Contents
- Dog-Friendly Hikes in Los Angeles
- Around the City of LA
- Malibu
- San Fernando Valley
- Dog Friendly Hikes in Los Angeles: Final Thoughts
- Like this post?
- You Might Also Appreciate…
- Which dog-friendly hike in LA is your favorite?
Dog lovers, rejoice! As avid hikers and dog lovers ourselves, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best dog-friendly hikes Los Angeles has to offer. If you’re looking for dog hikes in Los Angeles, we’ve included hikes around LA and its nearby surroundings where you can take your loyal pooch on a fun outing.
Dogs are wonderful exploring companions. People are even traveling abroad with their pets—so of course many of us love hitting the trail with them! Los Angeles gets it, and that’s why it’s one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. Whether you’re a local or visiting, the city offers a bunch of dog-friendly hikes that showcase the natural beauty of the area.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the best trails – where you and your four-legged pal can soak up the scenery and enjoy some quality outdoor time together. Heading on these LA hikes with your furry friend is even included on our Los Angeles Bucket List.
Read on to find out our top picks, including dog-friendly hikes in Malibu and a bunch of the best dog-friendly hikes around Los Angeles.
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Dog-Friendly Hikes in Los Angeles
Our list of the top dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles is organized into three main categories: dog-friendly hikes around the city of LA, those in Malibu, and those in the San Fernando Valley.
While the dog-friendly hikes around the city of LA might be the most accessible for those who live in the city, we think the dog-friendly hikes in the San Fernando Valley are better for dogs because they’re bigger and not as busy. The dog-friendly hikes in Malibu are some of the most scenic hikes on the list, with cooler weather and beautiful ocean views.
Also, be sure to check out this Dog-Friendly Guide to LA, with tons of helpful info to explore the city with your furry friend, including restaurants and stays!
Around the City of LA
1. Griffith Park Trails
Griffith Park, a beloved 4000 acre oasis of greenery and rugged hillside in the heart of LA, is home to some of the best dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles. With over 50 miles of hiking trails ranging from shady canyons to mountaintops with sweeping views of the city, there’s a trail here for everyone.
Griffith Park is included on our list of the best scenic drives in LA, the most comprehensive guide to to scenic driving in LA you’ll find!
Trails at Griffith Park take you close to some of LA’s best-known landmarks, including the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Observatory. On-leash dogs are allowed on most trails, but there’s an off-leash dog park in Griffith Park as well.
The next two entries on this list will go over our picks for the best dog-friendly trails in Griffith Park: the Bronson Canyon Trail and Burbank Peak, Mount Lee, and Cahuenga Peak.
Griffith Park Details
Location: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours: 5 AM – 10:30 PM
Trail Length: varies
Fees: varies for parking
2. Bronson Canyon Trail
Bronson Canyon Trail in Griffith Park packs a lot in its short distance. This trail features a famous tunnel bored into the hillside that is known as the Batcave due to its appearance in the 1960s Batman TV show, as well as other shows and movies.
This is one of the easiest dog friendly hiking trails in Los Angeles, as it’s only 0.6 miles round trip with 50 feet of elevation change.
Bronson Canyon Trail Details
Location: 3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90068
Hours: 5 AM – 10:30 PM
Fees: parking fees
Trail Length: 0.6 miles round trip, 50 feet elevation change
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3. Burbank Peak, Mount Lee, and Cahuenga Peak
These nearby three peaks are the highest summits of Griffith Park, and offer unbeatable views of pretty much all of LA and up-close-and-personal views of the Hollywood Sign’s backside.
The summit of Mount Lee, home to the Hollywood Sign itself, is the closest you’re allowed to get to the famous sign. To get to the back of the Hollywood Sign with your furry friend, hike 0.4 miles past Cahuenga Peak to Mount Lee.
Aside from the views, something that makes these trails some of the best dog hikes in Los Angeles is that they’re all easily visited by the Burbank Peak and Aileen Getty Ridge Trails in Griffith Park. These peaks are connected, and you can choose to visit all three of them in the same hike.
The Burbank Peak Trail leads up the ridge of Burbank Peak to join with the Aileen Getty Ridge Trail to the top of Cahuenga Peak and Mount Lee for a combined 3 mile round trip hike with 875 feet of elevation gain.
Trail Details
Location: Wonder View Drive & Lake Hollywood Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Hours: 5 AM – 10:30 PM
Fees: none
Trail Length: 3 miles round trip, 875 feet elevation gain
4. Eaton Canyon Park
Eaton Canyon Park is one of the most scenic dog-friendly hikes in LA. The 3.5 mile trail features a trail through a lush wooded riparian area that ends at a 40-foot waterfall in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Pasadena.
This is an especially busy trail on weekends and during the summer, so keep that in mind if you bring a dog. Dogs are allowed strictly on leash here.
Eaton Canyon Park Details
Location: 1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107
Hours: hours vary by season; closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Note: Due to current restrictions, access to Eaton Canyon Park is limited to reservations only. Reservations are free and may be made on the official website .
Fees: none
Trail Length: 3.5 miles round trip to Eaton Canyon Waterfall, 375 feet elevation change.
5. Sullivan Canyon
This 8.5 mile jaunt through a canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains near Brentwood is one of the best off leash dog hikes in Los Angeles. The quiet and relatively unknown nature of this trail makes for a perfect hike to let your furry friend run free.
Follow the trail for 4.25 miles along a seasonal creek lined with sycamore trees, where a junction lets you hike further to San Vicente Mountain, if you desire.
Sullivan Canyon Details
Location: 2120 Queensferry Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Hours: unknown
Fees: none
Trail Length: 8.5 miles round trip, 1410 feet elevation gain
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6. Trebek Open Space
This 62 acre open space preserve in the Hollywood Hills was generously donated by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. Fun fact: I was actually a contestant on Jeopardy in 2014 and got to meet Alex Trebek!
Located right next to the much-more-popular Runyon Canyon Park, the trails at Trebek Open Space are some of the best off leash dog hikes in Los Angeles due to their city views and the amount of space you and your doggo will have here.
Two connected half-mile long fire roads cross the park, and a trail even connects the park with Runyon Canyon Park, giving you tons of access to some of the best off leash hikes Los Angeles has to offer.
Trebek Open Space Details
Location: 2500 Nichols Canyon Road, Los Angeles 90046
Hours: Open 24 hours
Fees: none
Trail Length: 1 mile of trails
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Photo Credit: Ryan Vaarsi
7. Runyon Canyon
Runyon Canyon Park is one of the most popular parks in Los Angeles for both those with and without dogs due to its location in the Hollywood Hills. Leashed dogs are welcome along the 2.7 mile loop trail.
While the trail doesn’t make it on to the list of best off leash hikes in Los Angeles, the park is also home to a huge 90-acre off leash dog park, a main reason why this park remains massively popular with LA dog owners.
Runyon Canyon Details
Location: 2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Fees: none
Trail Length: up to 2.7 miles, up to 700 feet elevation gain
Note: As of September 2020, Runyon Canyon is open with limited access. The East Trail is closed, and the West Trail is a one-way loop.
8. Seascape Trails
The Seascape Trails are some dog friendly hikes in LA that offer beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the Palos Verdes coastline. The Seascape Trails are a short collection of partially-paved paths at Point Vicente Park that lead over the cliffs at the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
There’s lots to look at here, from views of Catalina Island, Point Vicente Lighthouse, and the endless Pacific Ocean.
Seascape Trails Details
Location: Point Vicente Park, Pacifica Del Mar, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Hours: 8 AM – 6 PM
Fees: none
Trail Length: 0.7 miles, 40 feet elevation gain
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9. Elysian Park
Elysian Park hosts some of the best dog hikes in Los Angeles proper. This 575 acre park is LA’s second largest city park, behind Griffith Park.
This slice of nature surrounding Dodger Stadium offers long views of the LA cityscape from the park’s hills. Some main sights at Elysian Park include a secret swing and a landscaped section featuring a bridge and a running creek.
Elysian Park Details
Location: 929 Academy Road, Los Angeles
Hours: Sunrise – Sunset
Fees: none
Trail Length: 2.4 miles, 194 feet elevation gain
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Malibu
10. Zuma Canyon Trail
One of the dog friendly hikes in Malibu offering stunning ocean views, the Zuma Canyon loop trail takes you over 3.1 miles of chaparral-covered ridges. Keep your dog close and leashed, as brush encroaches on the narrow singletrack trails here.
Zuma Canyon Details
Location: 5875 Bonsall Drive, Malibu, CA 90265
Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
Fees: none
Trail Length: 3.1 mile loop with Canyon View & Ocean View trails, 750 feet elevation gain
11. Tuna Canyon Park
This lesser-known park in the hills between Malibu and Topanga hosts one of the best dog friendly hikes in Los Angeles with views of the ocean. The 1,255 acre park offers sweeping views of the coastline all the way from Point Dume in the north to Catalina Island and Palos Verdes in the south.
Tuna Canyon Park has several trails of different lengths and difficulty for every kind of hiker. Most trails are wide fire roads, with plenty of room for you and your dog. The size of the trails here combined with the relative lack of other people (and dogs) contributes to why this is one of the best dog friendly hikes in Los Angeles.
Tuna Canyon Park Details
Location: 20885 Big Rock Drive, Malibu, CA 90265 or Tuna Canyon Road & Hearst Tank Motorway, Topanga Canyon, CA 90290 (Caution: There is little to no cell service around the trailhead)
Not to be confused with La Tuna Canyon in Sun Valley.
Hours: unknown
Fees: none
Trail Length: up to 6.2 miles, depends on which trail you choose.
12. Solstice Canyon
Solstice Canyon, one of the more popular dog friendly hikes in Malibu, features lots of interesting stops along the way. The 2.6 mile round trip trail takes you past a surprisingly green creekside area and a small waterfall.
The highlight of Solstice Canyon is perhaps the remains of the Roberts Ranch House, also known as Tropical Terrace. Destroyed in 1982 by a wildfire, the ruins of the house create a unique atmosphere in the lush canyon.
Dogs are welcome along the whole length of the wide and level trail.
Solstice Canyon Details
Location: 3455 Solstice Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
Fees: free
Trail Length: 2.6 miles round trip
San Fernando Valley
Photo Credit: Marc Cooper
13. Calabasas Peak
Calabasas Peak, one of the dog-friendly hikes around Los Angeles that’s also a good workout, stands 2163 feet in the central Santa Monica Mountains.
There are two main ways to hike Calabasas Peak: Red Rock Canyon and Stunt Road Trailhead.
The approach from Red Rock Canyon on the east takes you up over 1000 feet past interesting rock formations that stand out from others in the region.
Part of the fun of hiking Calabasas Peak from Red Rock Canyon is the final portion of Red Rock Canyon Road, which turns to dirt and passes by the namesake red rock formation. It’s a very unique spot in the local Santa Monica Mountains!
Below, I will put the details for both the Red Rock Canyon approach and Stunt Road Trailhead approach.
Calabasas Peak Details
Location: Red Rock Canyon Trailhead: 23601 W Red Rock Rd, Topanga, CA 90290
Stunt Road Trailhead: 1698 Stunt Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302
Hours: 7 AM – 7 PM
Fees: parking $5
Trail Length: From Red Rock side: 4.2 miles round trip, 1059 feet elevation change
From Stunt Road: 3.6 miles round trip, 900 feet elevation change
14. Fryman Canyon
Fryman Canyon is one of the dog-friendly hikes in Los Angeles with easy access. Located just south of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, this trail through Wilacre Park offers an easy 3 mile loop trail with a combination of shady spots and open spots with city views.
Fryman Canyon Details
Location: park at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Fryman Road.
Hours: 7 AM – 8 PM
Fees: $3 for parking
Trail Length: 3 mile loop, 725 feet elevation gain
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15. Westridge Trail to San Vicente Mountain
This 7.4 mile trail round trip to a Cold War-era missile installation on San Vicente Mountain is one of the best off leash hikes Los Angeles has to offer. Dogs are permitted off leash in the Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park as long as they are under the direct supervision of their owner, making the hikes here some of the best dog friendly hikes in Los Angeles.
Westridge Trail Details
Location: Westridge Road & West Mandeville Fire Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Hours: 7 AM – 8 PM
Fees: none
Trail Length: 7.4 miles round trip, 730 feet elevation gain
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16. El Escorpion Park (Castle Peak)
This park in West Hills is home to 1,639 foot Castle Peak, a cave, and provides access to some of the best dog friendly hiking trails around Los Angeles. While the climb up Castle Peak itself might be a bit too steep for most dogs, you might still be able to check out the Cave of Munits with your furry friend.
The trails here also connect to the nearby and much larger Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve.
El Escorpion Park Details
Location: 24501 West Vanowen Street, West Hills, CA 91307
Hours: Sunrise – Sunset
Fees: none
17. Victory Trailhead (Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve)
The Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve protects 5,600 acres of rolling landscape and oak-studded hills west of the San Fernando Valley. Most of the trails are wide and not too steep, which makes them some of the best dog friendly hikes in Los Angeles.
There’s plenty of space here for you and your dog to take in long views over the hills. This park is especially nice around golden hour or in spring when the green hills become covered with flowers. There’s not much shade here, so avoid coming in the middle of the day when it’s hot. I have encountered a rattlesnake here before, so be cautious on some of the narrow trails.
Victory Trailhead Details
Location: Western end of Victory Boulevard in Woodland Hills, CA, 91367. Can also be accessed from Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas.
Hours: Sunrise – Sunset
Fees: $3 for parking
Dog Friendly Hikes in Los Angeles: Final Thoughts
From city parks to mountain ridge trails, we’ve covered some of the best dog friendly hikes around Los Angeles. These range from dog friendly hikes near Santa Monica to the best hikes with dogs near Los Angeles at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains.
No matter what kind of hiker you or your dog are, there’s definitely a trail out there for you to pick from the best dog hikes in Los Angeles.
Plan the rest of your LA trip! Check out our LA Bucket List, the top scenic drives in LA, the best places to eat in LA, tips and tricks for Universal Studios Hollywood, and consider decorating your own cake at the Ace of Cakes chef’s studio.
Also, learn about the epic West Hollywood Carnaval, and why we think LA is freaking awesome.
Why don’t you drive on over to Orange County next? You can check out the top things to do in Orange County, new Rise of the Resistance ride at Disneyland, stay at the best hotel walking distance to Disneyland, and try luxury bowling at Downtown Disney.
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Which dog-friendly hike in LA is your favorite?
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2 Comments
33 Best Scenic Drives in LA: The Ultimate Los Angeles Scenic Drives Guide - Television of Nomads
at 8:35 am[…] walking destination for LA locals and tourists alike. We’ve even included it on our list of Best Dog Friendly Hikes in LA. However, you’re also able to drive through the park in a loop to take in the long […]
Local's Budget Travel Guide to Los Angeles - Periodic Adventures
at 9:04 am[…] it or not, there are some beautiful hikes in Los Angeles many of which are very dog-friendly. For an easy hike that leads to a sometimes dry waterfall (thanks drought) I recommend Millard […]