Outdoor Activities

Backbone Trail, Santa Monica Mountains

Hiking and Camping

Camping Gear Rentals - Lower Gear rents backpacking and camping equipment, and ships it by UPS.

Campsite Reservations - Over 49,500 reservable campsites provided by the Corps of Engineers and USDA Forest Service. Make campsite reservations online.

Franklin Canyon - Los Angeles does indeed have a wilderness area and this is it. Open sunrise to sunset, Franklin Canyon features a nature center, expansive Franklin Lake, and Heavenly Pond, which is full of ducks. There are also plenty of jogging paths that can be traversed with jogger strollers. There's no admission fee for enjoying the canyon area.

Hiking in Los Angeles - A collection of hiking links for Los Angeles as well as other U.S. destinations.

LA Hiker - A video guide to exploring the great outdoors in and around Los Angeles, offering videos, podcasts and more. Lots of nice videos.

The Urban Outdoors - This firm offers guided hiking trips, surfing lessons, beach volleyball lessons, youth camping outings and outdoor fitness training. This is a great way to see some of LA's back country without getting lost!

Beaches

Beach California - List of all California beaches, along with descriptions and nice photos of many beaches.

LA Dept of Beaches and Harbors - List of beaches, info on permits, beach use rules, a guide publication, photos and more.

Los Angeles County Beaches - Interactive map helps you quickly locate the beach you want.

Orange County Beaches - Interactive map helps you quickly locate the beach you want.

Lakes and Fishing

Fishing LA - Directory of information for fisherman with local streams listed, resources and fishing tips available.

Castaic Lake - Fishing, Boating (onsite rentals are available), Camping, Day Use, Hiking. The website also has maps and photos of the lake. Castaic Lake is about 40 miles north of downtown Los Angeles on I-5 (Lake Hughes Road in Castaic).

Lake Piru - Fishing, Boating, Camping, Day Use. Lake Piru is about 60 miles north of downtown Los Angeles on I-5 (Take Hwy 126 to Piru Canyon Road in Piru. You can get live bait in Piru).

Pyramid Lake - Fishing, Boating, Camping, Day Use. Pyramid Lake is about 60 miles north of downtown Los Angeles on I-5 (Take Hwy 126 to Piru Canyon Road in Piru. You can get live bait in Piru).

National Forests

Angeles National Forest - This forest spans the northern part of Los Angeles county. Forest Vicinity Map, Camping and Picnicking, Hiking, Fishing, Wilderness, Off-Highway Vehicle Opportunities, Hunting and Target Shooting, Water Sports, Winter Sports.

Angeles National Forest Visitor's Centers - Chilao Visitor Center, Grassy Hollow Visitor Center and Mt. Baldy Schoolhouse

Newton Canyon Trail, Santa Monica Mountains

Santa Monica Mountains contain a wide variety of plants and wildlife. This huge recreation area is a collection of parks, trails, nature centers and wilderness area. This is the best area for hiking within Los Angeles. The air is clean in the Santa Monica Mountains, so it's a great place to get away for the day. This link contains an Interactive Park Search (including Trail Maps & Photos), Programs & Events, more.

Channel Islands National Park - Five islands oof the coast of Los Angeles. The names of the islands are: Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel and Santa Rosa.

California Forest Maps - Purchase US Forest Service maps of National Forests in California online, or call (530) 647-5390. This site has a list of the available maps. Most are $6.00

San Bernardino National Forest - North east of Los Angeles. Phone number and address.

Cleveland National Forest - Between Los Angeles and San Diego

Horseback Riding

Los Angeles Equestrian Center - arenas and showing areas. Host equestrian events and horse shows, large and small. Located on the north side of Griffith Park. There are horse rentals available for trail riding, and an equestrian riding school (see both below).

Griffith Park Horse Rentals - the Official horse rental livery of the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Horseback trail rides are led by an experienced guide. Riding helmets are provided free of charge (mandatory for under 18, optional for adults).

Traditional Equitation School - a riding school located on the grounds of the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. You can take lessons on your own horse or one of theirs. There are occasional student-rider shows that are free to the public for viewing.

Equine Experiences and Trail Rides - Horseback riding in Palos Verdes. Cowboy Boot Camp, Trail Rides, Dinner Rides, and riding Lessons.

Hansen Dam Park offers horseback riding. See the listing in Parks and Nature Centers below.

Sunset Ranch Hollywood - (Hollywood/LA) Horseback riding in Griffith Park and Hollywood Hills. Trail Rides, Dinner Rides, and riding Lessons. The ranch is at the top of Beachwood Drive, offering a spectacular view of the Hollywood Sign.

Parks and Nature Centers

Hansen Dam Park - a large outdoor recreational facility in the northern San Fernando Valley (11770 Foothill Blvd, near the I-210 freeway). Horseback riding, biking, hiking, fishing and water sports, picnicking and park activities, Visitor Center.

LAMountains.com - A guide to parks and outdoor activities, event planning, and filming in the greater Los Angeles area

Los Angeles Parks - City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks comprehensive list of parks in Los Angeles. Includes parks, aquatic centers, dog parks, skate parks and more.

Nature Centers - Links, addresses and phone numbers of many LA area Nature Centers.

Temescal Canyon Association - This organization works to preserve the Temescal Canyon area of the Santa Monica Mountains, near Sunset Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway. They have built a bridge, trails and a park. They hold group hikes on certain Sundays.

Tree People - This organization raises trees to be planted throughout Los Angeles, by volunteers. The headquarters contains paths in a small forest located between Beverly Hills and the San Fernando Valley (Mulholland Drive at Coldwater Cyn Rd). You can hike the easy paths and meanwhile look out over the Valley.