Top 10 Hiking Trails in Southern California

Southern California is packed with incredible hiking trails, offering everything from coastal views to rugged mountain terrain. Here are 10 of the best hiking trails in the region:

1. Bridge to Nowhere (Angeles National Forest)

• Distance: 10 miles round-trip

• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous

• Highlights: A remote, abandoned bridge from the 1930s, bungee jumping, river crossings

2. Torrey Pines State Reserve (San Diego)

• Distance: 3-5 miles (various trails)

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Highlights: Coastal bluffs, rare Torrey pine trees, panoramic ocean views

3. Mount Baldy (San Gabriel Mountains)

• Distance: 11 miles (via Devil’s Backbone or Baldy Bowl)

• Difficulty: Strenuous

• Highlights: Highest peak in L.A. County, alpine scenery, snow in winter

4. Solstice Canyon (Malibu)

• Distance: 2.6-6 miles (various routes)

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Highlights: Waterfalls, ruins of old estates, ocean views

5. Joshua Tree National Park (Hidden Valley & Ryan Mountain)

• Distance: 1-3 miles (Hidden Valley), 3 miles (Ryan Mountain)

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Highlights: Unique rock formations, desert landscapes, 360-degree views

6. Escondido Falls (Malibu)

• Distance: 3.8 miles round-trip

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Highlights: One of the tallest waterfalls in Southern California, lush canyon scenery

7. Griffith Park Trails (Los Angeles)

• Distance: 2-6 miles (various trails)

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Highlights: Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, sweeping city views

8. San Jacinto Peak (Palm Springs via Tramway or Cactus to Clouds)

• Distance: 10 miles round-trip (via Tram), 20+ miles (Cactus to Clouds)

• Difficulty: Moderate to extremely strenuous

• Highlights: Breathtaking alpine views, high-altitude challenge

9. Eagle Rock via Santa Ynez Canyon (Topanga State Park)

• Distance: 7.4 miles round-trip

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Highlights: Unique sandstone formations, ocean views, wildflowers

10. Big Bear’s Castle Rock Trail

• Distance: 2.6 miles round-trip

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Highlights: Scenic rock formations, lake views, great spot for a short adventure