All "Hikes" Stories in Southern CA

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  The Irish Hills Are Smiling

  Everyone loves San Luis Obispo, and the Irish Hills rank high among reasons why. Inches from civilization, you enter a world laced with oak-shaded creeks, green grassy hillsides, a

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  Plateau Ho!

  In the heart of the Inland Empire is a portal to California’s past, where colossal Englemann oaks spread their gnarled branches, and rare native grasses still flourish on verdant h

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  Griffith’s Glow

  Griffith J. Griffith believed that people gained an enlightened perspective on life when looking at the skies. So true! Especially when you gaze upon a glorious LA sunset and moonrise from Griffith Observatory, that generous star buff’s gift to the city he loved.

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  Signal Hill Thrill

  High above Long Beach, Signal Hill gets the green light for a hike that delivers rich history, epic views, unique art, more epic views, and one of the best sunsets in Southern California.

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  Great Ascot!

  Sometimes the skyline’s the limit, and that’s a good thing if you’re visiting Ascot Hills Park, an 83-acre urban respite that offers autumn and winter sunsets to remember. A 1-mile

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  Sea-to-Sea View

  It’s a bit of a leg buster, but this 5.6-mile out-and-back hike up 6,512-foot Cuyamaca Peak in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park gets you bragging rights for reaching the second-highest point in San Diego County. Better, it rewards you with sweeping views that extend from sea to sea...

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  Find Placerita Gold

  Head to Placerita Canyon Natural Area and tackle the Firebreak Trail loop, which gains 1,700 feet in 7 miles. It’s a workout hike with payoff views at the height of the loop.

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  Best the Crest

  A walk along the spine of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in Malibu is especially good when the days are cool and the skies so clear. Add a jaunt down into Mali

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  Garden of the Gods

  A 1-mile out-and-back trail in 23-acre Garden of the Gods threads through sandstone boulders that were natural icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age, back when this site was known as the Iverson Movie Ranch.

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  Go West(world)!

  If your idea of visiting a film location is more Westworld than Universal Studios, then we know just the place. Paramount Ranch has been a film backdrop since 1923 and is home to a

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  Urban Ranch Land

  Though the Woolsey fire came close, Orcutt Ranch in West Hills was not touched, thankfully. The ranch is a 24-acre LA city park filled with vibrant citrus trees and lavish flowers—

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  Lykken Good!

  A hike followed by brunch? Always a good idea! Palm Springs’ go-to hike for gaining wild views and getting back to the city in time for brunch is North Lykken Trail.

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  It's a Waterfall Life

  Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores will change how you think about the desert. You might grumble at the $1

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  Murray Up!

  Palm Springs’ highest summit, Murray Hill, is unfairly named. It’s not a hill: It’s a pyramid-shaped peak poking into the sky above the Coachella Valley. And it’s a demanding 2,200

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  Millard Time

  Lace up the waterproof boots for this short hike to one sweet waterfall! The 1.5-mile out-and-back trek to roaring Millard Canyon Falls also makes a splash with stunning panoramas of the San Gabriel Valley.

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  Trail to the Falls

  Named for the trail of gold dust that once dominated this area, Trail Canyon Falls just outside of Burbank is now rich with a liquid asset: a gorgeous 30-foot waterfall. Reach it on a 5.2-mile (round-trip) hike.

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  Find the Hermit

  Plenty of hikers in Big Santa Anita Canyon make the trek to Sturtevant Falls, but fewer head to the area's Hermit Falls in Angeles National Forest. This 3-mile (round-trip) hike be

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  Inspiration Point

  With a name like Inspiration Point, expectations are high … and high you’ll go, as in above the clouds on this beautiful 10-mile (round-trip) hike located 2 miles north of popular

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  Earnest in Ernest

  Finding peace of mind in the middle of Los Angeles? Hey, it does happen every now and zen. Northeast of downtown is the 300-acre oasis of Ernest E. Debs Regional Park and a 5-mile

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  Jungle Bells

  Spotting bling on the red carpet? So cliché. Spotting bling in the urban sprawl of downtown LA? Haute damn! There’s no shortage of holiday spirit on a 4-mile urban loop hike. Get o

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