01
Best overall pick
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Baldwin Hills • Urban Park With Ridge And Pond Trails • Closest All-Around Option
A surprisingly green hilltop park with easy-to-moderate loops and big skyline views just north of West Athens.
Kenneth Hahn is where a lot of South L.A. locals go when they want real trail time without a long drive. You can stitch together mellow loops around the ponds or head up the ridges for sweeping views of downtown, the Hollywood Hills, and, on clear days, the ocean. It’s a great place for after-work walks, weekend picnics with a short hike, and easing newer hikers into L.A.’s hillier terrain.
02
Stair-climb workout
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
Culver City • Steep Staircase And Hilltop Trails • Best For Quick Training Sessions
A short but intense climb up railroad-tie stairs to a panoramic overlook that feels tailor-made for training days.
If you like your hikes with a noticeable burn, the famous Culver City stairs at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook will do the job in under an hour. You can power straight up the steps for a lung-busting workout or take the more gradual switchback trail if you prefer a steady climb. At the top, the viewing platform lays out the LA Basin, with West Athens and the South Bay spread out below on clear afternoons.
03
Iconic city escape
Griffith Park
Los Feliz / Hollywood Hills • Classic City Park With Long Ridge Hikes • Best For Varied Mileage
One of the country’s largest urban parks, offering everything from mellow observatory walks to longer summit loops.
Griffith Park is a bit of a drive from West Athens but pays it back with options: you can do a short stroll around Griffith Observatory, a moderate climb to Mt. Hollywood, or longer ridge loops that feel surprisingly wild for being in the middle of the city. Trails are mostly wide and well-used, with constant views of the Hollywood Sign, downtown, and the San Gabriels on clear days. It’s ideal when you want to mix classic LA scenery with a customizable workout.
04
Coastal view hunter
Portuguese Bend Reserve
Palos Verdes Peninsula • Coastal Canyon And Bluff Network • Best For Ocean Vistas
A rolling web of dirt paths on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with nearly constant Pacific views and a quieter feel than city parks.
Portuguese Bend feels like a different world compared with inland Los Angeles, with open hillsides, native shrubs, and the ocean filling your peripheral vision. The trails range from gentle traverses to steeper descents into canyons, so you can dial in how hard you want the day to be. Go around golden hour and you’ll get some of the best sunset hiking near West Athens, with Catalina Island often visible offshore.
05
Family-friendly coast walk
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Rancho Palos Verdes • Bluff And Tidepool Shoreline Trails • Best For Relaxed Exploring
A short network of bluff-top and shoreline paths that combines light hiking with tidepool wandering and picnic spots.
Abalone Cove is the spot to choose when you want more of a wander than a workout. Trails lead from the parking area along the bluffs and down to rocky coves where you can explore tidepools at lower tides and watch waves crash against the shore. The grades are manageable, the distances are short, and the scenery is nonstop, making it a solid pick for mixed-ability groups or a mellow weekend outing from West Athens.