Challenging Hikes Los Angeles

Fall Nature Hike

Come see the seasonal changes of the Preserve and identify plants by observing their leaves. We will hike a three mile loop, with uphill and downhill terrain. All hiking levels welcome. Let’s identify plants and animals together! Please come prepared with sturdy, closed toed shoes, sun protection and water!

Ferndell Nature Trail Adventure 🌿🥾

🌿 **Sole Sisters Hiking Group: Our First Outdoor Adventure!** 🥾☀️ 🥾 **DIFFICULTY: EASY / BEGINNER-FRIENDLY** Let's get outdoors, enjoy some fresh air, and connect beyond our usual gatherings! For our first outdoor adventure, we'll explore the beautiful **Ferndell Nature Trail in Griffith Park**, a hidden little oasis in the heart of Los Angeles. This peaceful, shaded nature walk winds through lush greenery, towering ferns, charming bridges, and a gentle stream with little waterfalls. It's the perfect setting for a leisurely morning stroll and some good conversation! **🌿 Nature Walk Details** 📍 **Location:** Ferndell Nature Trail, Griffith Park 📌 **GPS Address:** The Trails Cafe 2333 Fern Dell Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 🕙 **Meeting Time:** 10:00 AM 🥾 **Difficulty:** Easy / Beginner-friendly 🌳 **Distance:** Approximately 0.5 mile round trip ⏳ **Walking Time:** 45–60 minutes at a relaxed pace 🚗 **Parking:** Free street parking along Fern Dell Drive **Where to Meet:** Let's meet by the **The Trails Cafe sign** at 2333 Fern Dell Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068, near the upper end of Ferndell Nature Trail. Free street parking is available along Fern Dell Drive, although spots can fill up on weekends. Please arrive 10–15 minutes early to allow time for parking and finding the group so we can begin our walk together at **10:00 AM!** 🌿🥾 **A Little Extra Adventure?** Since this is a relatively short nature walk, anyone who wants to get a few more steps in is welcome to walk the trail a second time! That would bring our total distance to approximately one mile. Completely optional, of course! **What to Bring:** Comfortable walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and your adventurous spirit! The trail is mostly shaded, with gentle inclines and packed-dirt pathways. ☕ **After Our Walk:** For anyone who wants to linger a little longer, we can stop by the nearby Trails Cafe for coffee, a snack, and more conversation! 🚙 **Carpooling Encouraged!** Parking is free but can be limited, especially on weekends, so carpooling is a great option. If you'd like to carpool, please RSVP to the event and let me know you're interested. I'll share our carpool meeting address with those who RSVP so we can coordinate rides. Whether you're an avid hiker or simply enjoy a peaceful stroll in nature, everyone is welcome! Looking forward to kicking off our first Sole Sisters adventure together. Here's to fresh air, friendship, laughter, and meaningful connections! 💚

Sunday Night Hike At Griffith Park

**Intermediate++ / Advanced Conditioning hike** **Join us for a challenging but fun Sunday evening hike in Griffith Park. Expect steep climbs, rugged trails, great views, and sometimes exploratory sections or light rock scrambling.** **This hike is best for** **experienced hikers who are comfortable with sustained uphill climbs, steep grades, uneven terrain, and a brisk pace. Typical hikes are about** **4–6 miles with 1,200–2,000 feet of elevation gain** **and usually take around 3** **hours.** **Please come prepared with:** * **At least** **2 liters of water** * **Hiking shoes with good traction** * **Sun protection** * **Long pants or sleeves when appropriate** * **Trekking poles if you use them** **We will keep a steady pace and stay together as a group. Please make sure the distance, elevation gain, terrain, and pace are a good match for your current fitness level before signing up.** **These hikes are meant to be a strong workout, but also a chance to explore, enjoy the views, and have fun with a great group of hikers. 🥾🌄** **Arrival & RSVP** **Please arrive 10–15 minutes early. We leave exactly on time.** **If you cannot attend, please update your RSVP.** **Directions** **Take the Los Feliz / Crystal Springs entrance off the I-5 freeway.** **Go north on Crystal Springs Drive into the park. At the second stop sign, turn left at the four-way intersection (ranger station on your right). Continue briefly, then turn right into Merry-Go-Round Lot #1. Drive through Lot #1 and continue to Lot #2.** **We meet at the north end of Parking Lot #2 by the steps.** **Liability Notice** **Assistant Organizers, Event Hosts, and support hikers are volunteers and organize hikes without compensation and assume no responsibility for participants or guests. By signing up, you acknowledge the risks associated with outdoor activities and agree to release and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers, and Event Hosts of the Los Angeles Hiking & Fitness Meetup Group from any liability arising from participation.** **Please see Meetup’s Terms of Service: https://www.meetup.com/terms/job**

Griffith Park Semi Beginner Hike @ Merry Go Round Lot

A New Year with new resolutions (or re-instated old ones) Come out for our traditional semi beginner hike. It's a semi hilly 4.30-mile hike. This hike is @ 120 minutes. Most of the elevation gain is going up @ 200 steps in the middle of the hike. Total elevation gain for this hike is approximately 930 ft **NO ANIMALS ALLOWED ON HIKE** We do start ON TIME, no matter how much traffic is on the freeways, inside the park, including if our parking lots are being used by movie crews. Allow yourself enough time for any unexpected surprises. Where to meet: If you know the park well, it is Merry Go Round Lot #2, adjacent to the first entrance into lot #2. IF YOU ARE BY THE STAIRCASE YOU ARE IN WRONG SPOT. WE DO NOT MEET BY THE STAIRCASE. We meet directly opposite of the staircase on the other side of the lot Put these coordinates in google maps for the exact spot that we meet: 34.133525,-118.284731 Legend for hikes: These hikes run year 'round every Tuesday. In the leader's (subjective) mind, the hikes are generally easiest the first Tuesday of the month and most challenging the last Tuesday of the month, with everything progressive in between. Beginners are encouraged to come to the first Tuesday of the month. Beginners will receive doses of encouragement the second Tuesday of the month to keep up if unable. The 3-4-5 Tuesday's of the month it is expected anyone that can't keep up with the leader will turn back The fine print: Wildlife (snakes, bobcats, mountain lions etc) seen in the park, be aware of your surroundings and stay alert at all times. Bring Along: Hiking boots and at least 1 Liter Water. Layered clothing in case it's cold. Long pants in case it's hot, to prevent being bitten by insects. Mosquito and tic spray (available at Sports Chalet) are recommended. No bright (white) flashlights. Red, Blue flashlights are ok. If you get to the lot after we meet, Sierra Club hikes start at 7:00PM on the opposite end of the lot. From 134 Freeway: (Note, if you are not familiar with Griffith Park Drive, this is a dark single lane route. You are better off taking I5 directions) Exit Forest Lawn. (If coming from Westbound go straight, from Eastbound, Go Right). Make a left on Zoo Drive. Make a right hand turn on Griffith Park Drive. Road weaves through Griffith Park. Continue on road until you hit Crystal Springs Road. Make a right hand turn on Crystal Springs. There's no street sign at the next stop sign, but there should be a sign in the median stating the Merry Go Round is to the right. Make a right hand turn. Continue up the road. The road forces you to make a sharp right hand turn into a parking lot. Go through the parking lot. You'll hit a small dark road (it's lit if it's daylight savings time) for a short period of time, followed by a brightly lit lot. Park in the back of the lot (the part you entered in). Meet at the back of the lot, where the driveway to the lower part of the lot is. It's close to the "No Practice Driving Allowed" sign is. From Interstate 5 (either direction) Go West on Los Feliz. Make a right on Riverside drive into Griffith Park. Go two stop signs and make a left turn. Continue up the road. The road forces you to make a sharp right hand turn into a parking lot. Go through the parking lot. You'll hit a small dark road (it's lit if it's daylight savings time) for a short period of time, followed by a brightly lit lot. Park in the back of the lot (the part you entered in). Meet at the back of the lot, where the driveway to the lower part of the lot is. It's close to the "No Practice Driving Allowed" sign is. Where to meet: See above. If you know the park well, it is Merry Go Round Lot #2, next to the first entrance into lot #2. WE DO NOT MEET BY THE STAIRCASE. We meet directly opposite of the staircase on the other side of the lot http://angeles.sierraclub.org/griffith/griffith_park_map.html http://files.meetup.com/262967/PL#2.jpg Put these coordinates in google maps for exact directions from your location: 34.133525,-118.284731

Owen Brown Grave Hike at 4PM

**Our first hike after the clocks go back, so we will not start the hikes at 4;00PM!!** **CANCEL IF RAIN.....I wont know until early Sunday afternoon.** This is a group hike that ***stays together*** as we hike. We wait for people to catch up, we don't split into separate groups with one moving faster than the other. If this group doesn't move fast enough for you, please find another that suits you better. Thanks *** Come join us as we return to the canyon views on this weekend! We start in Altadena and hike above El Prieto Canyon, checking out the secluded grave of abolitionist Owen Brown. Most of the trail is gradual up and down, from pathways to fire roads which eventually lead to a creek. **Note! We start this hike on a residential street. Please Google 4552 El Prieto Rd in Altadena. This is where we will park and start the hike! Look for the brown "Owen Brown Gravesite" sign at the start of the asphalt road at the end of culdesac. Look at the photo for this hike, you will see the address marked! Check the map pin at the bottom of this event page!** **Allow yourself a few extra minutes to find this street if it is your first time.** **My text is 818-261-0879-please contact me beforehand to work out any questions!**

Runyon Canyon Conditioning Workout hike

This is an Intermediate/advanced hike for physical conditioning to prep for harder mountain hikes. There is some steep downhill requiring hiking shoe tread. The uphill is gradual but constant. Pace is Intermediate/advanced. You can do one loop and exit or multiple. I usually do 3. Each takes about 50 minutes. I normally arrive at 8:55am. We will leave at 9 am sharp. MEETING PLACE : I will be right inside the green iron gate near the water fountain just off Mulholland Parking : parking lot near entrance gate. More parking on Mulholland but pay attention to signs. RAIN CANCELS This is a loop I do weekly. Each loop is approximately 2 miles/50 minutes. You can do as few or as many as you want. We'll go down the fire road to East ridge then come up West ridge fire road. I usually do 3 laps. You can exit at the Mulholland gate after any lap. Our Policy: Profile photo: Anyone interested in joining this event must have a profile photo showing his/her face. This is a requirement of L.A. Hiking. Without it, you will not be allowed to sign up for an event. Waiting list priority: People who hike with with L.A. Hiking regularly will be given priority when they are on the waiting list. Advanced hikes: Anyone interested in participating in advanced hikes (>3,000' elevation gain or distance > 10 miles or Difficulty Level > = 7) will be subject to prescreening before his/her name will be added to the list. Therefore, interested hiker must share with the event host his/her recent hiking background to establish proficiency before his/her name will be added to the list. Guests are not allowed on advanced hikes. Early departure: If a hiker needs to be separated from the group for any reason, he/she must inform the event host. Not knowing a hiker's where about may prompt the event host to report a hiker's missing to proper authority for further actions. No show: If you sign up for an event but did not show up, you will be removed from the next event you sign up. No minor: Meetup user agreement and our liability waiver can not be agreed to by a minor. Therefore, you and your guest must be over 18 to participate in our events. No drug: Zero tolerance for all illegal drug use. *** Warning: If you have prior medical condition or a family history of illnesses pertaining to heart, lungs, brain, etc. that can be aggravated by heat and physical exertion, this is not the hike for you. If you have never done a hike of this distance or difficulty before, this hike will be very difficult for you. It may well be your death march. The mountain is not going anywhere. We will schedule this event again in the future. Do it when your mind and body are ready. Hiking is a recreation, not a suicide mission. Release of Liability: The organizer (me) of this trip is a volunteer and is not a professional guide. The function of the organizer is only to organize this trip. Each person who signs up for a trip/hike/or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests. By signing up for this trip, or any other event organized by me, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer (me) of this hike from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. L.A. Hiking, its organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers are not responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur carpooling to and from this event, or for any injuries or accidents incurred before, during, and after this event. If you sign up or participate in an event you acknowledge that you freely and voluntarily agree to assume all risks of injuries and damages arising from, as a result of and associated with this event. Read less

Saturday in the Santa Monica Mountains 2026 #6 - Verdugo Peak

Hike #6 in the 2026 Saturday in the Santa Monica Mountains series, is a strenuous 11 mile, 2800 gain hike in the Verdugo Mountains. The trail starts with a challenging steep ascent to Mount Thom and then mellows out along the ridge with panoramic views of the city. We'll take Verdugo Motorway past Tongva Peak to brunch at Verdugo Peak with a relaxed descent down Brand Motorway. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and a good attitude. Hiking poles and footwear with good traction are recommended as some portions of the trail are covered in scree. Rain, excessive heat, and Red Flag alert cancels. This is a Front Country hike. A medical form is recommended, but not required. If you have one, please carry it with you. Copies of the form will be available to fill out at the trailhead as well. Outing to be conducted to Sierra Club hike safety guidelines, group to hike together with participants following the leader and in front of the sweep.

Mount Baldy via Devil’s Backbone + Food & Drinks

⚠️ Most attendees and all event communication will be through our YoPro Hikes community on Heylo. 👉 Please join our Heylo group here for full details, updates, meeting location, and group communication: https://heylo.com/invite/CNRhLnMO

Trail Work on Echo Mountain

sunday night hike

**Intermediate++ / Advanced conditioning hike** **Join us for a challenging but fun Sunday evening hike in Griffith Park. Expect steep climbs, rugged trails, great views, and sometimes exploratory sections or light rock scrambling.** **This hike is best for experienced hikers who are comfortable with sustained uphill climbs, steep grades, uneven terrain, and a brisk pace. Typical hikes are about 4–6 miles with 1,200–2,000 feet of elevation gain and usually take around 3 hours.** **Please come prepared with:** * **At least 2 liters of water** * **Hiking shoes with good traction** * **Sun protection** * **Long pants or sleeves when appropriate** * **Trekking poles if you use them** **We will keep a steady pace and stay together as a group. Please make sure the distance, elevation gain, terrain, and pace are a good match for your current fitness level before signing up.** **These hikes are meant to be a strong workout, but also a chance to explore, enjoy the views, and have fun with a great group of hikers. 🥾🌄** **Arrival & RSVP** **Please arrive 10–15 minutes early. We leave exactly on time.** **If you cannot attend, please update your RSVP.** **Directions** **Take the Los Feliz / Crystal Springs entrance off the I-5 freeway.** **Go north on Crystal Springs Drive into the park. At the second stop sign, turn left at the four-way intersection (ranger station on your right). Continue briefly, then turn right into Merry-Go-Round Lot #1.** **Drive through Lot #1 and continue to Lot #2.** **We meet at the north end of Parking Lot #2 by the steps.** **Liability Notice** **Assistant Organizers, Event Hosts, and support hikers are volunteers and organize hikes without compensation and assume no responsibility for participants or guests. By signing up, you acknowledge the risks associated with outdoor activities and agree to release and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers, and Event Hosts of the Los Angeles Hiking & Fitness Meetup Group from any liability arising from participation.** **Please see Meetup’s Terms of Service: https://www.meetup.com/terms/**

Sierra Club Griffith Park Tuesday Evening Hikes

**If you don't have a current waiver card, please come early (\~6:40pm on) to sign the required waiver form ("participation agreement") and get your *PINK waiver card*, good until the end of 2026.** Come and enjoy a great evening of hiking and conversation with fellow hikers. These conditioning hikes range in level from fairly easy (level 1) through moderate (levels 2 and 3) to advanced hikes (levels 4, 5, and 6). All levels have hills; terrain is sometimes steep with uneven footing. Because hikers are expected to maintain the pace set by hike leaders, newcomers should not hike above level 3 and may wish to start at level 2. >>>**On Tuesday & Thursday evenings, we offer \*simultaneous\* hikes at a variety of levels.** **While some levels may not be offered on a given evening, we try to cover a range of levels.**<<< Hikes are led by trained leaders and last approximately 2 hrs. Hikes begin at 7pm; newcomers should get there early to fill out a waiver and should carry the waiver card with them on the hikes. There are usually 30-60 people at the hikes. **What to bring:** Bring water and a light jacket in case it gets cold. Hiking boots/shoes or other shoes with good traction are necessary for the harder hikes (levels 3-5) and are strongly encouraged for all hikes; tennis shoes with good tread may be sufficient for the more moderate hikes (levels 1 & 2). Flashlights are optional; many leaders discourage their use except in emergencies. If flashlights are used, red lights are preferable as they interfere less with night vision. Please, no radios or other sound-producing devices that others can hear. If earbuds are used, please leave one out to maintain awareness of surroundings. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are at the discretion of the leader. This is a front country outing. **Contagious disease considerations:** Note that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people may be present; everyone is encouraged to keep their distance and respect each others' need to do so. Please do not attend if you are ill or have reason to think you might have a contagious disease. **If you test positive for a contagious disease within 3 days of a hike, please let us know through Meetup or by emailing GPNighthikes at gmail dot com.** Check the weather [https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/griffith-park/90027/hourly-weather-forecast/2626762](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/griffith-park/90027/hourly-weather-forecast/2626762) **Directions** to Merry-Go-Round Lot #2 (also known as the Upper Merry-Go-Round parking lot): From Los Feliz Blvd just west of the 5, take Crystal Springs north into the park; you’ll soon pass a freeway onramp. After around a mile, you’ll come to a 4-way intersection, with the Ranger station on your right. Make a left (going west). At the top of the road you’re forced to turn right into the (unlit) lot #1. Drive through the lot and along the road that leaves the opposite corner. You’ll soon come to lot #2, which is lit. The Sierra Club meets at the far (north) end of the lot, by the stone steps. Going north on the 5 from Downtown LA, you can also get off at the Griffith Park exit and take Crystal Springs going north, following the directions above. Other routes go from near the Zoo or from Travel Town. You can get directions from this link: [https://goo.gl/q7QTtb ](https://goo.gl/q7QTtb).

Explore Griffith Park

Please read this entire write up. This is a moderately strenuous hike. The hikes are about 2 hours long and about 4 miles, and those miles include steep ascents and descents, most often on single track trails. Some trails can be uneven and slippery. We move at a fairly rapid pace. but pause occasionally to enjoy the scenery, smell the flowers, and take pictures of the amazing views. No two hikes are the same, and we go all over the park. Please don't be late, as we aim to leave on time, 4:00 p.m. Good idea to arrive around 4:15 so that we can start at 4:00 p.m. Don't forget to bring water and wear good hiking shoes with lug soles. A note re time -- hike start times change occasionally, depending on the weather and the time of year. Please check the start time when you sign up, but an e-mail will be sent out whenever the time is changed. . Please be aware that Assistant Organizers, Event Hosts, and support hikers are volunteers organize hikes without compensation and assume absolutely no responsibility for you or your guests. By signing up for a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and made your guests aware of the risks, dangers, and hazards associated with any outdoor activity, and you accept, and fully assume all such risks, dangers, and hazards, and further agree to release, and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers, and Event Hosts from, and against any, and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. Please see the Meetup terms of service agreement http://www.meetup.com/terms/