Skull On!

Hike Temescal Canyon in Los Angeles County For Great Views and Bonuses

{FEBRUARY 2024 NOTE: Stay safe. Wait until storms have passed before hiking any trails, and before heading out check official websites for updates on trail status, closures, hazards, etc. Expect wet, muddy, and slippery trails, and exercise caution and good judgment, including with water crossings. Do not cross swift flowing waters. Proper hiking shoes are essential, and an extra pair of socks to change into is recommended. We also recommend waiting a week or so post-rains to let conditions calm down, and keeping up to date on trail conditions.}

Make no bones about it. The trek to Skull Rock in Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades is one of the best hikes in greater Los Angeles. This 4.6-mile loop has it all: A 1,100-foot climb up to an ominous-looking quarry, picture-perfect panoramic views, a seasonal waterfall, and the ultimate LA score: easy parking and access from the city.

Start at the Temescal Canyon trailhead at the southwestern corner of the parking lot. Ignore the stairs and walk past the cabins, making a left at the dam and through the gate. After a shady grove of coast live oaks, you’ll begin climbing an exposed rocky ridge leading you to a tiny bridge and waterfall. Most of the year, there’s not much to see, but after a winter rain, the cascade can be pretty and plentiful.

Climb for another mile (passing the junction and keeping straight on Temescal Ridge Trail), and you’ll arrive at Skull Rock, a majestic boulder that eerily resembles a skeletal profile. 

Skull Rock itself has a rope attached if you would like to scale it and sit in the “eye.” But you don’t have to. Scramble on any of the nearby rocks, and you’ll be rewarded with spine-tingling views of the Pacific and the neighboring coastal towns.

Retrace your steps back at the junction, this time making a right. Avoid the Bienvenido Trail and follow the Temescal Ridge Trail to Sunset Blvd. This part of the route feels particularly cinematic, with wide-open skies and colorful chaparral, leading you to a second overlook with ocean and cityscape vistas. Soak them up, and then descend down the canyon to close the loop where you started. 

To get to the Temescal Gateway Park lot and trailhead, take Pacific Coast Hwy. to Temescal Canyon Rd. After just over 1 mile, you reach the intersection with Sunset Blvd. The parking lot is just north of Sunset on your left. Park at the lot ($12 day pass), or find street parking. While the park is dog-friendly, dogs are not allowed on the trail.

Story and photos by Yvonne Pasquini, @yvonne_pasquini

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View