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Los Angeles Basin image courtesy of Matthew Trump

Los Angeles' Outdoor Destinations

The city of Los Angeles is situated within the Los Angeles basin, a 50 mile long, 25 mile wide coastal sediment plain.  This plain is surrounded by the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains to the north, the Santa Ana Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean and Palos Verdes Hills to the south and west.  This geographic setting creates incredible opportunities for outdoor exploration, quite literally, within walking distance of the world's 8th largest population center.  Hiking and walking paths can be found in municipal parks like Wildwood and Stough Canyons, in state parks such as Will Rogers State or Topanga Canyon and on the federally held lands of the Angeles National Forest.  Below are links to the geographic areas surrounding Los Angeles and some of the larger parks. You may also want to check our resources page for additional trails not yet listed with Hike-LosAngeles.com.