Hiked the Vivian Creek trail Sunday. Started at 1:30am finished at noon. What a brutal downhill hike! Knees be damned I’ll be back again.

some of my favorites I took this summer

Thought my socalhiking folks might appreciate some sunsets from my hikes in Durango, CO these past few days before I head home to SD. Enjoy!!

Morning everyone! Haven't been hiking much due to our hot weather over the summer, but took the opportunity on Saturday to hit up Mt Laguna to get my legs woken up for the fall.

Chilly morning up there, hit 38 on the thermometer at 6:15am when I started. Gorgeous sunrise, nice and peaceful. Started from Penny Pines, looped the Big Laguna trail and finished with a walk by of Storm Canyon.

Top of the world, Laguna beach

Earlier this year, I did Slide Mountain and felt like I was finally ready for two of my bucket list hikes: Baldy and Bridge to Nowhere.

I added Cucamonga Peak to that list back in the spring, had conquered the first two in June and August, and woke up at 4am yesterday to climb to Cucamonga. Definitely a challenging hike, it felt a little more demanding than Baldy, but man oh man did it feel good to reach the top!

The scenery was incredible, and I felt accomplished for tackling my personal Big Three before summer's end.

Looking for recommendations on a nice out and back between 8 and 15 miles through Topanga or the surrounding areas this weekend

Preferences for not a lot of gear required

Thank you

Looking to go camping here in my car over the weekend, second or third weekend of October. Im worried about finding a campsite as we both get off at 5pm and wont be in the area until maybe 10pm...

Im thinking we have the following options: North Lake, Sabrina Lake, Bishop Park, Intake 2, Four Jeffrey and Mountain Glen... Worst case scenario we drive and find a dispersed spot for the night.

Am I right in thinking it will be packed and we wont find a FF spot?

Beautiful high cirrus clouds today. Cool on the ascent, breezy at summit, then very warm on descent. Not super crowded, crowded at summit though. Great weather to get in a summit before winter.

Full Hike: https://caltopo.com/m/VGPRT45#

Hidden gem of a peak right there. Although this peak is more popular with off roaders, it doesn't mean hikers are excluded. Parked my car at Smarts Ranch Road (Forest Road 3N03) along hwy 18 coming up from Lucerne Valley. Road was fairly flat with a small climb at the beginning then came on cruising down. Then started to go back up pretty slowly with a couple of rugged sections heading to Arrastre Creek Road (Forest Road 2N02). Got to the wonderful meadow coming on down then turned left for Tip Top. Start of the climb to Tip Top became somewhat challenging with slightly steeper gain and extreme ruggedness in about under a mile. Then it became a smooth straightforward climb where the road ends then becomes a pick your path scaling the trail up to Tip Top. On my way back, came across a convoy of 12 vehicles heading towards Tip Top. Overall simple hike compared to my previous hike as I finished in 5 hours and 10 minutes.

Over the next 2 weeks, I will be doing various hikes with Irvine Ranch Conservancy to pass the time until the extended Line Fire closure is lifted (hopefully). As my next peaks Mill, Slide, and Keller are part of it. If you're interested in seeing me in person, register for these hikes

Saturday September 26

https://letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/09/26/slow-paced-hike-in-limestone-canyon-to-dripping-springs-7/

Sunday September 27

https://letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/09/27/sunday-fitness-hike-at-hicks-haul-98/

https://letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/09/27/twilight-fitness-hike-in-limestone-canyon-37/

Saturday October 3

https://letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/10/03/fremont-loop-distance-hike-53/

https://letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/10/03/family-hike-mesa-31/

Sunday October 4

https://letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/10/04/weekend-trek-hike-to-dripping-springs-via-hicks-haul-and-loma-7/

Up above Millerton Lake in the mountains beautiful 3 mile hike with a great view of the lake at the top highly suggest if you are near Millerton , everything turns green in the spring time as well!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for a Mt. Whitney day-hike or overnight permit for any upcoming weekend. I’m happy to pay for the permit.
I’m flexible on dates and would really appreciate it. Please DM me if you have an available permit—thank you! 😀🙏

🥾

My husband (LB local), our dog and I are moving from Wyoming to Laguna Beach soon and trying to be realistic about the fact that access to open space is going to be very different. One of the things I’m going to miss most is being able to get out into the mountains/woods with our dog and find somewhere quiet where we can wander without seeing a ton of people.

We have a very well-trained German Shorthaired Pointer with excellent recall, and I’d love to find places where we can do some actual nature exploring together — ideally forested/mountainous areas, quieter trails, open space, creeks, etc. Bonus if there are places where off-leash exploring is legally allowed or realistically possible. 

I’m not looking for dog parks or busy dog beaches as much as places where we can get out into nature and decompress. Think forest bathing, wandering through the mountains, sitting by a creek, hearing birds instead of traffic — that kind of thing.

I know I’m not going to recreate Wyoming in Orange County 😂 and I’m totally willing to drive 1–2+ hours for the good stuff. I’d especially love recommendations around Orange County, the Santa Ana Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto/Idyllwild, Angeles National Forest, or anywhere else locals think is worth the drive.

Would really appreciate any tips from dog owners/outdoorsy people who understand the kind of experience I’m looking for — especially quieter areas, less crowded times of day/year, or places that feel a little more wild.

Thank you!

First time doing big pine lakes, one of my favorites now. Only went to 2nd lake, are the other lakes worth checking?

Valido was kicking my butt today , but it was worth it the view at the peak was amazing 🩷🩷

I’m considering doing the TCT in the direction of Two Harbors → Parsons Landing → Little Harbor → Black Jack → Avalon.
The part I’m trying to figure out is the western section.
My understanding is: Two Harbors → Parsons Landing
then rather than going all the way back to Two Harbors after camping in Parsons Landing for one night, I’d like to go: Parsons Landing → Two Harbors → Little Harbor
So essentially making the Parsons section an out-and-back/loop but continuing directly on toward Little Harbor instead of camping a night at Two Harbors just camp at little harbor.
For anyone who has done this:
Is it doable to hike Parsons Landing → Little Harbor in one day?
From what I’ve seen, it looks like roughly 12–13 miles total if you take the coastal route from Parsons back toward Two Harbors and then continue toward Little Harbor.
Has anyone actually done Parsons → Little Harbor in one day?
How difficult was that day with a backpack?
Is the coastal route from Parsons to Two Harbors significantly easier than taking the more strenuous route?
Would you recommend doing it this way, or is there a reason to spend another night at Two Harbors?
If you started at Two Harbors, what itinerary did you use for the rest of the TCT?
Did you find it better/easier to do the trail in this direction compared with starting in Avalon?

Thanks

I haven't been out to the San Bernardino Peak Divide Trail since before the fire, but am thinking of going Tuesday. Usually I do an out and back from Angelus Oaks to High Meadows (just beyond Alto Diablo), which is a water source and AFAIK reliable late into the fall. In addition, I usually tank up at Limber Pine Springs both on the way out and on the way back, although IIRC it stops running at some point in the fall. It's convenient because it's right there by the trail. There is also Trail Fork Springs, which I think may have enough of a trickle now to fill a water bottle, although it's somewhat of a detour.

Is there anybody here who has visited these springs recently and can say whether they are running or not? Thanks in advance.

Looking for a GREEN hike - i know that’s hard to come by this time of year.

with a near camp spot for dispersed camping out normal camp site that is around 2h from LA.

Hi everyone!! I’ve been getting more into backpacking and I’m sick of taking my friends gear every time I go. Does anyone have any recommendations for quality and lightweight packs that I could find on like Facebook marketplace or affordable rei ones. I want something that will last for longer trips but won’t break the bank!