All "Hikes" Stories in Southern CA
![Hollywood Sign from behind on a hiking trail in Los Angeles]()
Hike of Fame
The 6-mile out-and-back Brush Canyon Trail to the summit of Mount Lee is a blockbuster with glamorous city views, and the closest and most unique perspective of the famous Hollywood Sign.
View![Hiker holding up Strawberry Peak sign at the summit of Strawberry Peak in the San Gabriel Mountains]()
Strawberry on Top
There's no question that Strawberry Peak is a most challenging and rewarding peak in the front range of the San Gabriels. It’s a 7.75-mile out-and-back hike climbing 1,800 feet to unparalleled 360-degree views.
ViewConstant Condor
Condor Peak is one of the less traveled hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains, probably because it’s 16 miles (round-trip)! Get an early start for this challenging adventure, best done during the cooler months.
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Do Denk
Denk Mountain is the highest point in Carlsbad, reached via a 3.5-mile figure eight loop that nets 800 feet of elevation and delivers the best views in town.
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Bobcat to Box Canyon
Sometimes it’s good to focus on the little joys in life instead of the big picture. At Rancho La Costa Preserve, that means hiking the hidden 2-mile Bobcat loop amid its 500 acres. This petite escape combines small wonders and big views.
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Copper Creek Serenity
The journey to Copper Creek Falls in Carlsbad’s Rancho La Costa Preserve is a serene 3.25-mile hike following a peaceful creek with a bit of local history and beautiful canyon scenery.
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Holy Wow!
Ready for a heavenly hike? Simi Valley’s Mount McCoy, managed by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District is a 2.5-mile (out-and-back) rambler that climbs 525 feet in 1.25 miles and features non-stop panoramic views and a giant white cross at the hill’s summit.
View![Hiker on a wide open dirt trail at Long Canyon in Simi Valley]()
Simi's Secret Loop
The secluded 2.8-mile Woodridge Loop at Long Canyon in Simi Valley rewards with rolling hills, grassy meadows, unique rock formations, and some of the most magical valley views in Ventura County.
View![Hiker at Big Sky Trail in Simi Valley]()
Big Sky SoCal
When does hiking through a neighborhood feel like you’re worlds away from civilization? When you’re in SoCal's Big Sky territory! Big Sky Trail is a 4-mile loop over rolling hills, all with incredible vistas of the surrounding valley and, of course, that big blue beautiful sky.
View![Hiker along a waterside trail in Franklin Canyon Park in Los Angeles]()
Franklin It's About the Beignet
Head to Franklin Canyon’s Upper Reservoir for a 2-mile loop in a fairytale setting, then visit Beignet Box in Studio City for some sweet treats.
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SponsoredChannel Islands for a Change
There’s no better time to visit California’s Channel Islands National Park. Located 25 miles off Ventura County Coast, this series of five distinct and spectacular islands is reached by a fun ferry ride often filled with wildlife sightings.
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SponsoredRise and Shine in Camarillo
Camarillo shines in more ways than one—including nearly year-round sun. Bathed in a Mediterranean climate and surrounded by agricultural “charmland”—especially wineries and vineyards—Camarillo is the perfect blend of outdoor bliss and urban comforts.
View![Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park]()
Purely Wild
Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.
View![Two Hikers at Wildwood Canyon Overlook Trail in Camarillo there are big mountain views]()
That's Just Wildwood!
The farm-to-table agricultural landscape around Camarillo delights with vineyards, lush canyons, and craggy mountains. For a hike combining a trifecta of these views, head to Wildwood Canyon Overlook Trail.
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SponsoredYour Winter Wellness Retreat: La Quinta
La Quinta is one of SoCal’s best-kept secrets, a land of wild open spaces, deep history, beautiful art, and all kinds of ways to relax and soak in the healing power of nature.
View![Hiker on a trail at Daley Ranch at North San Diego County]()
Daley Inspiration
Phenomenal views? Check. Impressive geology? Check again. Secret ponds? Yep! Sprinkle in a historic home and you’ve got a 5-mile highlight hike at Daley Ranch in Escondido.
View![A hiker surveys the sandstone formation and distant mountain views at Encinitas Ranch in North San Diego County]()
Encinitas Ranch
Beautiful Torrey pines, striking sandstone bluffs, mountain and ocean vistas ... find these trademark San Diego features on an unassuming suburban hike at Encinitas Ranch in North San Diego County.
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SponsoredMix Things Up in Oxnard
By land, by sea, by taco trail—Oxnard in Ventura County hits its stride in winter. The golden beaches are uncrowded, and surfers find their bliss in the curling waves.
View![Hiker staring out at mountainous views in Manchester Preserve North San Diego County]()
Manchester Hidden Gem
Hike a hidden gem in San Diego County: Manchester Preserve is a 123-acre canyon with a winding trail network best explored on a 2.25-mile perimeter loop.
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SponsoredFind Your Vibe
Start off 2022 with some good vibes! Head to the destination that’s all about a California State of Mind. The Ventura County Coast has all the good vibes you’ll need for your next getaway. It’s home to Channel Islands National Park, also known as “the Galapagos of North America.”
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Redding Lights and Silent Nights
Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation area.
Choose Redding for Your Holiday Getaway
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