Los Liones Canyon Trail

Los Leoness is one of my favorite trails in Santa Monica. I recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowds, especially since the trail is narrow for the first half. In the summer, it can get pretty hot with limited shade, so be prepared. If you can make it to the second bench, you're truly a champ! The views are worth the effort, and it's a great spot for some peace and quiet.

Nice hiking trail that's not too challenging from the Los Leones trailhead entrance to the first vista with a bench. It takes about 45 minutes to get up there to the first vista with a bench. For an extra challenge with steeper inclines, continue going up the fire road and follow it west to an even higher vista with ocean views. It probably takes another hour to get there. The second part of the hike up the fire road is more challenging, but definitely worth it. One of the best parts is plenty of free street parking on Los Leones Drive. I went on a Sunday afternoon around 1pm, and it wasn't too busy. Keep in mind that the trail up to the first vista has some shade from the trees and bushes, yet the second part of the hike up the fire road has no shade at all and is full exposure to the sun. So make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and water.

Love this trail. It is a challenge but doable. My dog loves this trail too. The view is peaceful and refreshing to feel the ocean breeze.

The trail is great for beginners or experts! You can hike part of the trail or the entire trail which is about 4.4 miles one way (8.8 miles round trip). The first mile is not hard but very hard to hike because the trial has a lot of greenery out grown in the trail itself. You need to fight your way through the trail with plants, flowers and etc. After that first mile or so, it gets better where the trial has a wider walkway and a clean walking path. The hike gets very deep in terms of the incline! I definitely needed to take a couple breaks throughout the hike. We went in a cloudy day and once you get up there, you are in the clouds for sort of the hike. The view of the beach is very nice and calming. Be aware of bikers on the path since there is a biking path that shared part of the hiking path as well.

The sign said no dogs..... but many with them.... I did see a big issue with poop bags all over the place... that is why I think ... no dogs allowed... Besides that the paths are very narrow and one must wait to let the other pass. Overall it was a really nice place to hike... Do recommend go a nice view.. nice hike place! Being plenty of water!!

Fun hike with lots of elevation gain. Free parking in parking lots with restrooms was a big plus. Free parking on the street was great as well. There was a marine layer on the day I hiked this but I can imagine the views of the ocean to be great normally. Beautiful foliage otherwise

Such an amazing & beautiful place to hike. The view at the top is incredible and this became one of my favorite hikes in LA. There is free street parking by the entrance & you're filled with greenery the whole hike.

Experience: Really enjoyed my hike here! We chose the Leacock trailhead. Arrived around 11am on a Saturday, a late morning hike. Tons of people but surprisingly the flow kept moving and there were many moments that I found myself alone on the trail despite all the people. Beautiful and lush, great scenery of the ocean, mountains, city off in the distance, and beautiful homes in the nearby neighborhoods. The way up I worked up a nice sweat and I took the route through the Palisades village on the way down back to the car. Location & parking: Parked along the street on Los Liones Dr, free. There's a lot of parking space, but I would time it. Since we went after the morning rush there was no problem finding a spot, but right when we were ready to leave there were a number of cars trying to find parking. Vibes: Everyone was there to hike. Young folks for the most part 20-40. I saw a couple of families. Everyone was moving and shaking, no interruptions or rudeness.

Found it to be an excellent workout for the legs. Initially planning on hiking in Newport Beach but this uphill climb was much better. Beautiful view, too. I highly recommend to others.

This review is for the Los Leones Trail which was a ~4.4 mile total hike that took ~2 hours to complete. Plenty of parking here compared to the parking at Paseo Miramar. Starting at the parking lot, the trail was somewhat narrow. Once it connects to the Paseo Miramar Trail was when the trail becomes wide and steep. This was also where you get the view of the ocean. Though when I went this time, there was a sea of cloud covering the ocean. If you follow AllTrails map, you will stop at a certain point before heading back. Though it appears you can continue to walk further in for the extra miles. Short video of the hike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puq72oQcyQ0

A pretty quick hike with a beautiful view of Santa Monica Beach and DTLA (on a clear day at least). The hike is about 45 mins or so to get to the landing, but you can take it further in although I'm not sure if they have better views or not. There are a few parking lots and street parking which are both free. It gets very busy on the weekends in the afternoon so try to swing by earlier! It's near Malibu also so you can hit up some good places nearby. We went to Reels for simple seafood about 10 mins north along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Incredible view!! Moderate to easy hike if you're a hiker! 30 minutes to go up and 30 down total of about an hour if you hike often. Plenty of parking when we went on Friday morning. I recognize you arrive early during the weekend. You won't regret it !

A lot of friends recommended this hike so I was excited to check it out. We went on a weekday and arrived around 10:30am. There was plenty of parking on Los Leones Drive as well as the parking lots. There were some broken glass on the ground so should probably make sure there are no valuables in the car. The hike took around 2.5 hours for 4.5 miles on a hot LA day (temp was 80s). The first part of the hike is more shaded with trees until you get to the bench where you get to a view of Malibu and the LA skyline. If you keep going, there is an incline where you are in direct sunlight until the top. The views don't really get better as there are hills and things obstructing the skyline.

Definitely need to come back and journey deeper in ! But we made it 1.5 miles in and it was pretty moderate of a hike but the view and the vibes where definitely worth it !

Great hike for any level, especially those who want to try hiking for the first time. It's fairly popular, so go early. Street parking is plenty, and it'll take about 40 minutes at a steady pace to get to the clearing. No dogs are allowed, and the path is narrow some time, so be careful!

This is one of my favorite hikes. The view at the end is lovely. An optional last loop adds challenge. It has a parking lot, though it fills up early. The hike is challenging though pleasantly doable. One section is narrow and slippery though. it is an efficient workout that can be done and completed early. It left me refreshed with much of the day left still to look forward to.

If you want a challenging but so worth the views hike! This is your spot! I've never gone on weekends but I've heard it gets crowded so parking maybe tricky. However, since the trails are long, you spiny feel the crowd while hiking at all. If you go there on a hot day, make sure you take plenty of water and a hat..it's not all shaded and the sun can be intense! Love taking anyone that comes to visit me there. It can be an intense hike but the great news is you can just make a u turn when you've had enough or you can keep going for longer miles and views! It's a great workout with rewarding Malibu views! Totally worth it!

This is a great hike that is well worth the workout. The views of the ocean are beautiful and the breeze will feel satisfying. The inclines are definitely a great workout from a hiking or running perspective. It's not a beginners hike but the end result is well worth it.

Beautiful hike!! Partly shaded in the first half but once you get higher up, you'll be in direct sunlight!! I came here on a Saturday morning and parked a few minutes away from the trailhead (I can imagine parking being tough later in the day). The incline isn't bad, and it's a relatively short hike to get to the first vista point which has a beautiful view of the ocean and LA. If you go further up, you'll get better views with less people around. Highly recommend bringing friends visiting from out of town!

This morning was my first time here since the pandemic began. Now that LA is getting back to normal, I got on the trail at 6am to get ahead of the usual crowds and the inevitable sun. It was a spectacular morning and the weather couldn't have been better. A slight breeze and no haze meant views for miles. I was so invigorated, I felt that I could hike all day and so I did: I later went grocery shopping. Los Leones will find its way back into my monthly routine

Loved it! Such beautiful views - definitely feeling it the next day. Decided to walk through the residential on the way out of the trail... and that was a smooth walk but difficult on the incline cause the hills. So much beauty all around you, definitely would Recommend.

Why hello, beautiful people hiking with me on a glorious COVID-19 mask required Sunday morning (12/13/20)! Actually, I lie, kind of... I came alone, but I certainly felt the love with all the "good mornings" and "hellos" from all the mostly masked people I passed and all the on-coming hikers. Where to start... with the best part, of course - the views: Situated in Topanga State Park, Los Liones Canyon aka Los Leones Canyon (they are one and the same) can be viewed in all of its glory via the Los Liones Trailhead. Other nearby, interconnecting trails include the Paseo Miramar Trailhead and East Topanga Fire Road. Both of those will lead you to the Parker Mesa Overlook. I see you, Pacific Ocean. I see you, Pacific Palisades. I see you, kind of, Catalina Island. And you, Santa Monica. Other easily recognizable places too, but those were my highlights. All from the Parker Mesa Viewpoint (NOT the same location as the Parker Mesa Overlook which is a separate Yelp page). It was peaceful. To be honest, this was a relatively easy hike for me, but perhaps moderate for others. It can be slippery going down and a bit rocky, so I suggest a comfortable pair of hiking boots, but many people seemed to get by with regular walking or running shoes. Parking is free along the street or in one of two lots that seem to fill up quickly by about 9AM. Plenty of trash cans in the area before the gate. PLEASE, please... pack it in, pack it out. Don't be the douchebag that throws those f***ing disgusting White Claw Hard Seltzer cans on the hillside brush. I will personally push you down first for littering and second for drinking that sh*t. I finish everything I start, too sis, so think twice before you pull another stupid. Flush toilet restrooms are available. They are alright, but no soap was provided. Bring hand sanitizer. Dogs are not allowed on Los Liones Trailhead, but that didn't deter several dog owners. If you're from L.A. or new to the area, put this down as a must visit. There are so many other things to do afterwards when there isn't a pandemic hindering our livelihood. Nice restaurants in the vicinity too. Finally, if you're on the fence about getting out during this pandemic, allow me to introduce you to long deceased Edward Abbey who wrote, "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread."

Hiking is one of my favorite hobbies, and as I prepared to move to LA for the next 6 years (at least) I knew I would have to find some great hiking spots that were close, challenging, and offered amazing views. Los Leones did exactly this. An uphill hike that offers incredible views of Los Angeles and the Pacific ocean. I definitely got a great workout. It was a great spot for a solo hike and to catch up on some of my podcasts. I hiked this trail in the late afternoon on a weekend and it was not as crowded as I had expected it to be. The only downside to the hike was that there weren't a lot of markings to let you know when yo reached the end of the specified trail (luckily I used the all trails app, but I could've easily gone MILES further than I initially anticipated). The views are breathtaking, the air is crisp, and the trail provides a great challenge with plenty of elevation STRONGLY recommend.

I recently went hiking here and it immediately became my favorite hiking trail. First of all, I love hikes that have views of the ocean and this one allows you to see pretty far inland as well as out over the Pacific. Secondly, a lot of the hike is in the shade from the mountain itself and from the trees. I love that you're walking amidst tall plants to your sides and sometimes under arches of trees. As you're walking, you often come upon views of the ocean framed by the greenery. So it's definitely not one of those hikes in SoCal in which has just dry brush around. Because of the greenness and pretty views, it makes the hike go faster. In terms of the trail, it is not a loop; you walk to a gorgeous viewpoint and then walk back to the parking. But you are mostly walking upward, so the return trip goes faster since it's downhill. The trail can be a pretty narrow at times (and can be a tight squeeze if people are walking past you in the opposite direction) so it's definitely not as easy or smooth of a trail as other wide, flat, paved ones. You'll need to be aware of your footing on the rocky pathway and careful when going downhill so as not to slide where it's more sandy. One of our times, we continued further uphill to reach a higher vantage point before turning back. The views just get more beautiful the higher you go but the incline is quite steep. This is a beautiful trail and you get in a good workout from the climb and distance, which makes it an extremely popular trail. I went twice this month and both times, we've arrived at 9:30 AM and already there've been a lot of people on the trail. Be prepared that other groups will be constantly going past/around you or that you could be behind another group that is going slower. You may have to park pretty far down the street from the trailhead, but once you get up there, it's all worth it!

Hiked Los Leones for the first time this past weekend. This is a nice trail if you're in this area or if you find yourself in the area for the day. I can easily see making a day of it, if you hit it early, then lunch and beach it the remainder of the day during Summer months, I'm positive it'd be a great option in Fall/Winter/Spring months on cooler temp days too. It's pretty exposed so you'll definitely want to wear a hat and bring plenty of water on the warmer days. We snagged a parking spot close to the trail entrance which was nice, and spotted restrooms there which are always nice to see. I'm assuming we hiked the East Topanga Fire Road (1.5 miles up) to the first little summit if you will where we met up with Summit Sippers (a super cute and extremely thoughtful quartet) that sets up an entire bar atop hiking trails and serves free, yes you read that correctly, free cocktails! It really is the most generous idea and surprise you'll find on a hiking trail. Masked, dressed, sanitizer on hand, and a cocktail game that gives my home setup a run for my money. We tried the bubbly basil which was the perfect refreshment on a warm morning. Summit Sippers aside (you'll need to look them up on your own as they aren't always here, they are on the move) this trail is a nice hike. We continued up past this point where most out here seem to turn around at, if you know me a 3mi hike is barely a hike so I was super excited when my hiking partner suggested going further. You know when someone asks you to hike for the first time, and you wonder how it'll go.. like do you mean a fake hike or a real hike. I can't hike with a man who is going to start whining after a mile or two, I need to see some stamina. I spotted several trail runners which surprised me due how narrow the first 1.5 of this trail is and how many people were on it. While I'm a road runner and not a trail runner and probably have zero cred when it comes to this recommendation I'd say skip this route for trail running, it just seems too congested for a comfortable run unless you hit it really early when you aren't having to dodge folks. If you're continuing up to Parker Mesa Overlook the trail widens greatly but is also very exposed (bring the spf and previously mentioned hat). This part of the trail is really nice, because it's far less trafficked, private, calm and quiet. When we approached the overlook, it was still hazy and the views weren't super clear but it's a nice spot where you feel like you have a little pay off point for the trek up. There was one other guy here, who left soon after we appeared, and then some horses appeared which always brightens my day. There's a decent amount of elevation gain going up. I forgot to wear my fitbit and I didn't run strava but it's enough to get a decent workout if you're trying and you may feel it a bit on the way down but nothing too strenuous (like your grandma could handle it if she's in decent shape and has a water bottle). All in all, this is a really accessible nice hike although mainly exposed. It gets the job done in the summer and is probably really nice in the cooler months. The views are probably killer on a really clear day, if sweeping ocean views are something you're into. Parking was simple, everyone on the trail was friendly but there's one little caveat - dogs aren't allowed, if you know me you know I adore dogs but can't bring them here so keep that in mind! Otherwise would totally recommend for a hike in the area.

One of my all time favorite hikes! Been coming here for about 11 years or so, and in my opinion no other place beats its view. Or in my case, maybe I haven't been to many other hikes. Nonetheless, it's a great 7 mile all around hike! The beginning is pretty easy, once you get passed the midpoint though, it becomes all incline. If you're an avid walker or runner, this should be a breeze. I'd recommend coming early in the morning as it usually becomes more packed with people the more later you come. There's ample parking in the area and it's up the street from a nearby gas station, in case you want to fuel up on some water and energy drinks (you may need it). All I'm saying, is keep pushing! Don't stop until you get to the very end, I'm telling you it's sooo worth it. I love it when there's an overcast because sometimes you're literally standing above the clouds. Today, it wasn't like that, just some fairly hazy conditions but still beautiful. Also, don't forget your mask! Everyone was really good about having it on when it came to passing each other along the trail. As social distancing can become pretty hard when the trail becomes narrow. Other than that you'll be good!

This hike never gets old! For some reason, whenever I go on this same hike with my friend, it always looks different and is a different experience. This hike is about 2ish miles round trip, and the scenery is always super pretty. It's intense when the weather is super warm; but when chilly and more windy, the hike is like a nice stroll too. I've introduced about 3 other friends to this hike and they all like it too.

very natural and quiet; thank goodness the land. is protected. Hope to be there again soon

Great views of the Pacific Ocean. Fairly easy and short hike. A little less than 4 miles from base to top of trail head.

I came at around 5pm on a Monday and there were plenty of spots to park. There are two small lots on the street connected to the trailhead as well as street parking. The first mile or so of the hike is very narrow and a bit overgrown but after that, it opens up and you start to see the view. Beautiful views of the ocean and lots of pretty flowers everywhere!

This is a great hike. I managed to complete this with my six year old. I have been looking for hikes that are between 2-6 miles, which can be doable for some kids. I go to my hikes early to avoid the crowds and the sun. The path is narrow so be careful. We showed up at 7 and were on our way back down around 9, there was a lot of people showing up by then. I went on a Saturday which may or may have not been the reason it was crowded.

Went here on a Saturday morning at around 10a. Google maps actually does a great job of directing you to the trailhead but parking is more difficult the closer you get. We didn't have trouble finding parking about 200 ft away though. There was also a hidden bathroom on the way as well. It was super foggy/smoggy the day we went so my views weren't as good as other people have posted for the overlook. But we really enjoyed the hike to it. It is 1.5 miles there and 1.5 miles back. The entire route is a combination of up and down and right and left so it defInitely keeps you on your toes. It is also shaded so we didn't get really hot until we were at the overlook where there are no trees. The trailhead sign is about 50ft in but the trail itself is really well demarcated and you can do a longer trail oR higher one if you want as well. We decided that it's the perfect short and sweet shaded hiking trail to go for boozy brunch after! See you again soon, Los Liones.

We went at 8:30am on MLK day and it wasn't crowded at all. Easy parking right in front of the trailhead. It's an incline on the way up with lots of lookout points where you can see West LA and the ocean. We stopped around 2 miles in and headed back. There was a lot more people on the way back around 10am and it was hard to social distance especially at the narrower part near the trailhead. People don't typically where masks here but I put mine on when passing people. Overall it's a nice moderate to challenging hike in Malibu with great views.

It's become a source of menopausal amusement that I now include hiking as part of an otherwise leisurely vacation to L.A. Jamie W. and I had just spent the morning at Zuma Beach, and we were on our way to Westwood Memorial Park to see where Natalie Wood is buried. Yes, I'm serious. I loved "Splendor in the Grass". Anyway, Topanga Canyon was kinda on the way, and I remembered an episode of Travelscope on PBS where the spry host hiked on a trail here. It was a part of L.A. I never visited before, so I convinced Jamie to give it a go despite being ill-equipped for a walk under the blinding SoCal sun. The sign for the trailhead was hard to miss once we made it to the end of the cul-de-sac (photo: http://bit.ly/2P3UECp). We just hiked northward on the eastern side of the canyon as it snaked gradually upward to provide expanding views of the Pacific. It was only 2-1/2 miles out and back with the terrain sometimes a bit rocky for urban walkers with pillow-like soles on their feet. When we returned to the car, we didn't look back as nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower. We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind. That's the Wordsworth passage Natalie recited at the end of the movie. RELATED - Lost in L.A.? Here's a list of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2xOHvWU

There's plenty of free parking available even on a very busy Sunday. The narrow uphill trail gets packed with hikers but is manageable until you reach the ocean view overlook. After 1.6 miles the narrow trail becomes a wide fire road. The majority of the hikers are using masks until they arrive at the wide fire road.

This hike was alright, it's a short escape into nature, with a great views once you make it to the viewpoints. Free street parking can be found in front of the entrance gate. After entering, follow the trail and you'll be fine. My friends and I decided to hike just to the first viewpoint which is about 2 miles. There is a slight incline throughout the hike, but nothing too intense. I would say that it is a moderate difficulty hike, it's not too hard, but you'll definitely be sweating. There is also not much shade, so bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses! At the viewpoint is a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean with the city of Santa Monica in the distance. We had a great couple minutes to admire the view before heading back down. Overall, it was a fun and relatively short hike since we stopped at the first viewpoint. Next time, I'll try to go all the way to the top!

Really beautiful out-and-back hike that can be 3 miles long or up to 7 miles. Longer if you get lost :) There is ample parking and even a couple parking lots near the entrance to the hike. The hike can be rocky at some points so watch where you're going! It also can get crowded and the path is narrow so be cautious and mindful of the other hikers around. I think this hike could make for a really beautiful trail run as well but like I said, it's a popular hike and if it gets crowded, the run is way less fun. I used this guide. I recommend downloading or screenshotting it bc there isn't always reception on the trail: https://socalhiker.net/los-liones-canyon-parker-mesa-overlook/

This is still one of my favorite hikes in the L.A. area. The views along this trail make it all worth it. I've gone on both weekends and weekdays and it's always pretty busy. This last time I went, it was packed. The trail is really narrow most of the way, so you will have to come face to face with people. I don't think I went longer than a minute without crossing someone. If you're really freaked out about social distancing, maybe skip this hike for the meantime. It's all good with me though, people were all wearing masks which was way cool. It is about 1.3 miles uphill until you get to the first spot to stop and take in the views. Like I was saying the view makes it all worth it. On a good day, you can see all the way to DTLA to the east and Catalina out to the Pacific. Parking has never been an issue. Even on busy weekends, you can find parking on Los Liones.

I hadn't come here in about 20 years, I came here as a 20 year old working for the California Conservation Corps. Our mission along with CA forest service was trying to eliminate all the green plants that are in these pics, those vines are not native, they are actually from Africa, and they came via unconcious people living on the mansions on top of the hills. If you go under and see, you will see a lot of dead native trees and plants, the vines surround the trees and take their water, and cover sunlight from reaching the ground; so native plants and trees die much faster. Along the trail you will see dried dead trees: it was an impossible fight, and we lost; the vines were very hard to kill without killing the native flora, anyways, just throwing my two cents and info about this beautiful hike.

Started around 11. Probably my favorite hikes in LA. It was foggy but provided for nice scenery. Pretty easy with some incline. Some tight paths but 98% of hikers wore masks. Would definitely do it again

Absolutely most BEAUTIFUL hiking view! A challenging hike for beginners but a 360 view of the beach the entire time! You can keep going up to 10-12miles. We did a 5mile look which took about 2.5hours and super short breaks. Starts off slow but once you get to the first stopping point(1.5miles into the hike) you continue going up into a steeper incline! You can stop and turn around anytime. I don't recommend this hike on a super hot day!

Came here for the first time on a Sunday afternoon (arrived around 3pm), and it was overcast and a bit chilly. Parking is free as we just parked along the sidewalk in the residential area. Surprisingly it wasn't too crowded at this time, which was a good thing in my opinion since the trail isn't very wide so you'd primarily be going single-file. This trail was actually pretty simple and i'd recommend it for hikers of all levels! I've read other Yelpers mention it's more difficult when it's hot, so maybe I was just lucky that it wasn't sunny when I went. However, there also wasn't much of a view either when we arrived at the end of the windy turns. There's supposed to be a view of the Santa Monica bay/beach but it was too foggy to see anything. Once you get to this first landing, you can stop and finish your hike here before heading back down or you could also proceed to go left and hike up a straight and steady incline. Overall had fun and would return again when i'm looking for a hike that's a good workout without being too intense.

Loved our hike here today. Have 2 kids 8 & 6 and we made it up to the top! Just make sure you have enough water. I brought my liter hydro flask and we ran out. Lots of gorgeous views! Narrow paths. Kids liked it too! Most hikers had masks. Some did not. But we stayed masked anytime we heard voices or footsteps!! Lol. This trail also connects up to Will Rogers which I'd try without the kids! But Too long for them. We will be back.

We completed this hike this morning. We arrived shortly after 6:30 am on this Monday holiday (MLK Jr) and we were the 1st car in the parking lot closest to the main trailhead...I believe I saw 3 small lots on Los Liones Dr with street parking, however, when we finished at 9 am parking was crowded. We did the loop counterclockwise and it was just under 4 miles to get to the Parker Mesa Overlook and even though we did this hike early in the morning we had clear views. Maybe half of the trail was a fire road There are two benches there to rest and eat some snacks. We had a bit of a difficult time finding the trail from there to finish the loop...it is located just to the left of the bench on the left. The trail back is about 1.5 miles on a narrow, steep downhill path with loose dirt and easy to los your footing so take it slow. It was about 5.5 miles and took us around 2.5 hrs to finish.

Me and my husband went for a hike today August 26 around 11:30 to 1:00pm is a beautiful hike and everyone was friendly. We always try different hiking places, first time here and last time we came to this hike . Unfortunately we found out my husband wallet was stolen someone obviously open the car and took it. We did read the sign they have on the parking "take it or hide it" the wallet was hide from viewing but we notice this people may be some professional doing this since I also had my purse and I hide it under the car seat, and they didn't move anything else so we don't notice until we got home.This is just an alert to be careful what you leave in the car. We always leave stuff and this is the first time this happen. Note: I was reading all the reviews and this has happen before to Two other people, "BE AWARE WHEN YOU GO TO THIS PLACE TAKE YOUR VALUES WITH YOU"

Glad to find this trail was open during the pandemic. Most hikers were wearing masks and practicing social distancing. The trail was pretty open for most of the hike. There were some steep parts, but super doable for beginners. Views of Santa Monica are gorgeous at Parker Mesa. I went back down throught the Rabbit Hole Trail, which is shorter than going back around. It's pretty steep going down, so don't really recommend for beginners. Overall, a great workout!

What a great hike overall! We went on a Sunday morning around 9am and it was quite a popular trail. It ended up being warmer than we expected. A few portions of the trail have shade (maybe first 1.5 miles) but the majority is in direct sunlight so wear your sunscreen and shades. Trail is quite dusty - when we got home we were covered in dirt all over our legs and especially our shoes. Hike wasn't that strenuous but you would want shoes with traction given the rocks and slopes with slippery dust. We loved the ocean views from the top (~4 miles total) and the peak-a-boo ocean views as you make the ascent. Be aware that portions are quite narrow and more of a single file path. The majority of the people we passed were friendly and polite but a few people running did not give right of way when they tried to pass even on the narrow bits. Tip: make sure you bring enough water. We had only one water bottle for the two of us and it was just barely enough to make it to the top landing view and back. Next time I would bring a second bottle.

Ticket update: jk, you can pay it off for $300 ; no court appearance needed. Was still a beautiful hike!

I would classify this hike as an intermediate hike, generally. Taking a shorter out and back route or adding some mileage by exploring longer trails or taking steeper routes to some of the viewpoints let you really customize the difficulty, though. We didn't have difficulty finding parking on a Sunday about mid-day. The designated lots looked full as we drove in on Los Liones Drive but we saw plenty of parking on the street within a few blocks to the entrance and got lucky and found a lot spot right by the trailhead (maybe because it was Sunday?) Guess this should have tipped us off about the crowds; this route definitely didn't seem like a good place to go if you're looking for some quiet time alone in nature. The largest and loudest groups tended to linger longest at the lookout points, taking selfies, talking on the phone or loudly to each other, etc. During the time we went there wasn't a lot of shade, nor were there many places to rest and take in the gorgeous views in peace. There was a nice ocean-y breeze in many parts, and a surprising number of wildlife sightings; nothing too exotic but still surprising to see lizards, birds, and insects given the noise levels and traffic. I would recommend this trail if you're looking for something close to the beach and for less experienced hikers. However, it'd probably be a good idea to come during the week when it's less crowded and/or earlier in the morning. Also, cell reception was not great--save an offline map if you're easily disoriented/looking for a specific route.