Urban Oasis Loop

Explore Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles

02.26.2026
A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

Just off the 110, Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in L.A.’s Montecito Hills is an oasis for birds—and for Angelenos craving a quick nature escape.

Home to the city’s Audubon Center, this 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here.

A woman hikes a wide dirt trail with green hills beside her and mountains in the background as well as city views of Los Angeles. This is at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles

Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing. Fair warning: trails are unmarked, so have your phone or a map handy—or, ahem, wing it. Start at the Audubon Center entrance. Head down the entrance road (from Griffin Avenue or the Audubon parking area) to a green gate at the first intersection. Take the Scrub Jay Trail on your right and continue up the dirt road for about a half-mile to a fork marked by a couple of benches—an ideal perch for sweeping views of the downtown L.A. skyline.

Turn left onto the Walnut Forest Trail and enjoy the rain-fresh greenery and the towering San Gabriel Mountains rising to the north. When the trail meets a paved road, turn right. Stay on the fire road (keep left at the next junction), or, if you’re in the mood to wander and birdwatch, take the footpath past the gazebo. It parallels the road, offering extra hillside views and a bit more solitude—just be sure to rejoin the main road in about a quarter-mile.

The road loops into a circle. Stay right to reach Peanut Lake, a charming manmade pond and a perfect place to relax on a bench while turtles bask in the sun.

To return, rejoin the trail and turn left onto the City View Trail. This gradual climb delivers one final downtown vista before reconnecting with the Scrub Jay Trail and leading back to where you began.

Tip: Hoping to spot an American kestrel or a yellow-rumped warbler? The Audubon Center offers free rentals of binoculars, backpacks, and maps if you want to turn your walk into a birdwatching adventure.

The Audubon Center entrance is located at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. Map. Park at the Audubon Center or along Griffin Avenue. The Audubon Center is open Thursday through Sunday, 8am to 4pm. If the center is closed, pedestrians can still enter the park via the path to the right of the entrance gate.

Story and photos by Yvonne Pasquini, @yvonne_pasquini

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Perles Beach Angel Island San Francisco Bay

    Secret Beach

    A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.

    View

  2. Cinematic Sonoma

    Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.

    View
  3. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

    View
  4. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

    View

  2. A Better Way to Baldwin

    The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  4. A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

    Urban Oasis Loop

    Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.

    View