Kenneth Hahn is a surprisingly green and spacious park, especially considering its location in the urban area. It’s popular for family activities and for casual exercise including hiking. Trails from short to long can take you through a shady grove with a little waterfall, or up on sunny hilltops with 360-degree views.

One of LA's most beloved trails, this one grants a panorama of the city before the hike even begins. Continuing on, you’ll find various viewpoints toward the Hollywood sign, making for iconic photo opportunities. The hike is enjoyable without being too strenuous, but it’s possible to go quite far in this sprawling open space. Make sure to bring water and protection from the elements. The LA sun is gorgeous but can be brutal!

This regional park boasts a lot of outdoor activities. In addition to swimming, kayaking, and camping, you can of course go hiking as well. Middlecrest Loop is one of the best trails around, climbing to a grassy ridgetop with views in all directions. The dirt path twists around a small valley filled with pines, then ascends an open hillside flecked with flowers. As you go on, you’ll gaze over treetops at a blue reservoir, and toward the San Gabriel Mountains on the horizon.

This is among the most scenic places to hike along the coast near LA. The reserve is an expanse of green hills atop golden bluffs overlooking the ocean. The vegetation is sparse and desert-like, leaving wide-open views of the sky and sea. Trails weave along the top of the cliffs and also switchback down to the beach, allowing options for easier or tougher hikes.

Point Dume is a rocky headland jutting into the ocean, next to a fine beach and community of the same name. Though neighborhoods surround it, the point is left undeveloped as a nature preserve. A hiking trail spirals up to the top, granting views over sandy beaches and sea cliffs on both sides. Look closely and you may spot small animals on the land, birds of prey in the air, and perhaps seals, dolphins, or even whales in the water.