01
Best overall pick
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Baldwin Hills • Urban Hillside Park With Big Views • Local Favorite For All Levels
A close-to-home network of dirt trails and loops with skyline views that make even a short hike feel special.
From Westmont, Kenneth Hahn is one of the quickest ways to trade city streets for real dirt under your boots. The park’s ridgeline and landscaped paths offer views of downtown, the Hollywood Sign, and on clear days even the ocean, with options ranging from mellow strolls to longer figure-eight loops. It’s an easy spot to test new hikers, squeeze in weekday miles, or mix trails with a picnic and playground time.
02
Best quick workout
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (Culver City Stairs)
Culver City • Steep City Stair Climb And Ridge Trail • Best For Training And Sunsets
A short but intense stair climb and looping trail that deliver a leg-burning ascent and sweeping LA views in under an hour.
If you like your hikes short and punishing, the Culver City Stairs at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook are the go-to. The uneven concrete steps rocket you up the hill, with a dirt trail offering a gentler way up or down for variety. Locals come here for sunset skyline shots, quick conditioning laps, and a hike that feels substantial without eating up half the day.
03
Classic LA hill hike
Griffith Park – Mount Hollywood Area Trails
Griffith Park / Los Feliz • Classic Urban Wilderness With Multiple Routes • Best For First-Time La Visitors
A web of wide dirt trails leading to broad ridges, observatory overlooks, and big-shouldered views of the city.
Griffith Park feels like a true city escape while still being close enough for a half-day outing from Westmont. Trails around Mount Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory let you stitch together mellow fire-road hikes or more rolling loops, with frequent viewpoints over downtown, the San Gabriels, and the Hollywood Sign. It’s a strong pick when you’re hiking with out-of-town visitors and want something iconic without technical terrain.
04
Best coastal escape
Portuguese Bend Reserve
Palos Verdes Peninsula • Coastal Bluff And Canyon Open Space • Best For Ocean Views
A scenic network of singletrack weaving across rolling bluffs with constant Pacific views and a wilder feel than most city parks.
On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Portuguese Bend Reserve rewards the drive from Westmont with sweeping ocean vistas and quiet, brushy hillsides. Trails undulate across open slopes and down into small canyons, giving you room to build anything from a relaxed out-and-back to a solid few-hour loop. It’s especially good on clear afternoons, when the light on the water and the Catalina Island backdrop feel far removed from the 110 and 105.
05
Best waterfall outing
Eaton Canyon Falls Trail
Pasadena / San Gabriel Foothills • Shaded Canyon Hike To A Seasonal Waterfall • Best For A Weekend Adventure
A popular canyon trail that follows a rocky creek bed to a photogenic waterfall and pool in the San Gabriel foothills.
When you’re willing to drive a bit farther for a change of scenery, Eaton Canyon offers a classic Southern California payoff: a waterfall at the end of the trail. The route is mostly gentle but rocky in spots, with stream crossings, canyon walls, and enough shade to make warm days manageable if you start early. Go on a weekend morning, pack plenty of water, and expect company, but the falls and mountain backdrop deliver the kind of outing that makes the extra miles from Westmont feel worth it.