Los Angeles hiking guides to help you explore the city on foot


Walking may not be integrated into the average Angeleno's daily life, but our city is still full of great places to explore on foot. Our team of experts is constantly searching for the best ones for you and talking to the people and businesses who keep our sidewalks vibrant. Whether you're looking for the best path up the most scenic stairs or a group of fellow walkers to hit the pavement with, we've got you covered, step by step.

— Alyssa Bereznak, Wellness Editor

Plan your next stroll around Los Angeles' many Little Free Libraries, outposts found everywhere from Studio City to Pasadena that let you take and/or drop off a book.

October 28, 2024

Pasadena, CA - October 8: Comedian Allan McLeod, left, walks and talks with actress Betsy Sodaro, right, as they cross a bridge at Hahamongna Watershed Park for their podcast. "Walking" on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 in Pasadena, CA. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Comedian Allan McLeod hosts “Walkin' About,” a podcast that celebrates the “complex and profound” act of traveling on foot in and around Los Angeles.

October 30, 2024

Los Angeles County is full of stairs with stunning ocean views. These are some of our favorites.

July 24, 2024

A person drinks coffee while walking along the Los Angeles River.

It can be difficult to create new routines, but enjoying a good cup of coffee, tea, or juice can be a great motivation to keep up the walking habit.

January 31, 2024

Taylor Yard Bridge.

Nine leisurely walks through Los Angeles that will help you appreciate the magnificent architecture of the city's bridges and its rich local history.

April 3, 2024

A photograph of the Japanese Garden for Inland Water Walks.

Driving to the beach can be a pain. Here are 7 inland gems with bodies of water that invite you to take refreshing outdoor excursions.

March 18, 2024

Los Angeles, CA - Monica Figueroa, center, walks with a group of young women at Runyon Canyon Park on Saturday, November 12, 2022, in Los Angeles, CA. Figueroa helps organize the LA Girls Who Walk, which is a new group that organizes walking events for women with the sole purpose of making new friends. The group started in San Diego and later expanded to Los Angeles, but has become so popular that people have started spin-offs in their own neighborhoods using a Discord chat community. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

When she moved to Los Angeles, Monica Figueroa launched LA Girls Who Walk for women who struggle to make friends and find healthy ways to hang out.

January 10, 2023

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 8: (9. SWAN STAIRWAY Walk #25). The Swan Stairs zigzag up the hillside from Westerly Terrace to Swan Place in Silver Lake. Photographed at Swan Stairs on Friday, July 8, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles is full of secret staircases. Here are outdoor climbs that make great walking or running exercises (and have panoramic views).

September 4, 2022

An illustration of a road through the city towards the ocean with a sunset sky

A group of friends walked the 25 miles of Sunset Boulevard in one day. In doing so, he reminded them of the history of Los Angeles and their own experiences on the winding street.

April 5, 2023

Since Los Angeles' first sushi bar opened in the 1960s, food has been a mainstay in Little Tokyo.

May 3, 2023

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Portrait of friends Brooke Palmieri, left, and Zac Weather on Sunset Blvd., on Monday, February 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. The couple recently walked 50 miles from Pasadena to Redondo Beach. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Zachary Weathers and Brooke Palmieri walked 50 miles in one day and discovered that Los Angeles is best experienced by walking.

March 2, 2022

Photoillustration of the shell of the Hollywood Bowl as the toe of a sneaker.

The Hollywood Bowl is a legendary concert venue, no doubt. But did you know that it is also a large public park perfect for a walk during the day?

May 27, 2022

STUDIO CITY, CA - JULY 25: A pink vegan food truck is parked in front of the former Fox Studio City Theater, now a bookstore, on Saturday, July 25, 2020 in Studio City, CA. Many people are now taking urban walks during the pandemic. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

These walking routes will help you explore the city and stay fit.

July 28, 2020

The figures wander through a labyrinth of hedges and trees.

Find yourself at these Los Angeles-area mazes when you're feeling overwhelmed or when you just want a relaxing, off-the-beaten-path experience.

June 7, 2023

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 17, 2019 - Bowtie Parcel Walk along the Los Angeles River. This walk doesn't fall into the category of a bucolic countryside walk, but it is an unusual and unique opportunity to get outdoors in the midst of urban sprawl. A little sandy and not for those who demand beautiful scenery on their walks, this is still a great stretch of the legs in fascinating surroundings. It is best to do this with good shoes, as there is a fair amount of broken glass and industrial debris underfoot. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

This walk doesn't fall into the category of bucolic countryside stroll, but it offers an unusual opportunity to get outdoors amidst the urban sprawl.

May 10, 2019

TORRANCE, CA - JUNE 2, 2019 - - The Madrona Marsh Preserve in Torrance on June 2, 2019. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

What an unlikely delight in the heart of industrial Torrance.

June 14, 2019

Pasadena, CA., December 13, 2019: The trail climbs a slight rocky rise, reaches a peak, and descends gently on the other side, taking you to the creek that gives Brookside its name on Friday, December 13, 2019 in Pasadena, California. Charles Fleming's December WALK is a trail near the north side of the Rose Bowl and returns the

This 2-mile hike in Pasadena takes you away from the busy Rose Bowl circuit to a quieter path.

December 20, 2019

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 6, 2019: Edgar Badillo of Los Angeles and his son Jeremiah,6, look for a fishing spot at Peanut Lake at Debs Park on November 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi/ Los Angeles Times)

The 2-mile route promises something rare in Los Angeles: a lake to savor

November 29, 2019

A fenced path leads to the trail entrance.

Franklin Canyon's more than 600 acres of trails are part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Hikers leave the parking lot at Fryman Road and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to begin on the Betty B. Dearing Trail in Fryman Canyon. In the Studio City area, try this Fryman Canyon trail that was once named the best running trail in the city.

In the Studio City area, try this Fryman Canyon trail that was once named the best running trail in the city.

December 26, 2013

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA., January 19, 2020 – Pampas Grass lines the sides of part of the stairs at Rancho Palos Verdes on Sunday, January 19, 2020 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

It is an easy climb with great benefits for lovers of sea views.

January 24, 2020

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