The views on this trail were quite spectacular. Parker Mesa Overlook actually starts around where Los Liones "ends." It's pretty steadily uphill but not too steep. Not much shade. It's pretty quiet in comparison with other local Los Angeles trails. Luckily I went on a clear day and you could see for miles and miles! My friend and I had parked on the street near the beginning of the trail, but a local pointed out that there is no parking on the weekends. She said that someone comes to check every two hours but luckily no ticket that day. Just something to look out for. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - View on a clear day - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

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Parker mesa by far has to be one of the few hiking trails that blow me away once I reach the top. This is a long hike starting off with the little trail at the beginning of it, very narrow and a one person incline way. After turns into this big pathway trail that cars are able to drive on but very steep at some points. This is a long hike with a bit of a challenge. Once you're up there it's all worth it. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Scenic view. - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

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This hike is 3.5 miles of straight unshaded incline (more if you had to park far away) one way. The trail is pretty dry and dusty but the surrounding hills are green and nice to look at. One liter of water per person is highly recommend in addition to a ton of sunscreen. The look out is worth the sweat, even on a semi-overcast day. *No dogs allowed on this trail. ** Adventure pass not required. read more

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An easy overall trail but with breathtaking views of the Santa Monica Mountains and nearby beaches. We totaled roundtrip over seven miles but it was absolutely fun. We started the trail at Eagle Junction. The trail is nicely marked so you cannot get lost or go the wrong way. There is some incline at the beginning and towards the end of the trail. Right before we got to the overlook there is a portable bathroom, which is awesomely clean. I loved the endless views and finally reaching the overlook and spending some nice quality time with my love, Diego R. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Perfect weather today. the hike up is (pretty much) a 5K and then the hike down is a 5K the fact that your hiking along the ocean has got to be super unique. The terrain is amazing as are the views when you get to the top. Modern hiker put this on my radar and I crossed referenced it with Yelp. Here's some info from Modern Hiker: A 7.3 mile hike from the Pacific Palisades to a popular overlook in Topanga State Park. The first part of this hike - the Los Liones Trail - is one of the most lush riparian canyons I've seen in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's gently graded, moderately shady, and definitely worth a look even if you have to fight crowds. Afterward, the trail meets up with the system of fire roads in Topanga State Park, and makes a relentless ascent to Parker Mesa (1525ft). On a clear day, you'll get amazing views of the Santa Monica Bay, and often inland as far as the San Bernardino Mountains..." it's super nice and worth your time. read more

Good hike and a beautiful view!! It was pretty busy at 8am so if you want to go by yourself I would say it's ok. Really enjoyable read more

What challenging trail, but completely worth it! This is an out and back trail with beautiful views of the ocean or clouds depending on what time of the day you decide to go. On a clear day, you can see all of the LA basin, the San Gabriel Mountains, Catalina Island, and the crescent shaped coastline of Santa Monica. You also get pretty views of the canyon. It is a total of about 7-8 miles with an elevation gain of approximately 1,171 ft. The trail is wide and is very good for social distancing. It also has very little shade so bring sunscreen and don't forget to reapply. Bring plenty of water and maybe a little extra because you're going to sweat! If you're looking for a good workout then this trail is perfect for you. There is plenty of free parking on the street, right before you enter the park on Entrada road, just be sure to check the signs that say no parking on the weekend. read more

This is a great LA hike. Came here with my dad on fathers day early Sunday morning to beat the heat. You can start this hike from 2 different spots. Starting at Los Liones Drive the hike is 7.8 miles. Starting from Paseo Miramar the hike is 5 miles. To get to the Los Liones trailhead: Los Liones Drive is the second left off Sunset Blvd from PCH, just 1/3 of a mile from the beach. Park on the right side of Los Liones Drive, and enter the trail at the end of the cul-de-sac. Trailhead address: 580 Los Liones Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Trailhead coordinates: 34.047263, -118.560098 (34° 02′ 50.14″N 118° 33′ 36.35″W) To get to the Paseo Miramar trailhead: One street past Los Liones Drive (and just before Palisades Drive) is Paseo Miramar. Turn north up the street, which winds up the ridge for 1.2 miles to the trailhead at road's end. Street parking is available on the west side of Paseo Miramar. Trailhead address: 899 Paseo Miramar, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Trailhead coordinates: 34.0508, -118.5571 (34° 03′ 02.88″N 118° 33′ 25.56″W) Majority of this trail is pretty steep with little to no shade...so be prepared with a hat and sunscreen during warmer weather. For me, I consider this hike "easy" but for elders without hiking poles or little kids this might not be the best hike for them. Bring water and snacks. The view is worth it at the top to see the ocean and Santa Monica pier in the distance. With the incline being pretty steep the whole way up, this hike feels so much better going back (all downhill!). There are a few look out spots before reaching the top for great photo moments. This is a great hike....I will be back and explore more trails in the area! read more

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**** Trumpet roll! This is my 200th review and a very special one for personal reasons. There is a reason I waited to make this my 200th**** Before I moved to LA as a music marketing professional from Ohio; I met my boyfriend (who was born and raised in LA) while he was on the show "Chelsea Lately" on E!. A long distance relationship ensued which eventually resulted in us moving in together when we finally decided I had to move to LA for good. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. The first time I visited him specifically in LA, (I had been to LA before for that) I landed on a Friday night. On Saturday, he took me out to a sushi lunch, to show me where he grew up in Calabasas and then to what we call "The Plateau". The Plateau is on the same stretch as the Parker Mesa Overlook but further north . When we went there after our lunch and I got out of the car, I was driven to tears. I've seen many views in LA, from canyons to mountains, to waterfalls, to scenery on hikes. But this was the most moving sight ever. I was crying and that was the moment I fell in love with LA.. and with him. (Please see photos which do no justice). Since that day, I've come to this spot on our anniversaries, for meteor showers, and for pure self- cleansing. Something about this plateau is MY spot. As ridiculous as it sounds, I feel one with the earth, LA, and spirits here like Native Americans and Mexican founders still roam. Most of all, I feel at one with myself. The Plateau is the most beautiful and spiritual sight in LA for me. I fell in love with LA and my boyfriend of many years here. And now.. it's time to claim it as my own minus the now-ex. You may not have such a spiritual connection here, but we all have our spots where you can just sit for hours and the world doesn't matter. This is mine. If I die, I want some of my ashes scattered at the plateau (if I decide to be cremated). I love this place. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Further north at plateau facing downtown, Santa Monica, and the beaches circa March 2008 - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

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Me and my husband went for a hike today August 26 around 11:30 to 1:00pm is a beautiful hike and everyone was friendly. We always try different hiking places, first time here and last time we came to this hike . Unfortunately we found out my husband wallet was stolen someone obviously open the car and took it. We did read the sign they have on the parking "take it or hide it" the wallet was hide from viewing but we notice this people may be some professional doing this since I also had my purse and I hide it under the car seat, and they didn't move anything else so we don't notice until we got home.This is just an alert to be careful what you leave in the car. We always leave stuff and this is the first time this happen. Note: I was reading all the reviews and this has happen before to Two other people, "BE AWARE WHEN YOU GO TO THIS PLACE TAKE YOUR VALUES WITH YOU" read more

Love this hiking spot! My bf and I did this "hike" on Saturday 7/8/16 (summer) around 9am-12pm and we both REALLYYY enjoyed it! Both of us wore flip flops and got many strange looks from others (mainly ones that wore hiking shoes with hiking poles, unnecessary IMO). To us, it felt like a regular walk with an incline. Totally doable! The terrain wasn't rocky only till we got to the .5 mile mark. LOTS of lizards and red ant but we were not bothered by them. Wide trail which didn't make it seem crowded, most of the time we were walking with no one in front or back of us. Barely any shade so wear a hat and sunscreen. My bf hardly gets sunburn but he did that day and his forehead is still peeling... Main reason I enjoyed this spot was the ocean breeze. We didn't break a sweat thanks to the breeze! The views were amazing of course! I would love to come during sunset! We hiked a total of 5 miles. Enter address: 580 Los Liones Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Parking is limited but ppl come and go throughout the day so parking wasn't difficult for us. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

This was my first hike when I started hiking a few years ago and my favorite of all. It's a moderate hike, a little less than six miles, that is almost entirely on a paved fire road and takes about two hours roundtrip. I start the hike in Topanga State Park off of 20829 Entrada Rd, Topanga Canyon. Parking is $10 in the lot, but if you just park right outside the entrance of the lot off the pavement along Entrada Rd., it's free. Sometimes the hike goes uphill, sometimes downhill, sometimes flat, but it's not too bad. Once you've made it to the top, the view is breathtaking. You'll see the pacific coastline, Malibu beach, the Santa Monica ferris wheel, downtown LA, and planes coming in and out of LAX. So pack a simple lunch and water, hike up this trail, and sit on the bench and enjoy the view. read more

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An excellent LA hike, pleasantly accessible from the Valley too, which is a plus. Roughly 7 miles round trip; an out-and-back. Sneak peak views everywhere, and of course once you get to the overlook you have the LA basin and Santa Monica right in front of you! The trails is varied; uphill a little here, downhill a there, so thankfully it's not trudging all the way uphill getting there and blowing out your knees downhill on the way back. We went a day after it rained, and thankfully to the intermittent rain over the last two months it was actually surprisingly green throughout. The lookout itself is a bit crowded as people tend to linger a long time once they are up there. Be prepared for lots of selfies. Trippet Ranch, where we started in the Valley, requires a $10 ($9 if you have a senior citizen in your car, wowie) fee; just park outside the parking lot on Entrada Road for free. The area around Trippet Ranch is beautiful and worth meandering around a bit before or after your hike. Plus, real toilets there with sinks, what what. Definitely one of my go-to hikes in the Valley! A great hike for trail running too. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - magical post-showers greeness - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

This was one of my favorite hikes -- completed on morning of New Years Eve 12/31/2012! My husband and I have been on 20+ hikes in 2011-2012, and this one was stellar in terms of the spectacular view. It took about 2.5-3 hours round trip (with multiple pit stops along the way and 20+ mins spent at the overlook) at a leisurely stroll pace. There was an incline right before you reach the overlook, but keep at it! You'll be rewarded with a grand view + seating area to bask in the sun & set up a lil' picnic. As I'm writing this review, I'm thinking about how I'd love to go hike there again soon! Oh -- side note: the sky was super clear that day, we got to see a plane write letters in the sky (a proposal)! read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Gorgeous :) - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

This is truly an eye opening(if you're not awake by the time you hiked to the outlook) hike. My group of friends and I are avid hikers I would say and heard great things from other people about Parker Mesa. No kidding, it's pretty awesome. Apparently there's two different routes you can take to get to the outlook. One is fairly short, total 4-5 miles-Paseo Miramar. The other common trail is about 7 miles-Los Liones. My friends and I took the Paseo Miramar route. Keep in mind though, the Paseo Miramar route have limited parking and you will have to drive through a neighborhood. So if you plan to take the shorter route, come early. We got there around 9:00 AM and was lucky enough score a parking spot. The hiking trail is very easy, very wide trail and nicely marked so you won't have any trouble getting there. There are a lot of hikers along the way there and back. We also saw a lot of people with backpacks training for possibly longer hiking trips. There's some incline along the way. This is truly a good hike/good workout if you're not some hardcore backpackers/hikers. You can sure do a lot of catch up with your buddies too. CANNOT BRING DOGS- but we do see a few. Just keep an eye out for park rangers :) Unfortunately when my friends and I went, it was a very cloudy morning so we were not able to catch the ocean view but I can imagine on a good day, it would be SUPERB. Definitely returning for that view! read more

One of the best hike near malibu Go early during summer time Definitely use the restroom near the gate Love how everything is so lush and green Wow I mean wow very peaceful Very crowded on weekends but worth every step read more

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The Parker Mesa Overlook view is simply breathtaking. We took the Trippet Ranch Trailhead to get here. You can also take Los Leones to get here which is a longer hike. The total round trip is roughly 6.7 miles. Expect to spend a good chunk of your day hiking here. It was about 4 hours total for us. The hike to the overlook is pretty straightforward. You should not get lost because there are a ton of signs pointing you in the right direction. You are out the in open for a good amount of the hike so bring sunscreen. Getting to the overlook is mostly incline so going back is a lot easier. Once you reach the top, the view of the pacific is amazing. Great for photos. Make sure you take a bench picture! If you have the stamina for this long of a hike, it is totally worth the 3+ miles trek up! read more

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I started on the Paseo Miramar trail. It's a pretty steep hike but worth the view. Just a couple yards into the hike there's a bunch of spots to just sit and admire the view if you don't want to hike to the end. It took me about 45 mins to get to the top. When you see the porta-potty you're close to the actual overlook. read more

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Tucked away between some gorgeous Malibu estates you'll find the trailhead at the very top where the road dead-ends. Roundtrip this hike is approximately 5 miles so budget accordingly. It took us about 2.5 hours total but we dilly dallied at the end for quite a while taking pictures etc. For the most part this is a fairly easy hike. Not too many steep inclines but for extra burn of course you can do some short sprints. The trail is wide and not very rocky but especially if you're going for a night hike you need to be mindful of the divots and large crevices along the way and maybe bring a head lamp. For the most part though it's a lovely stress-free hike with many flatter planes perfect for holding hands and speed-skipping along while singing "We're Off to See the Wizard". Also beware the random bunch of red-orange threads (that look like wiring but are really just frayed rope) firmly rooted underground smack in the middle of the trail (I think it's a bomb!) For wildlife we saw bunnies, birdies, deer, and a couple of children. A yellow sign at the trailhead shows a picture of an angry kitty with sharp teeth and its cute little claws out so I think that means "beware of mountain lions" but we never saw any THANK GOD. Once the sun went down though you can bet Miss Paranoid here kept turning around to see if anything was stalking along behind us. Once you get to the overlook there are 2 little wooden benches and a horse hitching post. If you time it right you'll see stunning sunset views simultaneously with gorgeous moon light and beautifully eerie layers of fog creeping up the canyons like we did. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - bunny sighting - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

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If you have the stamina for inclines this is the hike for you. If you don't have the stamina for inclines still do it. I started at the Los Liones trail which is nice but wasn't very challenging decided to keep going. Barely halfway through I wanted to give up but I am glad I didn't. I hate doing trails with lots of incline especially when I am out of shape. But the view at the top is so worth it and rewarding. At the top there's even benches to sit on to enjoy the view. There's even a bathroom right before you reach the top. It's a really beautiful trail. I highly recommend it. On the way back down you have the view of the ocean to look at. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Just a spectacular view of the ocean, Santa Monica bay, downtown, LA basin and even Mt. Baldy. We went on a Monday when the last of the rains stopped on Thursday. To get to the overlook, we took the Trippet Ranch trailhead, which is 2.8 miles from start to Parker Mesa Overlook - total of 5.6 miles roundtrip. You wind south through the East Topanga Fire Road on this trail and it's a smooth trail with some gradual inclines. The trail is wide and clearly marked. Even after the rains that we had, the trail was about 98% dry with some occasional mud puddles. I always love hiking after a rain as it clears out the LA smog and you can see how clearly all the way to Mt. Baldy from the ocean. People are friendly on the trail and also courteous. We each brought a liter of water and some snacks. The hike to and from the overlook took us 80 minutes each way. We finished the trail in 3 1/2 hours taking in the view for a good half hour. Well worth it. There's another trail to Parker Mesa overlook from Los Leones, which is 3.5 miles. It's so much fun to be able to hike different trails around Topanga State Park and see how they all connect up! read more

I normally do not review many of our hiking adventures simply because we usually only go only once and move onto the next one. But this is one of my favorites. This was my first trail that I was introduced to 3 years ago when I was sorta out of shape (read I stopped going to the gym and turned into a squishy cupcake) I hated this trail so much because everyone else could just zip up these simple inclines but not me I had to take so many breaks it was ridiculous. I remember at one point a super chubby girl and her friends walked past me and were able to all go up an incline like it was nothing! (RAWR) After our half way rest period on a bench over looking Santa Monica I pep talked myself into finishing strong, which I did! This hike is beautiful at every twist and turn. There are other trails you can take leading up to the overlook which is awesome. This past weekend we decided to take our hiking buddies Harmonie T. and Lenny K. with us on another hiking adventure. We arrived at 5:00pm despite all the weather warnings that were happening we went. And what we got were gorgeous views and cooler weather! We parked at los liones trail parking and hiked our way up. The inclines were not to bad just be careful of the narrowness of the trail and the rocks. On our adventure we saw a barefoot hiker (ouch rocks and red ants), various people hiking in jeans and a couple who must have been on their first date because the poor girl had on a dress and ankle boots. I was happy to be able to get through this hike not having to stop as much and was able to get up all the inclines without any issue. Totally proud of Harmonie, she stuck it out and finished strong!!! read more

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4.5 stars. If it were a bit tougher, it would be 5 stars in my book! This hike is 7.3 miles round trip with 1,292' elevation gain/loss. The trail is single file and mostly shaded for the first 1.5 miles, then the trail opens up to the elements and arrives at a bench, with breathtaking views overlooking the beach below. At this point the trail becomes a wide, smooth, dirt fire road with minimal rock under foot and no shade. At least during spring time, everything is so green and lush. It is quite a beautiful hike for the entire journey. However, during the heat of summer, the color may be lacking and it probably is not as picturesque along the way. On the ascent, the hike has areas where it is steeper than others , but overall it's not difficult. However, there are many chances along the way to take steeper trails instead of following the fire road. You will see multiple, small trails that go up and over hills instead of traveling around them. Take the opportunity if you want a better, steeper climb. Eventually, the trails will join the fire road, so there is no real worry about getting lost. Once you near your destination, you will see a sign directing you to continue 0.5 miles further. The overlook also has benches and the same, breathtaking views. parking - free street parking in the residential area at the beginning of the trail read more

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Friend and I started 2015 on a strong note by handling this beautiful 7 mile round trip trail at Topanga State Park. We parked near the entrance of Los Liones Canyon on Sunset and PCH. Right after the entrance gate there will be a couple of public restrooms. Use it beforehand! The trail is strenuous with very little shade. There's lots of uphill parts. Bring water. Wear sunscreen. Once you get to the top it's quite rewarding. Views of Malibu, pacific coast and even DTLA is breathtaking! We stayed 'til sunset and it was absolutely beautiful! The skies had gorgeous shades of pink, purple, blue, orange, and red. I will definitely be back on this trail soon. read more

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Um.. Hello??? If you haven't been here yet, you don't know what you're missing out. This is one fantabulous hike + overlook of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica, and all the little beach cities around. It's soooooooooooooooooooooo gorgeous. This was a continuation of the Los Liones Canyon hike (you hang a left somewhere and continue on, etc). Just don't follow my directions, because I'll get you lost. teehee. Do make sure you go with someone that knows this route or has somewhat a sense of direction...or plenty of maps. Your phone won't have any reception, so at least a GPS that can go off the grid. It's about 3+ miles up, 7ish miles RT. Once you get up there - LOVE. I'm not a nature girl, but it just makes me feel so alive and thankful to be alive and be able to to hike up and see this. Make sure you have ample water, hydration drinks, and snacks... there are no watering holes, convenience store, or someone selling water along the way (hmm, gives me a idea...) naaaaaaah. :) read more

This hike is barely over 7 miles total from Los Liones Trailhead to the Parker Mesa Overlook and back. (3.5 up and 3.5 back down) It is an easy hike with gradual inclines, nothing too steep. We parked on the street near the already full small parking lots. I loved this hike, many beautiful views on the way up. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

I went by myself on a weekday, so traffic and parking were not an issue. I parked just before the park entrance off Entrada as to not pay for parking. I started at the old fire road and was able to turn off Google maps shortly after, as the trail was clearly marked. In total, it was about 7-8 miles, round trip, on a beautiful Southern California day. I've been on many hikes in Southern California, so I would consider a beginner to moderate level of difficulty. There are some inclines but they only steadily increase, nothing dramatic. I took one water bottle, which was sufficient. Definitely bring sunscreen. The view is spectacular. I suggest going on a clear day, if possible, so you can see not only the view of downtown LA but also the surrounding mountain ranges. When all is said and done, it took me less than 2 hours at a pretty swift pace. Definitely going to repeat this adventure. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

If you want a great workout with terrific views of the coast - this is the hike! My boyfriend and I parked down at the entrance at Los Liones and hiked the 1.5 miles to the first lookout. From there it was about another 2 miles up the mountain to the very top. There are great views the entire way up so if you have to stop and turn around you don't miss out. There are lots of people on the trail so it's comfortable to hike on your own or with a group. Tips: - Parking: There's lots of free parking off Los Liones Dr without any time restrictions. - Earlier the better: There's little shade on the trail and the sun beats off the hillside so it can get pretty hot if you go between 12-4pm. - Be prepared: Pack snacks, water and sunscreen so you don't get too beat. Also wear sturdy shoes since there is a lot of loose gravel. - Feel the burn: The first 1.5 miles isn't too strenuous but after that it's straight uphill for about 2 miles. I'm in good shape but was getting pretty winded. It took us from 12-3pm to park, hike and enjoy the view. Make sure to bring a camera and you're set! read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Made it to the top! - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

One of the best views of Los Angeles by day or by night! We hiked to the Parker Mesa Overlook from the Los Liones Canyon which wasn't too hard. The elevation gain was not noticeable at all for either of us (although my friend did end up napping at one of the benches when we reached the top =)). The view at the top is simply gorgeous on a clear day. You can see the entire coastline and even Downtown Los Angeles! We got here around sunset and stayed till the sun went down so we could take in the amazing city of lights. We also stopped on the trail going down to do some stargazing (romantic I know). I just wished we had brought flashlights as we had to rely on a trusty iPhone flashlight to help us navigate back through the canyon. We even had a kind stranger snap an awesome candid picture of us on one of the benches, which turned out fantastic. Definitely coming back to do this again! read more

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Stumbled here accidentally from the Los Liones trail, and was I glad I did! Around 7 miles round trip with 3/5 difficulty. Parking is free from Los Liones trailhead but $10 from Trippet Ranch (closer to the overlook). Gorgeous views of Malibu, surrounding mountains, and the beach! Most of the trail is exposed so may be better for cooler days. Exposed trail = great views and easy to follow (wide in most areas and joggable). I was actually here at night too and you can see parts of LA. Cool thing is that this trail has steeper "options" along the main fire road that are short or visible enough that you don't lose the main trail. read more

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This is in my opinion the best hiking trail I have been on to date. The hike is a nice workout but not to hard. There are always tons of people on it so don't worry about hiking it alone. I'm sure you will meet someone cool along the way up or down. The overlook is probably the best view you can get. You can see Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, LA, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, etc! It's amazing!!! read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Amazing day :) - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Bring your water. Wear your sunscreen, sunglasses and hat. I would get here before 9a to ensure a good parking spot. There's a bathroom close to the entrance so go before because there is no place to go after that even if you were willing to pop a squat. The hike to the bench where the overlook is, is a good warmup. The view of the beach is awesome. Then I'd recommend going up further past the wide roads and sprint up the steep part of the trail (on the right up a crack). Then I'd recommend trail running the whole way back at an easy pace. This way, people will move for you and the feet turnover is quicker than walking and watching every step downhill. We hiked about 5 miles total. I'd recommend it to everyone. I saw parents with toddlers walking and babies in ergo baby carriers. Everyone can hike to the bench no matter what your fitness or size. The fashion choices on LA trails are different from SF trails. I saw girls with full makeup, aviators, flashy workout clothes, and even some leftover Coachella gear (think bright orange halter bikini top and tattoos). read more

Parking is pretty easy - you start off in a residential area, and I've never had trouble finding street parking (yes, free!). The trail is well-marked and wide, so there aren't really any big safety concerns. I've done this hike several times with my partner in crime. It's a great distance for us - 2.6 miles each way - with a pretty consistent incline on the way up that provides a good workout. Beautiful views of the Pacific along the way as well as at the top. There are a couple benches at the overlook to rest and enjoy the view. After 4 years of togetherness and countless hikes, he proposed at the gorgeous Parker Mesa Overlook, so it'll always be 5 stars in my book :) :) :) read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

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I hiked this earlier today with a friend of mine. Mind. Blown. We arrived at the trailhead at approximately 5:10AM and proceeded along the trail, arriving at the overlook at about 6:05. From then on, it was just an amazing moment after amazing moment. I can't wait to come back here for sunset. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Sunrise, November 24th, 2013 - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Great hike. Came here on a Thursday morning and there was plenty of empty parking lots (not sure how crowded it is on a weekend). Easy to find as well with googlemaps. Once you park on the right, just follow the path up towards the mountains (away from PCH). There are bathrooms, water fountains, and trash cans at the start of the hike, as well as a posted map. The hike is on a sturdy, sandy path that provides occasional shade here and there. There's a mix of nice greenery, pretty flowers, and cool plants along the way. The best part if the view at the top. You get about a 270 degree view of Los Angeles. To the left you can see downtown LA and to the right you can see the tip of Malibu. You can also see planes descending towards LAX. There's a single, large bench at the top where you can rest, pray, meditate, or do whatever it is that you do. Roundtrip the hike was about 6 miles and was not too strenuous. P.S. there were a few people running this trail too for those who want to train or get a workout in. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - View from the top - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Came on a Sunday but it was kind of hazy. The view was gorgeous nonetheless. It cleared up when we got to the top thankfully. Great views. The hike itself wasn't as easy as i thought. About 6 miles round trip if you just want to go to Parker Mesa View. They do have other hikes that go further if you want. definitely worth it! Note : go on a clear day. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

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The Overlook provides one of the best views of LA. The hike up (and down, and up, and down) can be long and strenuous, but the elevation is only 800 ft. I saw plenty of people jogging when we took the fire trail. Altogether, you'll have shade for about 1 mile, but you'll be in the sun for the other 5. (RT) So make sure to hydrate and bring plenty of liquids. My favorite part about this hike is all the little teaser views - you'll see all of Pacific Palisades, peaks of the ocean, plenty of canyon views. It makes the hike more interesting. And of course, once you get to Parker Mesa, you'll find that the hike was DEFINITELY worth it. On a clear day, you can see all the way out to Catalina. There's also a couple of benches, perfect for a celebratory picnic. Sometimes I forget how awesome LA is, but places like Parker Mesa reminds me of how lucky we are to live here. read more

This is hands down, the most AMAZING scenic view in all of Southern California! The hike itself is nothing spectacular - 2.6 miles each way of rocky dirt trails, with a few inclines, but nothing too steep. Expect to be in the sun for 90% of the trail, so bring lots of water, and wear lots of sunscreen! The one major downside to this hike was... the very unattractive wife-beater tan lines that I got during it. :( Oh yeah, watch out for the "horned lizards" or "horny toads"! According to wikipedia, their defense mechanism is to squirt blood from their eye, up to a distance of five feet!!! WTF! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Horned_lizard_defense.JPG read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

I have done this hike multiple times but only at night with full moonlight, which it is great for since it is a very well-maintained fire road to the top. It is also great for groups since the trail is so spacious. The view at the top overlooking the Santa Monica bay with the moon hanging above is simply amazing. Other than some oak-shaded parts in the beginning, I don't even need a flashlight with the moonlight flooding the open trail...some nights it has felt like I'm hiking into the sun the moon is so bright! I've seen deer multiple times, which is always a treat. I have been on a couple of windy nights which made the peak quite unpleasant since there is nothing to block you from the ocean wind up there. But on other nights when the weather is mild, you will definitely want to hang up there for a bit. Take a light jacket because even though you get hot hiking up, you'll cool off fast once you stop for a bit at the peak. I think it is about ~6mi round trip, so plan for 2-3 hours depending on how fast you want to go. There are some pretty steady inclines (both ways), but I think most people should be able to handle them without too much difficulty. read more

Parker Mesa Overlook - Full moon hike view! - Hiking Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Really enjoyed this hike. My gf and I decided to go hiking early on Saturday morning. Perhaps to even catch the sunrise at the top of the hike. We overslept and didn't start the hike until maybe 7:45AM. Parking was in the residential area near the trailhead. We just followed the trail and some time in between, wondered if we were lost. Finally made it to the top and it was beautiful. The sun wasn't out because there was a storm rolling through LA. So off in the distance, we could see the lightning off in the distance. The view of the ocean was beautiful and relaxing. A couple of benches up there as well. There are a bunch of lizards and even fire ants so be careful of those. Also, the little gnats/flies were annoying. I felt like they just hovered around my ears since the beginning of the hike even though I was constantly just brushing them away. Nonetheless, a nice hike. Took about 4 hours round trip? Well, we did stop for quite a lot of photos. And took in the scenery at the top. read more