Best Outdoor Things to Do in the Los Angeles Area
Los Angeles has a reputation problem. People think traffic, smog, celebrity culture. What gets overlooked is that LA is genuinely one of the best outdoor cities in the United States — 250+ days of sunshine, 70 miles of coastline, two major mountain ranges within an hour’s drive, and more hiking trails than most people could tackle in a year.
The city literally borders a national recreation area. You can surf in the morning, hike to a mountain peak in the afternoon, and be back for dinner. That’s not a marketing line — that’s just Tuesday in LA.
Here’s your guide to the best outdoor things to do in the Los Angeles area, from the beaches to the mountains and everything between.
Table of Contents
The Beaches
Santa Monica Beach & the Pier
Santa Monica is the postcard version of LA’s beach culture — wide, sandy, and anchored by the iconic pier with its Ferris wheel and Pacific Park amusement rides. The beach itself stretches for miles in both directions with volleyball courts, bike paths, and that quintessential California boardwalk energy.
The Santa Monica Beach Bike Path (also called The Strand) runs 22 miles from Pacific Palisades down to Torrance — one of the best flat cycling routes in Southern California, with unobstructed ocean views the entire way. Rent a bike near the pier and go as far as you feel like.
Best for: Families, first-time LA visitors, beachgoing without much effort.
Venice Beach
Venice Beach is where LA gets weird, and that’s the entire point. The famous Ocean Front Walk boardwalk is a circus of street performers, muscle beach weightlifters, artists, skaters, and everyone in between — genuinely unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Beyond the spectacle, Venice has good surf (the break near the pier), the historic Venice Canals (a quiet residential area a few blocks from the boardwalk worth a wander), and easy access to the bike path north to Santa Monica or south toward Marina del Rey.
Best for: People watching, cycling, soaking up LA’s unique character.
Malibu Beaches — El Matador to Zuma
Malibu is where the coast gets genuinely wild. The 21 miles of Malibu coastline have dramatically different character from the Santa Monica beaches — sea stacks, dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, and far fewer crowds once you get past the name-brand spots.
El Matador State Beach is the most beautiful beach in Malibu — a dramatic cove with towering sea stacks, caves, and golden cliffs that look like something from a different country. It’s a short scramble down a steep path from the parking lot, and worth every step. Go on a weekday or arrive early — the small lot fills by 10am on summer weekends.
Zuma Beach is the big, wide, family-friendly alternative — excellent swimming, consistent surf, and a genuine sense of open Pacific space.
Point Dume is a protected headland bluff just south of Zuma with short hiking trails delivering panoramic views of the Pacific, Catalina Island, and the Santa Monica Mountains. Dolphins and sea lions are commonly spotted offshore. Wildflowers in spring make it extraordinary.
Leo Carrillo State Park north of Malibu is the rugged end of the spectrum — tide pools, sea caves, rocky reefs, and a sycamore grove campground that makes it one of the best beach camping spots in the LA area. The tide pools here rival anything on the central coast.
Best for: Dramatic scenery, tide pooling, beach camping, getting away from the crowds.
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The Hikes
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Griffith Park — LA’s Backyard Mountain
Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America — 4,300 acres of rugged parkland right in the middle of the city, with over 53 miles of trails and some of the best city views in LA.
The Mt. Hollywood Trail is the classic — a moderate hike to the high point of the park with panoramic views of the entire LA basin, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Hollywood Sign, and on clear days, the Pacific. You can connect to the Griffith Observatory on the way down for one of the most iconic viewpoints in the city.
The Mt. Lee Trail (aka the Hollywood Sign trail) gets you close enough to see the sign from behind — good views, but note the sign itself is fenced and inaccessible. The approach from Brush Canyon is the most scenic.
Best for: City views, accessible hiking minutes from downtown, a classic LA experience.
Runyon Canyon
Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills is LA’s most popular urban hike — a 160-acre park with trails that feel remarkably wild given the million-dollar homes on the surrounding ridges. The views from the top stretch from downtown to the ocean.
It’s busy. Very busy on weekends. Dogs are allowed off-leash in designated areas, which is either wonderful or chaotic depending on your perspective. Go early on weekdays for the most peaceful experience.
Best for: A quick midday hike, dog owners, Hollywood Hills access.
Santa Monica Mountains — Solstice Canyon & Beyond
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a 150,000-acre patchwork of parkland stretching from Griffith Park to Point Mugu — and it contains over 500 miles of trails that most visitors to LA never discover.
Solstice Canyon in Malibu is the gateway hike — an easy 2.5-mile round trip through a shaded riparian canyon past ruins of an old estate and a dramatic waterfall at the end. One of the most accessible and beautiful hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Topanga State Park delivers more serious terrain — the Los Liones Canyon to Parker Mesa Overlook trail is a 7-mile round trip with sweeping views of the Pacific and Santa Monica Bay that genuinely rival anything in the state parks system.
For wildflowers in spring, the Point Mugu State Park area at the western end of the range has some of the best displays in Southern California.
Best for: Anyone wanting serious hiking right in the LA metro area.
Eaton Canyon Falls — San Gabriel Mountains
Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena is one of the most accessible waterfall hikes in the LA area — a 3.5-mile round trip to a 40-foot waterfall that requires several creek crossings (bring water shoes) through a rocky canyon.
The San Gabriel Mountains as a whole — part of the Angeles National Forest — are massively underutilized by LA visitors. Mount Baldy (Mount San Antonio) at 10,064 feet is the region’s premier summit, and trails in the Chilao and Crystal Lake areas deliver high-Sierra scenery within 90 minutes of downtown.
Best for: Waterfall chasing, escaping to real mountains from the city.
The Water
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Surfing
LA has consistently good surf at multiple spots. Malibu’s First Point at Surfrider Beach is one of the most famous longboard waves in the world — a long, mellow right-hander that peels beautifully on south swells. El Porto in Manhattan Beach handles south swells well and is a popular spot for intermediate surfers. Topanga Beach and County Line at the Ventura County border both offer quality waves away from the main crowds.
Lessons are easy to find in Santa Monica and Venice — a great intro to California surf culture for visitors.
Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Marina del Rey is the hub for flat-water paddleboarding and kayaking in LA — calm, protected, with rental outfitters right on the marina. Malibu Lagoon and the calm waters near Leo Carrillo are good for more natural paddling experiences.
For something more adventurous, Catalina Island (about an hour by ferry from San Pedro or Long Beach) has excellent kayaking around its sea caves and clear-water coves — one of the best day trips from LA.
Whale Watching
LA sits along one of the most active whale migration corridors in the world. Gray whales pass December through April on their way north. Blue and humpback whales appear from June through October, feeding on the rich upwelling off the Southern California coast.
Whale watching boats depart from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Redondo Beach regularly throughout the season. Sightings are extremely reliable.
Beyond the City — Easy Day Trips
Malibu Creek State Park (25 miles from downtown) — the Rock Pool swimming hole, excellent hiking, and the location where M*A*S*H was filmed. One of the best half-days from LA.
Santa Paula Canyon Punch Bowls (60 miles) — an 8-mile round trip hike to natural rock pools and a 25-foot waterfall in Los Padres National Forest. The best swimming hole day trip from the city.
Joshua Tree National Park (2 hours) — the desert escape. Everything you need to know is in our Southern California national parks guide.
Big Sur (5–6 hours north) — the epic coastal drive. Worth every minute. Check our Big Sur guide for the best stops.
Tips for Outdoor LA
Go early on weekends. Popular trailheads (Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, El Matador Beach) fill their parking lots by 9–10am on summer weekends. Arrive by 7–8am or take a rideshare.
Cell service varies wildly. The Santa Monica Mountains and Angeles National Forest both have significant dead zones — download offline maps before heading out.
Watch for fire season. Trails and parks in the Santa Monica Mountains and Angeles National Forest close regularly during red flag conditions, especially September–November. Check LA County Fire and Angeles National Forest before heading out.
The Strand bike path is free. One of the best free outdoor activities in LA — the 22-mile coastal bike path from Pacific Palisades to Torrance with no cars and unobstructed ocean views the whole way.
Tide pool timing matters. For Leo Carrillo, Point Dume, and Abalone Cove — check tide charts and go 1–2 hours before low tide.
More California Adventures
LA is just the beginning. For more on exploring Southern California and beyond, check out our guides to things to do in Santa Barbara, things to do in Big Sur, things to do in Morro Bay, and the best road trips in California to keep the adventure going.
Happy adventuring, friend!
