Sturtevant Falls I was hiking in Eaton Canyon when I first had the idea of creating Hike-LosAngeles.com. It seemed like a simple idea at the time: take a hike and then write a little about it. Oh, if only it had stayed that simple, but by the time I returned home, that simple idea had become a bit more complex. I began looking at other hiking sites and deciding what I did and didn’t like about them. Most gave the basic essentials about the hikes, but many were assembled in a random, almost haphazard way. The hikes were listed either alphabetically or in the order the hiker completed them. Some of the larger, more ‘institutional’ sites were a bit sterile without any of the heart that makes a hike special. Others were a bit too personal with my favorite being a hiker’s blog where the hiker found the sky so overwhelming he had to sit down on the trail and cry. The description of his tears landing in the dust at his feet was a bit much and I can only imagine what his fellow hikers must have thought as they passed him weeping in the chaparral.
After reviewing a number of such sites I decided I would build the web destination that I would want to go to, one that would excite me about the trail and prepare me for whatever challenges I may encounter. I also wanted to be able to find specific trails quickly and easily. So my first goal was to organize the site in a way locate different types of hikes depending on mood and inclination. As such, you will find the hikes are broken down by destination and specialty. Under Destinations, the hikes are grouped geographically, which makes it easy to find a hike near your location. Currently, our destinations include Griffith Park, the Verdugo Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains. Upcoming destinations will include the Santa Monica Mountains, the Hollywood Hills and the Santa Susana Mountains.
If you are not particular about where you go, but rather what you want to see, our Specialty Hikes include Waterfalls, Sunrise/Sunset and Historic Hikes. As more hikes are added I expect to add a Challenging category for those who want a more aggressive workout with their hike. All of the hikes on Hike-LosAngeles.com can be found on the map at the bottom of our home page. Click on the map icons to get a brief description of the hike.
Once your have found a hike your interested in, navigate to that hike’s page for trail statistics (length, elevation and time estimates), a video highlight tour and a map and trail guide. Again, clicking on the map icons will bring up a brief description of trail junctions or interesting features as they correspond with the trail guide. The map and trail guide can also be downloaded and printed for your use on the trail. Directions to the trailhead and parking are included with every hike, as well as locations of nearby restrooms and water fountains. We’ve also included pictures of the hike’s scenic views as well as photos of major trail junctions so you know what to look for out on the trail.
When searching for a hike, you will find that by clicking on Destinations instead of one of the drop down menus, you will be taken to a page giving you information on the Los Angeles area. Likewise, clicking on Griffith Park, rather than a specific hike in the park, will bring you to an informational page on the history of the park. The same holds true for the Verdugo Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains or any other destination on the site.
Another good place for information is our resources page. Here you will find local merchants who specialize in hiking gear, hiking groups and links to local, state and federal parks. Initially, we are offering guides on 14 hikes on the eastern side of the metropolitan region, but we hope to add at least two new hikes a month beginning with some western walks in the Santa Monica Mountains. And this blog will keep you up to date on interesting articles and facts about hiking in Los Angeles. So there is plenty of exploring you can do right here on the website before heading out into the wilderness. But once you do, drop us a line at [email protected] to tell us about your own outdoor adventures or maybe even recommend a hike to add to our growing collection. So take a hike, Los Angeles, and become part of the scenery.
After reviewing a number of such sites I decided I would build the web destination that I would want to go to, one that would excite me about the trail and prepare me for whatever challenges I may encounter. I also wanted to be able to find specific trails quickly and easily. So my first goal was to organize the site in a way locate different types of hikes depending on mood and inclination. As such, you will find the hikes are broken down by destination and specialty. Under Destinations, the hikes are grouped geographically, which makes it easy to find a hike near your location. Currently, our destinations include Griffith Park, the Verdugo Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains. Upcoming destinations will include the Santa Monica Mountains, the Hollywood Hills and the Santa Susana Mountains.
If you are not particular about where you go, but rather what you want to see, our Specialty Hikes include Waterfalls, Sunrise/Sunset and Historic Hikes. As more hikes are added I expect to add a Challenging category for those who want a more aggressive workout with their hike. All of the hikes on Hike-LosAngeles.com can be found on the map at the bottom of our home page. Click on the map icons to get a brief description of the hike.
Once your have found a hike your interested in, navigate to that hike’s page for trail statistics (length, elevation and time estimates), a video highlight tour and a map and trail guide. Again, clicking on the map icons will bring up a brief description of trail junctions or interesting features as they correspond with the trail guide. The map and trail guide can also be downloaded and printed for your use on the trail. Directions to the trailhead and parking are included with every hike, as well as locations of nearby restrooms and water fountains. We’ve also included pictures of the hike’s scenic views as well as photos of major trail junctions so you know what to look for out on the trail.
When searching for a hike, you will find that by clicking on Destinations instead of one of the drop down menus, you will be taken to a page giving you information on the Los Angeles area. Likewise, clicking on Griffith Park, rather than a specific hike in the park, will bring you to an informational page on the history of the park. The same holds true for the Verdugo Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains or any other destination on the site.
Another good place for information is our resources page. Here you will find local merchants who specialize in hiking gear, hiking groups and links to local, state and federal parks. Initially, we are offering guides on 14 hikes on the eastern side of the metropolitan region, but we hope to add at least two new hikes a month beginning with some western walks in the Santa Monica Mountains. And this blog will keep you up to date on interesting articles and facts about hiking in Los Angeles. So there is plenty of exploring you can do right here on the website before heading out into the wilderness. But once you do, drop us a line at [email protected] to tell us about your own outdoor adventures or maybe even recommend a hike to add to our growing collection. So take a hike, Los Angeles, and become part of the scenery.
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