Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles, CA

April 14, 2017

It's hard to believe? Runyon Canyon Park is located right by Hollywood! It's a great place for workout and short hikes to explore nature. It also offers a dog park, so pet friendly environment. Trails are moderately steep, and some are very steep, but short. You can choose paved or dirt trails, and also loop or through hike. Like Griffith Park, this is a very popular park among walkers and runners. So, you won't be alone on the trail.

There are a few different entrances depending on where you want to start....from Fuller Ave or Vista St on Hollywood side, or from Mulholland Dr on the north side of the park. West Ridge trail is the steepest and East Ridge is moderately steep. You can loop around both ridges or hike the paved route which runs through between the two ridges.

Views along the trails, Vista points/Inspiration Point and from Indian Rock which is the highest point of the park are spectacular....Hollywood sign, Griffith Park and overlooking Hollywood, DTLA and as far as Parlos Verdes, Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific Ocean to the south as well as San Gabriel mountains and beyond to the north.

Outdoor Yoga class is offered in the park. Parking can be tough as you have to park on the street. Read the sign before you park!

Video by Lifeisamt

Parker Mesa Overlook Via East Topanga Fire Road - Topanga State Park/Pacific Palisades, CA

April 5, 2017

Hiking to Parker Mesa Overlook offers breathtaking views of Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean all along the way, and the coastal line from Parlos Verdes to Malibu. From the overlook, you can see gorgeous pano views as far as San Gabriel mountains, Santa Anna range and Catalina Island when the sky is clear!

There are a few different routes for this hike. I took Paseo Miramar trail and hiked from the top of the street of Paseo Miramar where East Topanga Fire Road meets.

The hike is 5.7 miles RT, and elevation gain is 900 ft. Beautiful hike and enjoy the views!

 Video by Lifeisamt

San Gabriel Mountains, CA

Peaks of San Gabriel Mountains, CA

Elevation: 3,207' - 10,068' 

 *Click to view large.

Panoramic view - Snow-capped peaks of San Gabriel Mountains.

"Peak Views -  El Nino unveils the San Gabriels" - written in the San Gabriel Valley News on May 7, 1998.  Intrigued by the article, I went on to Hacienda Heights to see if I could catch the same vistas of the San Gabriel Mountains in May, 2011.  If you stood there on a clear day, you'd admit the beauty of the San Gabriels. I DID! People may not talk much about the mountains in Los Angeles, but the San Gabriels are definitely a big part of LA, no doubt. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with I-5 to the west and I-15 to the east. If you want to appreciate LA more than beaches and Disneyland, you can hit a peak or two of the San Gabriels. You may be surprised to find a hidden gem of pleasure up there.

 

Major Peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains:

• Mount San Antonio, a.k.a. Mt. Baldy, 3,069 m (10,068 ft)
• Pine Mountain 2,940 m (9,648 ft)
• Dawson Peak 2,918 m (9,575 ft)
• Mount Harwood 2,911 m (9,552 ft)
• Mount Baden-Powell 2,865 m (9,399 ft)
• Mount Burnham 2,742 m (8,997 ft)
• Throop Peak 2,785m (9,138 ft)
• Telegraph Peak 2,739 m (8,985 ft)
• Cucamonga Peak 2,721 m (8,859 ft)
• Ontario Peak 2,650 m (8,693 ft)
• Mount Islip 2,515 m (8,250 ft)
• Waterman Mountain 2,450 m (8,038 ft)
• Iron Mountain 2,441m (8,007 ft)
• South Mount Hawkins 2,372 m (7,783 ft)
• Strawberry Peak 1,878 m (6,164 ft)
• San Gabriel Peak 1,877 m (6,161 ft)
• Vetter Mountain 1,800 m (5,908 ft) (site of active fire lookout tower)
• Mount Wilson 1,740 m (5,710 ft) (site of Mount Wilson Observatory)
• Mount Disappointment 1,817 m (5,960 ft)
• Mount Lowe 1,707 m (5,603 ft) (site of Mount Lowe Railway)
• Mount Lukens 1,544 m (5,066 ft)
• Echo Mountain 977 m (3,207 ft)

View northeast of Hacienda Heights - San Gabriel Mountains. Mt. Baldy (10,064'), Mt. Baden Powell (9,407'), Cucamonga Peak (8,862'), and Ontario Peak (8,693') are seen.

View northwest of Hacienda Heights - San Gabriel Mountains. Strawberry Peak (6,164'), Mt. Lukens (5,066'), Mt. Disappointment (5,960') and Mt. Wilson (5,710') stand prominent.