5 Dog-Friendly Hikes in Los Angeles You'll Love
Today I want to bring you my guide to the best dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles. If you love your four-legged friends as much as you enjoy Southern California's oceanside scenery and amazing views, this list will show you some of the top places to go hiking with your pup in LA. From Palos Verdes to Griffith Park, coastal hikes to mountain trails, it has you covered. I've included a map, too.
Dog-Friendly Hikes in Los Angeles
Given how much people in LA love their furry companions, there are lots of dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles County. Whether you want to go to the South Bay, Hollywood, or elsewhere, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to hikes with dogs in this part of the Golden State.
And that's to say nothing of terrain. Love canyons? There's a hike for you and your dog. Like Pacific Ocean views? LA has you covered. Want sunny trails, rolling hills, or mountains? Check. Check. Check.
I've been doing a lot of hiking with my boyfriend and his Mini Goldendoodle in LA recently. From Rancho Palos Verdes to Santa Monica, we've covered a lot of ground. This list has my favorites. The pup has liked them as much as we have, and we can personally recommend them all.
I'll add more hikes to this blog post as I do them, so you can bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest for easy reference. Given how much we enjoy getting out on the trails in SoCal, I know I'll be going on another soon.
Tips for Hiking with Dogs in Southern California
As with all Southern California hikes, make sure to bring lots of water for you and your dog, a blanket or towel for your car in case Fido gets dusty or muddy, a leash (sounds obvious, but I've seen it happen), and bags to clean up after any mess that gets left on the trail.
If it's a hot day, consider starting your hike early in the morning or later in the afternoon. This is particularly true if you're hiking on a trail with little or no shade. It will help keep your dog as cool as possible while you're outdoors.
Don't forget to watch out for coyotes, rattlesnakes, and poison oak along the trails. Make sure to check both you and your furry pals for ticks after your hike, too. They're present around some trails in LA County, and they can cause Lyme disease in both humans and dogs.
1. Portuguese Bend Reserve Hike
First on my list of the best dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles is one in Portuguese Bend Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes. Four-pawed friends are allowed on-leash here, and it's a popular place to hit the hills and take in the Pacific Ocean views.
Situated southeast of Del Cerro Park, Portuguese Bend Reserve is a 399-acre preserve on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Established in 2005, it's the largest individual reserve within the 1,400-acre Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. It's known for its sloping hills, dramatic canyons, and rock outcroppings.
The extensive network of trails in Portuguese Bend Reserve is open to hikers, bikers, equestrians, and dog walkers. It's a great place to get outdoors and soak up the scenery in Southern California.
There are lots of trails to choose from, and they vary in length and difficulty. Given the reserve slopes downhill, keep in mind that wherever you walk, you'll have to hike back up at the end.
My boyfriend, his dog, and I like to hike a loop starting on the Burma Road Trail. It's the main path that leaves from the entrance on Crenshaw Blvd. The views of the coast and Catalina Island are spectacular from here.
The hike takes us 2 hours in total. It's a great way to get outdoors and take in some of the best views in the area at the same time. While moderately challenging, the hills aren't too steep for our liking. Overall we really enjoy it.
If this hike appeals to you, you can find the route, details, and map on my blog post about a Portuguese Bend Reserve hike.
2. San Vicente Mountain Park Hike
Next on my list of the best dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles is one in San Vicente Mountain Park. The on-leash route features everything from the famous Mulholland Drive to a former Nike Missile Site. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, it’s a fun place to get outdoors.
San Vicente Mountain Park is located in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains west of the 405 freeway and above the Encino Reservoir. Spanning 10.2 acres, this place is full of history and fun to explore on a hike through the area.
This out-and-back hike starts on Mulholland Drive, and it's around 2 miles round-trip. It features a wide dirt path with a slight incline as it goes from the paved part of the road to the former military reservation. A fairly easy hike, it involves even ground, great views, and a bit of elevation gain.
The hike takes around an hour to complete. If you and your dog are in great shape, you can do it faster. If you want to spend some time exploring the missile site (it's worth it), you can factor that in as well.
There are lots of other dog-friendly trails branching off from the missile site, so if you want a longer hike you can certainly have one. From the Canyonback Trail to the West Mandeville Fire Road path and Mulholland Drive itself, there are plenty of options.
If this hike appeals to you, you can find the details and map on my blog post about a San Vicente Mountain Park hike.
3. Mt Hollywood Hike in Griffith Park
Next on my list of dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles is one that goes up to Mt Hollywood. This moderately challenging on-leash hike is a good choice if you and your canine companion want to get outdoors in Griffith Park.
Situated in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, Griffith Park covers 4,210 acres of both natural and landscaped terrain. It's one of the largest municipal parks with urban wilderness areas in the US, and it's a popular place for hiking in LA.
That's not least because its extensive network of trails offers sweeping views of everything from downtown LA to Century City, Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Sign, and other Los Angeles landmarks.
My boyfriend, his dog, and I did an out-and-back hike to Mt Hollywood here. After parking at the Merry Go Round Lot, we followed the Fern Canyon Trail to the Upper Beacon Trail, then took a right and continued to an overlook with stunning views on Vista Del Valle Drive. From there we picked up the Hogback Trail to Dante's View.
The hike took around 2.5 hours in total. We left at 9:30am on a hot morning, and we wish we'd set off earlier. That was our only regret, though, as the trail was great and the views were worth the climb.
If you want to do this hike, you can see a map of the trails in Griffith Park here. There are lots of routes you can take with your pup.
4. West Mandeville Fire Road Hike
Next on my list of dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles is the West Mandeville Fire Road in Mandeville Canyon. This moderately challenging on-leash hike near Brentwood and Santa Monica is perfect if you love wide open trails with views.
A 3.64-mile former mountain fire road on the eastern edge of Topanga State Park, it features great opportunities to enjoy vistas across the canyon with your dog. At the top it connects with Mulholland Drive and San Vicente Mountain Park.
As with many of the others on my list, there's a lot of sun on this trail. It's a good idea to arrive early or later in the day if it's going to be hot outside.
My boyfriend, his dog, and I did an out-and-back hike on the Mandeville Canyon trail. After parking on Westridge Road, we followed the fire road up the hill. There were plenty of spur paths and stairways to detour onto, and we had a good time exploring the area and creating our own route.
Since this hike is an out-and-back one, it can take as long as you'd like it to. There's 696 feet of elevation gain along the way, so you can factor that in when determining how far you want to go and how long it might take you.
If you want to do this one, you can see a map of the West Mandeville Fire Road here. It also has information about the route, what to bring, and important safety information.
5. Bluff Cove Trail Hike
Next on my list of dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles is a coastal one on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Bluff Cove Trail is a short on-leash hike in Malaga Cove. It will take you and your dog from the bluffs past Flat Rock Beach and down to the shore below Surf View Park.
This relatively easy 1.1-mile out-and-back trail is right on the Pacific Ocean in the South Bay. Along the way you'll enjoy stunning coastal views and lots of wildflowers before you arrive at a stretch of rocky beach.
My boyfriend, his dog, and I did this hike on a sunny morning. After parking on Paseo del Mar, we followed the trail down to the shore. We loved the views and the beach, and we continued on the Blufftop Trail and along the coast toward Lunada Bay for around an hour after we left the waterfront.
We liked the hike, but we were bigger fans of the short Bluff Cove Trail than the longer Blufftop Trail. The former led us away from the road and offered uninterrupted ocean views. The latter hugged a busy street in Palos Verdes Estates and didn't have many views due to tall foliage and bushes being in the way.
I recommend sticking to the shorter trail and enjoying the views and the beach at the bottom. While you won't get as much exercise, it's a more enjoyable way to spend time in this part of LA (and the hike back up the hill will get your heart going a bit).
If you want to do this hike, you can see a map of the Bluff Cove Trail on Google Maps here. It will also show you the Blufftop Trail and other points of interest in the area.
Map of Dog-Friendly Hikes in Los Angeles
As promised, you can see a map of all the hikes on my list here. If you click on the pins, you'll find my blog posts about each one. It will help you find your favorite hikes to do with your dog in LA County.
Best Dog Hikes in Los Angeles
I hope you've enjoyed this guide to the best dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles. There are lots of great trails for you and your four-legged friends to enjoy in this part of Southern California, and I'm sure you'll enjoy getting out on them as much as I have.
If you're looking for inspiration for excursions further afield, you can read my guides to the best dog-friendly hikes in the Bay Area and dog-friendly hikes in San Mateo County. Happy hiking!
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