Photo of Trail Running Routes in Los Angeles, CA

The Best Trail Running Routes in Los Angeles, CA

Explore Trail Running Routes

Trail adventures from Santa Monica to San Clemente

Los Angeles is a great city for hikers of all skill levels. But what are the best hikes in LA? With the Angeles National Forest to the north and The Santa Monica Mountains to the northwest, there are so many great hiking trails and trail networks to explore.

If you’re looking for a classic LA hike adventure, you can’t go wrong with the Hollywood Sign Hike. For an easier hike for the whole family, consider the Griffith Observatory which has great views of the city. You can’t go wrong with any of these great hikes.

At Strava we use data from millions of hikes to make sure you have the most accurate and most up to date information before you head out on the trail.

Top 12 trail running routes in Los Angeles, CA

Ocean Trails Reserve

Ocean Trails Reserve is one of the most scenic places to trail run on the coast near LA. Its location in between Long Beach and Redondo Beach is convenient for afternoon exercise, and the natural scenery is hard to beat anywhere else in this area....

Middlecrest Trail Loop

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park is an easily-accessible park that provides a variety of activities. You’ll find grassy picnic areas with sun and shade, playgrounds, a lake with a swim beach and kayak rentals, a campground, and hiking trails....

Ferndell Trail to the Mount Hollywood Summit

The flanks of Mount Hollywood are riddled with trails and old road grades, providing innumerable options for reaching the summit. The route shown here is one of the easiest and most direct paths to the top of the mountain....

Aliso Summit Trail

The Aliso Summit Trail traverses an elevated ridgeline, providing stunning views of Orange County and the Pacific Ocean. The route culminates at Aliso Peak, which towers over the crashing surf and blue waters of the Pacific....

Oso Creek Trail: Out-and-Back

If you are looking for a pleasant and accessible trail in Laguna Niguel, California, you might want to check out the Oso Creek Multi-Use Trail. The trail is designed for multiple uses, such as hiking, biking, and equestrian....

Kenneth Hahn Big Hill Loop

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area is a surprisingly green and spacious park, especially considering its location in the urban area. It’s a popular place for family activities and casual exercise, but runners will enjoy the dirt trails that extend beyond the main use areas....

Runyon Canyon Loop

To get the most out of a visit to Hollywood, go for a run in Runyon Canyon. The park’s trails take you high on ridges overlooking the city, and the inclines make a substantial workout....

Hastain Trail Overlook Loop

Franklin Canyon Park is a pocket of forest very close to Beverly Hills. Though Suburbia sprawls on either side, this sliver of the Santa Monica Mountains has been largely spared from development....

Baldwin Hill Run

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is a public park on 500-foot-tall Baldwin Hill, which spectacularly overlooks downtown LA and the entire Los Angeles Basin. Its the classic view of city skyline with a mountain backdrop....

Bee Rock and Mount Hollywood Loop

Griffith Park, LA’s huge public space surrounding Mount Hollywood, is loaded with trails to incredible vistas over the city. With multiple park entrances and even more trailheads, it can be hard to pick the best routes for running....

Cross Mountain Loop

The Betty B. Dearing Cross Mountain Trail is kind of a hidden gem in the LA area. It’s no secret, but most people hike only at one end of the trail or the other and miss out on what's in between....

Angeles Crest 100

The Angeles Crest 100 traverses the primitive wilderness of the San Gabriel mountains, crossing the range from east to west in a single push. Even though the megalopolis of Los Angeles bounds the San Gabriels on the western side, these mountains retain "much of the natural beauty, if not the primitive wilderness of yesteryear," according to [AC100....

A view of the area