Glow Up

Hike to Beacon Hill in Griffith Park Los Angeles

Tucked in the southeast corner of Griffith Park, Beacon Hill is an example of how you don’t have to travel far or aim high to reach one of the best panoramas of LA’s skyline.

Before LAX came into the picture, Glendale had LA’s principal airport, complete with a shining beacon on the Santa Monica range’s easternmost summit. The light’s gone, but Beacon Hill, at 1,001 feet, still beams. Get to its summit in 2 miles and just 500 feet of elevation.

undefined

From the apex, downtown LA is only about 5 miles away, with views extending clear across the city to Santa Monica Bay, shining next to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Verdugo Mountains and the San Gabriels tower to the north and east above Glendale and Burbank. Spin around—Mount Bell and Mount Hollywood form the crown of Griffith Park. Complete the loop by hiking down Coolidge Trail and Lower Beacon Trail, which gives closer looks at downtown and the Los Angeles River.

Take I-5 to the Los Feliz Blvd. exit north of downtown Los Angeles. Drive west to the first intersection and turn right on Crystal Springs Rd. After 1.3 miles, turn left, following signs for the merry-go-round. Go a quarter mile to a barricade in the road and turn right into the merry-go-round parking lot. Walk up the road a few hundred feet past the barricade to the third trail on the left (just in front of another barricade crossing the pavement). Stay to the left through two junctions at the bottom of Fern Canyon Trail, and hike 1.15 miles up to a 5-way junction. Turn left, and proceed 0.2 mile to the top of Beacon Hill. Return to the 5-way junction and turn left on Coolidge Trail to continue the loop. Drop one mile past the Tregnan Golf Academy Driving Range and turn left up Lower Beacon Trail to return 1.25 miles to the trailhead. All trails are wide fire roads, but junctions are unmarked. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Hiker taking a photo of sunset at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

    Sunshine and Skyline

    Head to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve for a 4-mile out-and-back hike on the Bay Area Ridge Trail that offers a front-row seat to spectacular sunsets.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View