December Journey: Los Leones Canyon Hike

Dear Afternooners,

Happy Holidays! We hope you will join us this Sunday for a beautiful hike in Los Leones Canyon to close out the year.

This is an easy to moderate hike on a dirt trail lined with trees and wildflowers with many ocean views. There are a series of gentle inclines for the first hour, and at the halfway point, we will turn around and walk downhill. We will hike approximately four miles.

WHEN: Sunday, December 29th. We will meet up at 2:00 p.m. for introductions, and will start hiking at 2:15 p.m. The hike will be approximately two hours and fifteen minutes (likely shorter). Please make sure to give yourself enough time to park, get settled, and meet other Afternooners.

WHERE/PARKING INFORMATION: We will meet up at the trailhead located at 566 Los Liones Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. The trailhead is at the end of the road framed by two stone pillars and a prominent sign for Los Leones Canyon (yes, the name of the trail is spelled differently from the street name). There is free parking in the lots along Los Liones Drive and on the street.

BATHROOMS: Are available along Los Liones Drive. More specific information about restrooms is forthcoming.

BRING/WEAR: Shoes with a good grip, sunglasses, a hat, water, and your favorite snacks if you’re so inclined. If you are unsteady on narrow paths with sharp drop offs, bring walking sticks. Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts.

WEATHER: Weather in Los Angeles has been unpredictable. There is always a chance that we will need to cancel a hike to keep you comfortable and safe. If we need to cancel, we will notify you at least 24 hours before.

PRECAUTIONS: Please be mindful of the following: a substantial portion of the trail is narrow and adjacent to steep cliffs. According to California State Parks, there are occasional rattlesnakes that sunbathe in the middle of the trail. In this occurs, the agency instructs us to keep our distance and “allow space for the snake to retreat.” There is also poison oak, which you can protect yourself from by staying on the trail, wearing pants, and long-sleeved shirts. There could be ticks off the trail as well, but staying on the trail and wearing pants should help prevent contact with one. Note that when I previewed this hike, I did not encounter any of these issues. For a map of the trail with information about rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak, click here: https://trails.lacounty.gov/Files/QuickGuide/Los%20Leones%20Trail.pdf.

DOGS: Dogs are unfortunately not permitted on this trail.

COLD/FLU/COVID: If you are feeling under the weather, please stay home and recuperate. You will be missed, but we will see you at another hike in the future.

Take care, and hope to see you Sunday!

Best,
Sarah