Costa Mesa, California

Verdugo Peak, at 3000 feet, is accessible from multiple directions and trails along the Verdugo Range. The most direct route to the top is Hostetter Fire Road, a 3.6-mile hard-packed dirt trail that climbs 1600 feet to the 3,126-foot summit. The hike begins at the dirt parking lot off of La Tuna ...

Los Liones Trail is an out-and-back trail that is moderately difficult located near Pacific Palisades, California.

Old CC Spur Trail via Big Tree Cucamonga Rd is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Fontana, California.

Canyonback Nike Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Encino, California.

There is room to park just off San Timoteo Road. On the other side of the trail is more parking off Alessandro. You can park your car on either side and start your run/walk/bike ride. This is a nice little "get away" trail to take a break from suburbia. 

There's a small parking lot just below Cloudburst Summit on the way to Mount Waterman. Start your adventure there. I'd be hard-pressed to say it's more than 15 yards from the sign for the summit (7018' AMSL). There's a fire road, if you're newer to altitude and don't know how to read a map (or e...

Lake Calavera via Oak Riparian Park is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Oceanside, California.

This is a 6.8 mile round-trip hike that starts at Trippet Ranch in Topanga Canyon. Even though the range in elevation is 400 feet from peak to trough, the up and down trail totals to approximately 1800 feet elevation gain making this a beginner to intermediate adventure.  The trail itself is pre...

Sepulveda Basin: Upstream Of Balboa is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Encino, California.