From Malibu to Burbank and Thousand Oaks, the least crowded hiking places in and near Los Angeles are not easy to find. But they are certainly not an unheard phenomenon.
Last updated: April 26, 2024
Where to Find the Least Crowded Hikes in and near Los Angeles
Fresh air invigorates you. Drops of sweat form on your forehead. With every step you feel that it gets more difficult to walk up. But you don’t give up and continue hiking. A small hill just a few hundred feet away is a place where you plan to take a break. In addition to giving you an opportunity to catch your breath, this stop on your hiking journey promises a beautiful view of Los Angeles.
Hiking is not easy, but definitely enjoyable and exhilarating. You gather all your strength and, anticipating peace and solitude, reach that hill. But instead of being happy, you feel disappointed. Nature and scenery are there, but solitude is nowhere to find. Many other hikers already claimed the best spots of the hill. Unfortunately, the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles where you don’t need to share your trail with a large number of people are scarce.
Yet not being readily available doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. On the contrary, Los Angeles accommodates all kinds of hikers and provides hiking places that suit their needs. From busy trails to rare waterfalls to secluded hikes with a few to no people around, the city of Los Angeles has it all.
Needless to say, your choices are almost unlimited if you know where to look for your tracks. With that being said, these 11 least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles intend to help you find the best trails with fewer people to share them with.
THE LEAST CROWDED HIKING PLACES IN THE LOS ANGELES REGION
1. Wildwood Regional Park
Location: Thousand Oaks
Summer is the most popular time for hiking in Los Angeles. But when it comes to this season, the City of Angels looks rather barren with prevailing yellowing and brownish colors. Wildwood Regional Park, one of the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles, however, surprises with a wide variety of landscapes.
A two-mile hiking trail in the northwestern part of the Greater Los Angeles Area runs through the open areas and sections hidden in woods. The pinnacle of the hike is 40-foot-high Paradise Falls.
Those who find the two-mile walk a piece of cake can extend their hiking journey to Lizard Rock. It adds an extra 2.5 miles to the initial trail and rewards with great views of Wildwood Park, the Conejo Valley, and the Santa Rosa Valley.
2. Wisdom Tree on Burbank Peak – The Least Crowded Hollywood Sign Hike in Los Angeles
Location: Griffith Park
The Wisdom Tree hiking area on Burbank Peak has become relatively popular during the past few years as it merges with the Cahuenga Peak Trail, another non-crowded hike in Los Angeles, and leads to the Hollywood Sign.
Nevertheless, due to its steep inclines and moderately challenging terrain, the area still falls into the category of the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles. You can hike to the Wisdom Tree via the 2.4-mile, round-trip Tree of Life Trail or the 2-mile, round-trip Wonder View Trail.
The hike can be long and steep depending on the trail you choose. At the end of it, you’ll be rewarded with scenic views of the iconic Wisdom Tree and boxes full of “wisdom” notebooks under the tree.
TIP: If you are looking for the least crowded hikes to one of Los Angeles’s most photographed sites, the Hollywood Sign, continue walking to Cahuenga Peak and then to the summit on Mt Lee. The roughly 3-mile trail, out and back, takes you to an overlook behind the world-famous letters.
NOTE: On the other end of the spectrum, the Mt Hollywood Trail in Griffith Park is one of the easiest, yet busiest hikes to see the front-facing views of the Hollywood Sign.
THE LEAST CROWDED HIKING PLACES IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF LOS ANGELES
3. O’Melveny Park
Location: Granada Hills
Tucked in the Santa Susana Mountains in the northern San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, O’Melveny Park is one of the best hiking places if you want to share the trail with as few people as possible. Apart from being quite isolated, the park offers trails of different distances and difficulty levels. The most popular of them are the Bee Canyon Trail, the De Campos Trail, and the O’Melveny Park Loop to Mission Point.
TIP: We enjoy hiking in this park not only because you see far fewer people on the trail, but also get to enjoy panoramic views of Los Angeles from the nearest hill. And if you make it to this hiking area in early spring, brace yourself for the most incredible wildflower viewing in the entire LA region.
4. Wildwood Canyon Park
Location: Burbank
Another non-crowded hiking place is located in Burbank, about 12 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Like its namesake mentioned above, Wildwood Canyon Park has more to offer than just a great outdoor workout. Running for over two miles one way, its moderate hiking trails reach a peak with the panoramic views of Los Angeles.
TIP: Keep in mind that the secluded region is home to some wild animals. Mule deer, gray foxes, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and even black bears have been seen at the park. So while this non-crowded hiking area is one of the great places to view wildlife in Los Angeles, it’s also not safe. Take a hiking buddy when heading to the hidden trails in this part of the Los Angeles region.
5. Stoney Point Park
Location: Chatsworth
A rugged spot at the base of the Santa Susana Grade, Stoney Point Park is not only one of the least crowded hiking places, but also one of the best rock climbing areas in Los Angeles. It hardly has any official trails. Yet a few hiking paths run at the base of the secluded mount-park, allowing you to work out without Los Angeles’s regular crowds.
More unnamed “trails” (often you just make your own) veer uphill to the top of the rocky outcroppings where you can enjoy urban sights of LA on one side and the Santa Susana Mountains on the other.
THE LEAST CROWDED HIKING PLACES IN WEST LOS ANGELES
6. Paramount Ranch
Location: Agoura Hills
When it comes to Paramount Ranch in the western section of Los Angeles, an old Western town rather than a secluded hiking area behind it comes to mind. Yet the less the place is known for its scenic hiking and biking trails, the fewer people you can expect to find here.
Tucked miles away from Los Angeles’s popular parks, the Paramount Ranch area invites hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Its few trails offer a perfect opportunity to get your heart pumping while trekking through the old filming location and up the mountains behind it.
TIP: After a rainy winter, a thick veil of golden wildflowers covers the hidden hiking grounds in West Los Angeles, giving more reasons to get outside and explore without the swarming crowds around.
7. King Gillette Ranch
Location: Calabasas
About four miles southeast of Paramount Ranch, Los Angeles has secured another beautiful hiking place that regular crowds are not familiar with. King Gillette Ranch is known first of all as home to an opulent mansion of the razor tycoon, King Camp Gillette.
But walk all the way to the back of the ranch and you’ll stumble upon a short trail. The easy hike doesn’t make you break into a sweat. Yet it rewards the occasional outdoor lovers with exceptional views from Inspiration Point, nestled at the top of the knoll.
8. Will Rogers State Historic Park
Location: Pacific Palisades
The western side of Los Angeles offers some of the best hiking destinations with practically no crowds to share the trails with. Will Rogers State Historic Park is one of those places. Located on the former property of the American actor, Will Rogers, the park attracts its own kind of hikers.
The two-mile Inspiration Point Loop Trail allures with stunning views from Santa Monica Bay to downtown Los Angeles. The 67-mile Backbone Trail is a favorite playground of LA’s long-distance hikers. Many outdoor enthusiasts also hop on the Rustic Canyon Trail to Murphy Ranch, an abandoned compound built by Nazi supporters.
9. The Grotto
Location: Malibu
The Grotto Trail, or simply the Grotto, is one of the hidden gems in Malibu. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the 3-mile, round-trip trail is nothing short of an adventure. It runs through big rocks and boulders, waterfalls, caves, and grottos. The best part, the hiking trail is relatively crowd-free.
10. Backbone Trail to Corral Canyon
Location: Malibu
Malibu is an outdoor heaven for Los Angeles’s hikers aiming for some privacy during their nature walks. Along with the Grotto, the Backbone Trail tops the list of the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles.
This moderately challenging trail is open all year round. Some sections of the path are overgrown. So wear appropriate clothes to spare yourself from scratches and bruises. Panoramic ocean views on the right, however, compensate for any inconveniences.
Many hikers hop on this secluded trail for a chance to find Corral Canyon Cave or Morisson’s Cave. (The fact that the cave is closed doesn’t stop them.) Jim Morrison reportedly used to write his song lyrics here.
11. Topanga State Park
Location: Topanga
Topanga State Park is known as one of the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles for a few reasons. Besides sharing the trail with a few other people rather than a crowd, you don’t even feel like you are in LA. The vast area with glimpses of the Pacific Ocean is especially appealing for nature-infused family excursions.
NOTE: Trippet Ranch is the main entrance and park’s parking area. It’s also a place where you can start your hikes to Eagle Rock and Parker Mesa Overlook.
TIP: If you are looking for other state parks to explore with family or friends, check out our guide to California’s most beautiful state parks and reserves.
The above blog is very useful for first-time visitors to Los Angeles. The places you have mentioned are very beautiful places. and some great information to check the new places.
Author
Thank you! I believe these hikes are perfect even for the locals.