Los Angeles: Beaches, Trails and Culture

Nature and trails: from park paths to the Backbone Trail

Los Angeles County has nearly 60 hiking and recreation trails. Options include nature centers, protected areas and a regional network of multi-use trails; the parks also have miles of mountain biking trails. A special destination is Vasquez Rocks Natural Area near Agua Dulce, where hiking and riding trails run through the area, including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. The ancestral Tataviam village of Mapipinga is also located here. The combination of trails and this particular historic site gives a visit a distinctive focus.

The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve protects a Mojave Desert grassland habitat with seasonal spring blooms. Wildflower season generally runs from mid-February to May, but varies from year to year. The reserve has a total of 8 miles of trails, including a paved, wheelchair-accessible section. Animals to look out for include meadowlarks, lizards, gopher snakes, coyotes and bobcats. Here, seasonal blooms, trails and wildlife watching offer distinct reasons to spend time outdoors.

Placerita Canyon State Park also combines nature and history: it preserves the site of California’s first gold discovery in 1842. Sandstone formations, seasonal streams and oak-lined riparian woodlands characterize the protected landscape. In the Santa Monica Mountains, historic and cultural sites are also part of what’s on offer, including former movie ranches and Native American centers. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area provides access to more than 500 miles of trails.

The 67-mile Backbone Trail runs from east to west through the Santa Monica Mountains. With twelve trailheads, it can be hiked in sections. Mountain biking is permitted on 43 miles; use rules vary by section. These distances describe different options and don’t imply a specific hiking or riding time: plan your outing based on the section you actually intend to use.

Beaches and activities on the water

Venice Beach offers nearly 3 miles of coastline and 238 acres of beach. Swimming, beach volleyball, fishing and surfing are among the activities available there. If you’re planning to rely on public transit, you can consider Bus 1 or the free LA County Free Beach Shuttle for Venice Beach.

Hermosa Beach has nearly 2 miles of oceanfront and 94 acres of public beach. It has good areas for surfing and swimming, as well as volleyball nets; volleyball tournaments and surf festivals take place year-round. Las Tunas Beach offers a different focus: the beach is used for fishing and scuba diving, as well as swimming, surf fishing and surfing. This gives you several specific options for a beach day, rather than every coastal destination offering the same experience.

Las Tunas Beach is accessible via Bus 534, which stops at Pacific Coast Highway/Tuna Canyon. Routes and stops can change, so check the connection before you travel. The same practical advice applies to Venice Beach if you’re planning to take Bus 1 or the free shuttle.

Culture, history and famous places

Los Angeles County parks also include historic and artistic resources, such as 19th-century buildings and parks from the 1930s WPA era. Art installations range from colorful murals and mixed-media works to sculptures and living orchards. Griffith Park combines trails with a vast park landscape: it covers 4,210 acres and offers 50 miles of trails. More than 3.5 million fossils have been discovered at the La Brea Tar Pits.

Other destinations offer their own distinctive highlights. Rose Bowl Stadium is a National Historic Landmark and has hosted nearly 100 Rose Bowl games and five Super Bowls. The Santa Monica Pier dates back to 1909 and is home to the Pacific Park amusement park. At the Getty Center in the hills above West Los Angeles, you’ll find art collections and landscaped courtyards. Universal Studios Hollywood combines a film studio and theme park with rides and special attractions. The Walt Disney Concert Hall offers a self-guided tour of its garden and performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Choose a hotel stay that fits your plans

Decide which places matter for your trip, then check each hotel’s location against your specific plans. If you’re traveling to Venice Beach or Las Tunas Beach, take the bus connections mentioned above into account and check their current routes before you set off.

Discover more destinations

Cerritos, South Pasadena, Cudahy, Canoga Park, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Topanga, Valencia, San Marino, Alhambra, Altadena, Lake Hughes, La Verne, Palos Verdes Estates, Walnut, Irwindale, Vernon, Gorman, Del Aire, Rolling Hills, Lake Los Angeles, Commerce, Calabasas, Santa Clarita, Malibu, Pico Rivera, South El Monte, Azusa, Lomita, Duarte, Hidden Hills, Paramount, Arcadia, Diamond Bar, Rancho Palos Verdes, Hacienda Heights, La Crescenta-Montrose, Westlake Village, Los Angeles, Burbank, Compton, El Monte, La Puente, Agoura Hills, Baldwin Park, Hawaiian Gardens, Lynwood, Monrovia, Torrance, West Covina, Mission Hills, Lancaster, Norwalk, Avalon, Lawndale, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada, Pomona, Redondo Beach, Whittier, Bellflower, South Gate, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rowland Heights, Artesia, Bell, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Signal Hill, Downey, San Dimas, Carson, Culver City, El Segundo, Glendale, Marina Del Rey, Gardena, Hawthorne, Palmdale, Claremont, Glendora, Long Beach, Rosemead, San Gabriel

For the broader travel overview: California.