Hiking the Los Liones Trail in Pacific Palisades
Tucked away just a few blocks from the ocean in Pacific Palisades, the Los Liones Trail is one of those rare hikes that gives you a taste of wilderness without ever really leaving the city. It starts quietly, hidden behind a neighborhood, but within a few minutes you’re surrounded by canyon walls, shady greenery, and the sounds of birds instead of traffic.
If you’ve got about an hour or two, this trail is the perfect quick escape — though it can easily turn into a half-day adventure if you keep going toward Parker Mesa Overlook for those sweeping coastal views.
Distance, Elevation, and Difficulty
You can tailor this hike to your mood:
- Short version: About 2.6 miles round-trip (1.3 up and 1.3 down) to the ridge bench, with roughly 550 feet of elevation gain.
- Long version: Keep going along the East Topanga Fire Road up to Parker Mesa Overlook for a 4-mile round-trip and about 1,000 feet of climbing.
Either way, expect a steady climb. The shaded lower section makes the early stretch feel easy, but once you hit the switchbacks, your legs will definitely wake up. Most hikers would call it moderate — not too hard, but enough to get your heart pumping.
What It’s Like on the Trail
The first part of Los Liones feels like a hidden garden. It’s shaded, lush, and lined with ferns, ivy, and sycamores that almost form a tunnel overhead. There’s something peaceful about the way the light filters through the leaves in the morning — it’s hard to believe you’re still in Los Angeles.
As you climb higher, the canopy gives way to open hillsides filled with coastal sage scrub and chaparral. The ocean starts to peek through the canyon, and every switchback seems to bring a wider view of the Pacific. On a clear day, you can spot Catalina Island in the distance. There’s a scenic bench at the top of the main trail — a perfect rest stop with a postcard-worthy overlook of Santa Monica Bay.
Plants and Wildflowers
This is classic Santa Monica Mountains terrain, which means lots of aromatic, sun-loving plants. You’ll pass yucca, coastal sage, scrub oak, and toyon, with seasonal bursts of color from sticky monkey flowers, canyon sunflowers, purple nightshade, and deerweed.
In spring, the hillsides come alive with wildflowers; in late summer, the landscape shifts to muted golds and silvers — still beautiful in that rugged California way.
Wildlife You Might See
Keep your eyes open, because Los Liones is teeming with life if you slow down enough to notice. Western fence lizards dart across the trail, and you might catch sight of a red-tailed hawk gliding overhead. In the shaded canyon sections, listen for songbirds — warblers, wrens, and the occasional woodpecker tapping away.
Small mammals like rabbits and ground squirrels are common, and though it’s rare, this area is also home to bobcats and even the occasional mountain lion deeper in the park. Spring and summer bring plenty of butterflies and bees among the flowers, and if you’re hiking at dawn or dusk, you may even hear coyotes calling in the distance.
Tips for a Great Hike
- Go early for cooler temps and softer light — it gets hot fast once the sun is up.
- Bring water and sunscreen — there’s little shade once you leave the canyon.
- Watch your footing on steeper, dusty sections near the top.
- Mind the wildlife — rattlesnakes do live here, though they’re usually more afraid of you.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re squeezing in a quick morning workout or chasing ocean views on a sunny afternoon, the Los Liones Trail delivers big rewards for the effort. It’s close, it’s scenic, and it has just enough climb to make you feel like you’ve truly escaped the city for a while.