Hikes With Ocean Views Near L.A.

In Los Angeles County we are spoiled with hiking trails in the canyons, forests and mountains, but throw ocean views into that as well? It’s easy to see why we love living in SoCal. 

This list includes three hikes near the L.A./Malibu area with ocean views that we love! We’ll give a description of the hike, as well as the distance and difficulty so you can decide if you want to try one on the weekend or on your next trip to Los Angeles! 

These hikes are a great way to really see sites of the city (that aren’t on the typical top 10 list) or to show your friends visiting from out of town some of these amazing trails and ocean views.

Read on to find more about our recommendations on hikes with ocean views or click the video below to see more of these hikes on our YouTube Channel.

Related Post: Gaviota Wind Caves - Santa Barbara Hikes

1. Solstice Canyon Loop

Set in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains, this loop trail features a seasonal waterfall, old buildings and ruins of a homestead from 1952, and of course the ocean views. 

Hike Details:

3.2 mile

Moderate

About 800ft elevation

Dogs allowed on leash

This hike is our Malibu pick and easy to get to from L.A. along the coast. Plan ahead for this one though, as you don’t want to get stuck in weekday work traffic (morning and afternoon rush hour) or with the weekend crowds (midday). 

The hike has some relatively steep hills for about half the trail and the rest is flat. As this is a loop, you can complete this clockwise or counterclockwise. When you get to the trailhead, choose to turn right onto some steps that are somewhat hidden for a climb at the start but an easier overall hike. Or go straight along the wide path to start the trail closer to the waterfall and ruins, and then have the climb and some steep steps on the loop back. We use the AllTrails app a lot and it was helpful for this hike. 

Pros:

• Close to Malibu beach 

• Historical buildings/ruins along route

Cons:

• Signs aren’t always apparent but the trails are clear 

• Difficult parking during busy periods

The best time to do this hike in my opinion, is weekend mornings or during the day on a weekday so that you can get a parking spot at the trailhead. Otherwise you’ll have to park further down and walk about .5mile extra up the the hill.  Evenings is another good time to do this trail for a great sunset and usually clearer conditions.

Also note that as it is close to the beach, sometimes there is a marine layer that rolls into the canyon and covers the ocean and mountain views with fog. 

2. Tuna Canyon Trail

This hike definitely has the best ocean views of the three. Set between Malibu and L.A. in Tuna Canyon Park, this trail is really fun and a great option for most. 

Hike Details:

3.8 mile (out & back)

Moderate

About 650ft elevation

Dogs allowed on leash

This trail is interesting along the way with the path changing from wide (and easy to social distance) to a narrow overgrown portion. When you get to the top, the views are spectacular. On a clear day you can see the city in the distance (downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica) as well as the islands and Santa Monica Bay. 

It takes a bit of a winding road to get to the trailhead, but is worth it in our opinion. It’s a nice workout but not too challenging for regular hikers (be wary of the summer heat though). 

Pros:

• Amazing ocean & city views

• Trees to put up your hammock up

Cons:

• Difficult parking

• Overgrown trail in some parts

Along the trail, we also noticed a rusted car on the side of a hill that looked like it was from a movie set. I’m not sure the story behind it but it felt fitting for a trail that leads to views of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles. There were other rustic looking features along the trail, so look out for some!

Another great option for around this area is the Saddle Peak hike.

3. Parker Mesa Overlook

For a longer hike, the Parker Mesa Overlook trail has just about everything you could want (360º views and a great trail). This hike is located in Topanga State Park and is probably the easiest to get to out of the three on this list.

Hike Details:

6.9 mile (out & back)

Moderate

About 1200ft elevation

Dogs not allowed 

This out & back hike takes you up along the mountains to an amazing lookout of the ocean and the L.A. basin. On a clear day, you can see Catalina Island in one direction, snow-capped San Gabriel mountain range in another, Santa Monica pier and bay, and the city skylines in the distance!

Pros:

• Views

• Easy to get to & park

Cons:

• Longer distance can make this hard for some (although we have seen older people and hikers with babies on the trail)

The trail has some moderate climbs and also has no shade. We brought plenty of water and some snacks. Though it is longer and more challenging than the other hikes, I do agree with the AllTrails rating of ‘moderate’.

Thanks for reading and if you would like to see more, check out our L.A hikes video on YouTube here.

Did you find this post useful? Save this pin to your California Travel board on Pinterest!

More blog posts below!