter can feel like a perilous time, as many of Southern California’s high-alpine trails are either painfully cold or covered in snow. Luckily, the Santa Monica Mountains are the perfect destination for those trying to get their fix of tall peaks and never-ending vistas during the colder… Read more »

15 Refreshing Creek Hikes in the Bay Area

I just love exploring creeks in the Bay Area’s rainy season (roughly November through March). Finally, FINALLY, empty creek beds are filled with water and, for a limited time, we get to hike in water-filled forests. When I’m on a creek hike, everything calms down and tunes in to the shhh sounds of a rushing… Read more »

Silver Falls Loop in Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park is certainly not short on scenery … but sometimes those epic views and panoramas can take quite a bit of huffing and puffing to get to. That is not the case with the Silver Falls Loop on the beautiful Ohanapecosh River, which is a relatively easy loop hike from one of… Read more »

Verdugo Motorway and Whiting Woods Motorway Loop

It’s no surprise that of the mountain ranges easily accessible to Angelinos, the San Gabriels and Santa Monicas receive most of the spotlight. They are rugged and expansive and offer jaw-dropping scenery. As a result, the Verdugo Mountains aren’t on the radars of many hikers, despite its proximity to the city and its equally impressive… Read more »

Hahamongna Watershed Loop

Hahamongna Watershed Park, named after a tribe of the Tongva Nation who lived in the area, is a unique river basin where the Arroyo Seco first leaves behind the San Gabriel Mountains on its journey to connect with the Los Angeles River. In its native tongue, Hahamongna means “Flowing Waters, Fruitful Valley” – an apt… Read more »

Getty View Trail

Tucked away in Bel Air is a little gem of a hike. The Getty View Trail sits just east of Sepulveda Pass and is a short but rewarding trek along a fire road that is the perfect add-on for those visiting the Getty Center. Not only will this easy trail give you a new perspective… Read more »