Best Hikes in Los Angeles | Griffith Park, Runyon & Beyond

Los Angeles is a hiker's city in disguise — a sprawling metropolis where trails begin minutes from the city centre and lead into mountain wilderness with sweeping views of the Pacific, downtown skyline, and on clear days, the Channel Islands. The city's Mediterranean climate means hiking is viable year-round, making LA's trail network one of the most heavily used in America.

Griffith Park is the urban hiker's home base — 4,300 acres of chaparral, oak woodland, and ridgeline trails in the heart of the city, with the Griffith Observatory hike delivering the most iconic panoramic view in all of Los Angeles. Runyon Canyon in West Hollywood is the city's social trail — where celebrities, influencers, and everyone in between comes to be seen while getting vertical.

Beyond the city limits, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area offers dozens of multi-mile wilderness trails starting from Malibu Creek State Park, Topanga, and Point Mugu. Mount Wilson and the San Gabriel Mountains provide alpine escapes less than 45 minutes from downtown. Our guide covers the best hikes by difficulty, view quality, dog friendliness, and proximity to each LA neighbourhood.