Whoop de Doos!

Some of the best holiday light displays don’t involve close encounters with plastic glowing snowmen. Instead you can catch the LA skyline at sunset from a quiet vantage atop the Whoop de Doos Trail in Brentwood. The 1.2-mile (one-way) journey up the Kenter Fire Road is a moderate incline that rewards with beautiful views of Santa Monica Bay from the moment you set foot on the trail.

Following the gravel road, make a sharp left at the fork where you’ll see Century City’s high-rise buildings shimmer in the late-day sun. As the gravel morphs into a dirt path, downtown LA’s US Bank building towers in the distance. When the trail diverges, head right. After a few twists and turns you’ll arrive at the scenic viewpoint, where a panorama of the Los Angeles skyline blazes rich oranges and pink undertones, with the Pacific as a shimmery backdrop. Before it gets too dark, return the way you came (and bring a headlamp just in case; the trailhead closes at 8:00 p.m.). Whoop de Doos!

TIP: There are route options available, including a steep 1-mile (one-way) climb to a hanging bench beneath an oak tree. (This trailhead is visible from the main fire road trail).

To reach the trailhead, exit the 405 Fwy. at Sunset Blvd. and head west. Make a right onto Kenter Ave. and go 2.2 miles, until you reach a large chain-link gate where the trailhead begins. Street parking available. Bring a flashlight or headlamp. The gate to the trailhead is locked at 8:00 p.m. Make sure you are finished before that time. Dog-friendly!