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 unheard phenomena.
Last updated: December 22, 2021
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 how it gets more difficult to walk up. But you don’t give up and continue hiking. A small hill just a few yards away is a place where you plan to take a break. In addition to giving you some rest, 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 the hiking places that suit their needs. From the busy trails to the hiking places with a few to no people, the city of Los Angeles has it all.
Needless to say, your choices are almost unlimited if you know where to look for them. With that being said, these 10 least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles intend to help you find the best trails with fewer people to share them with.
THE 10 LEAST CROWDED HIKING PLACES IN LOS ANGELES
1. Wildwood Regional Park
Thousand Oaks
Summer is certainly 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 some variety of landscapes.
A two-mile hiking trail in the northwestern part of the Greater Los Angeles Area runs through the open and hidden in woods areas. 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 extra 2.5 miles to the initial trail and rewards with great views of Wildwood Park, Conejo Valley, and Santa Rosa Valley.
2. Wildwood Canyon Park
Burbank
Another less 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. Spreading over two miles, its moderate hiking trail reaches a peak with the panoramic views of Los Angeles.
3. Wisdom Tree
Griffith Park
The Wisdom Tree hiking area is becoming more popular thanks to the famous Hollywood Sign hike. Nevertheless, it still somehow falls into the category of the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles. There are a few trails that take you to the Wisdom Tree. The Tree of Life Trail and the Wonder View Trail are just some of them.
The hike can be long and steep depending on the trail you choose. However, you’ll be rewarded with the iconic Wisdom Tree with boxes full on “wisdom” notebooks under it. Moreover, the sweeping views of Los Angeles are more than enough to venture to one of the least crowded hiking places in the city.
The Least Crowded Hiking Places in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles
4. O’Melveny Park
Granada Hills
O’Melveny Park in the San Fernando Valley portion of Los Angeles is by far your best hiking place if you want to meet as few people as possible. On top of being quite isolated, the park offers trails of different difficulty levels. The most popular of them include the Bee Canyon Trail, the De Campos Trail, and the O’Melveny Park Loop to Mission Point.
The Least Crowded Hiking Places in West Los Angeles
5. Paramount Ranch
Agoura Hills
When it comes to Paramount Ranch, an old western town rather than the hikes come to your mind. But the less place is known for its hiking trails, the fewer crowds you can expect to find here. The area near Paramount Ranch invites hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Its few short trails offer perfect opportunities to get your blood going while exploring the old filming grounds.
6. King Gillette Ranch
Calabasas
About four miles from Paramount Ranch, Los Angeles has secured another least crowded hiking place. Apart from an opulent mansion of the famous razor tycoon, Kind Gillette Ranch offers a few trails for beginners and experienced hikers alike. While the easy and moderate paths don’t really make you sweat, the views from Inspiration Point justify your time and effort.
7. Will Rogers State Historic Park
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. Nestled on the former property of the American actor, Will Rogers, the park attracts its own type of hikers.
The two-mile Inspiration Point Loop Trail entices with the stunning views from Santa Monica Bay to downtown Los Angeles. The 67-mile Backbone Trail is one of the most popular trails with long-distance hikers in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Many hikers also hop on the Rustic Canyon Trail to Murphy Ranch, an abandoned compound built by Nazi supporters.
8. Topanga State Park
Location: Topanga
Topanga State Park indeed can be defined as one of the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles. Besides sharing the trail with a few other people rather that a crowd, you don’t even feel like you’re in a city here. The vast area with glimpses of the Pacific Ocean nearby makes the park especially appealing for short escapes to nature. To top it off, Topanga State Park offers several picturesque hiking paths.
Trippet Ranch is the main entrance and parking area for the park. It’s also a place where you can start your hikes to Eagle Rock and the Parker Mesa Overlook.
9. The Grotto
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 three-mile, round-trip trail is nothing short of an adventure. It runs through big rocks and boulders, waterfalls, caves, and grottos.
10. Corral Canyon Backbone Trail
Malibu
Certainly, Malibu is a heaven for Los Angeles’ hikers aiming for some privacy during their nature walks. Along with the Grotto, the 2.3-mile Corral Canyon Backbone Trail tops the list of the least crowded hiking places in Los Angeles.
This moderate trail is open all year round. Some parts of the path are overgrown. Thus, wearing appropriate clothes can spare from scratches and bruises. Panoramic ocean views on the right, however, compensate for any inconveniences.
Many hikers, though, choose this trail for a chance to find Corral Canyon Cave or Morisson’s Cave. (The fact that the cave is closed doesn’t stop some of them.) Jim Morrison reportedly used to write his song lyrics here.
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.