Westlake Village, California
Westlake Village, California offers some of the best trails and outdoor activities for those seeking scenic outdoor adventures. The top must-visit location is the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Here, you can explore the challenging Sandstone Peak Trail, known for its stunning rock formations. The trail also offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. For a more leisurely hike, try the Paramount Ranch Trail, a historic movie set turned hiking trail. If you prefer water-based activities, Westlake Lake is ideal for kayaking or paddleboarding. Nearby, the Malibu Creek State Park offers more hiking trails, along with opportunities for mountain biking and bird watching. These locations offer the best in outdoor activities, making Westlake Village a top destination for scenic adventures.
Top Spots in and near Westlake Village
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Ventura, California
Hike Arroyo Verde Park
3.5 mi / 800 ft gainArroyo Verde Park is a small parked tucked in the hills above Ventura, California, and has a network of trails running up and down the hills surrounding the valley in the center of the park. The entrance to the park is at the intersection of Foothill Road Day Road, east of downtown Ventura. There...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Runyon Canyon Loop
3.22.67 mi / 728 ft gainLocated in the Hollywood Hills, Runyon is an iconic workout run/ hike that can give you great views all the way to the ocean. There are a few different loop trails/ hikes you can take ranging from ~1.5mi to 3.25mi all with a decent amount of elevation gain. Also, remember this is Hollywood, so yo...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area Loop
2.85 mi / 328 ft gainThe Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area is just outside of downtown LA, a perfect location for hiking, trail running, and biking. The trail loops up to the top of a hill, where hikers get sweeping views of LA. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on leash. This is also a great location for trail running...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Verdugo Mountain Traverse
5.012.13 mi / 0 ft gainThe Verdugo Mountain Range is a small, rugged range spanning across the northeast end of the San Fernando Valley from Sun Valley to Glendale. With close to 50 miles of graded and well-maintained trails, the Verdugos are surprisingly underutilized and make a great place for someone looking to esca...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Verdugo's North Ridge Trail
12.7 mi / 2684 ft gainThe Verdugo Mountain Range is a small, rugged range spanning across the northeast end of the San Fernando Valley from Sun Valley to Glendale. With close to 50 miles of graded and well-maintained trails, the Verdugos are surprisingly underutilized and make a great place for someone looking to esca...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Cahuenga Peak via Burbank Peak Trail
2.23 mi / 719 ft gainCahuenga Peak via Burbank Peak Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you past scenic surroundings located near Los Angeles, California.Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Cahuenga Peak Loop Trail
3.88 mi / 1237 ft gainThe Cahuenga Peak Loop is perfect for trail runners and hikers. The trailhead is in Hollywood Hills - park off to the side on a street. This trail features beautiful wildflowers in the spring. Dogs are allowed on the trail if kept on leash. The trail can be dusty and dirty, so watch your step. Ke...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Lake Hollywood Trail
4.73.35 mi / 249 ft gainThe Lake Hollywood Trail features beautiful wildflowers in the spring and is wheelchair accessible. A majority of the trail is paved, but approximately .6 miles is on dirt. Some of the trail is shaded, but bring sun protection regardless - especially in the summer. Dogs are not allowed on this tr...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Aileen Getty Ridge Trail
5.03.55 mi / 1194 ft gainThe Aileen Getty Ridge Trail is a singletrack trail that runs between Mt. Lee and Burbank Peak (the location of the Wisdom Tree). Though there are many options to access this trail, the most direct route is from the west via the Wonder View Trailhead. Start by parking on Lake Hollywood Drive near...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Wisdom Tree
4.80.95 mi / 528 ft gainIn Griffith Park, park along Lake Hollywood Drive and walk the paved quarter mile up Wonder View Drive to the start of Wonder View Trail. Here, walk through the yellow gate and make the first right after the road turns to dirt. Head up this unmarked single track path heading east up the mountain....Read more -
Ventura, California
Backpack to Del Norte Campground on Santa Cruz Island
5.07 mi / 700 ft gainDel Norte Backcountry Campground is located on Santa Cruz Island, one of the islands that makes up Channel Islands National Park. It is California's largest island and is almost three times the size of Manhattan. The easiest way to get to the island is to take Island Packers, a ferry service that...Read more -
Ventura, California
Stand Up Paddleboard the Ventura Harbor
The Ventura Harbor provides a protected entry/exit to the Pacific Ocean and is a great place to start a paddleboarding adventure. Marina Park, at the end of Pierpont Boulevard, has a ton of parking, a free public launch, and there are boards to rent along the harbor. From the launch you can head...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Franklin-Ivar Park
5.0What was once a vacant and deteriorated site, Franklin-Ivar Park was rehabilitated and turned into a small neighborhood park in a densely-populated area in Hollywood. More like a parklette, Franklin-Ivar Park returns some of the native habitats that once thrived in this area on the slopes of the...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Hollyridge Trail to the Hollywood Sign [Closed]
4.13.5 mi / 383 ft gainThis trail is closed as is the Beachwood Gate which is used to access the Hollyridge Trail will be permanently closed on April 18th, 2017 due to a court order. Check out Hollywood Sign via Brush Canyon Trail for an available option. There are three ways to get to the Hollywood Sign. This route ...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Bronson Bat Caves
3.30.61 mi / 66 ft gainWho doesn't enjoy a short hike to a scenic/remote location? I know I sure do! After hearing about this spot through word of mouth and the internet, and seemingly never having the time to check it out, I honestly have to say it was a worthwhile trip. This short 0.6 out and back hike/walk to the f...Read more -
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Sign via Brush Canyon Trail
4.65.04 mi / 1155 ft gainGetting to the parking lot near the trailhead and finding an open space can seem like the most daunting part of this whole excursion. There are free parking lots along the road to the trailhead, so keep an eye out. There are also several ways to get to the trailhead from other parking areas; I ad...Read more
