Runyon Canyon hits that perfect sweet spot between a solid workout and prime people-watching. It is practically the quintessential LA lifestyle experience rolled into one trail--sweating it out under the California sun while looking out over the entire city. read more

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As a tourist in LA, I want to give my fellow tourists a guide for first time visitors to the famous Runyon. Please skip if it is not your first time visit. 1. The PAVED FIRE LANE is very beginner friendly and dog friendly, BUT you are essentially walking in a spriral uphill with absolutely no shade. So think about this as an eternal inclined walk. This is a good daily trail to be in Zone 2 heart rate for at least 1 hour. Go downhill is very easy. 2. If you want a more challenging hike, then do the EAST TRAIL (intermediate) or WEST TRAIL (hard). Both have steep stairs at some points. You can combine 3 trails as a loop. The map at the entrance is very helpful. 3. Regardless which trails you choose, expect to spend 2-3 HOURS if you're determined to finish an entire loop while taking some pictures. 4. There are 3 entrances, but if it is your first time here, go to the FULLER ENTRANCE. 5. There is no designated parking lot. If you drive, you must drive around and find street parking. You need patience, good eyes, and quick reactions to read LA street parking signs. Every street I turned to has different rules about parking. DO NOT PARK on streets with NO PARKING ANYTIME or 2 HOURS parking, because it is not enough time to finish the trail. Some have NO PARKING MONDAY/TUESDAY STREET CLEANING. These are the best and closest ones to park, but you must avoid the street cleaning time window (either 11am-2pm or 12pm-3pm). 6. Very clean trails with some dog poo here and there. 7. Two RESTROOMS at the FULLER ENTRANCE. 8. It is a nice trail with view of the LA skyline, but honestly the skyline is very far away. You will have some good photos, but all photos from all angles eventually look the same. This is a nice trail if you have spare time, but absolutely not a must do tourist activity. read more

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I really would love to bring my little Jack Russell TerrierChihuahua here but every dog here is off leash and they are big dogs so I cannot walk this trail. It's very unfortunate all the way down to the opening of the park. Every dog is off leash running and running up to my dog who is terrified she's just a baby. Is this an off leash park I thought I saw signs that's why I brought her here that dogs must be on leash. Is there anybody to monitor this will somebody please let me know and then I'll find somewhere else. read more

Great place to go hiking and to take in the views. Panoramic views of DTLA. The elevation changes are killer on your legs but totally worth it if you're looking to get a workout. read more

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One of my favorite places to hike. Scenic views of LA, parking can be tricky but worth the visit, especially if you want to catchup with friends while burning some calories l! read more

Runyon Canyon Park - Hiking Trail - Dog Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Runyon Canyon is not a hike. It's a networking event with incline. People come here to "get fresh air," but mostly to be seen surviving mild elevation. Everyone is either wearing sunglasses, AirPods, or matching also sets. If you enjoy hikes where Dogs outnumber children & Influencers outnumber trees this is the place for you! read more

I love Runyon Canyon! It's very popular and often quite busy, but today it's raining slightly and almost no one is here, great to have it all to myself! Unique views today with the clouds hanging low, really gave the park a different feel and sometimes you could imagine being high in the mountain wilderness... read more

Runyon Canyon Park - One of several new information signs in the park, this one showing the skyline with downtown in background - Dog Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Safe park with friendly vibes, great views, and intense but beginner-friendly trails! read more

Runyon Canyon Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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dare I say...mid? Maybe because I have been living in Washington state for a while, but hiking here was so underwhelming. not a difficult hike at all, so nice if you are learning to trail run for a marathon. but, the view was not all that special :/ maybe because the LA smog taking over the view lol, but the hike to Hollywood sign was much better than this one. you can barely see the sign here and the overlook with Los Angeles area was not the best sight that this city has to offer. at least parking was safe, free, and easy. read more

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If you have a dog, this hike will be your and your furry doggie's happy place. If you do not have a dog, you should probably rent one (yes, you can really do that) so you don't feel left out. This is a fairly big canyon in the middle of Hollywood. If that sounds weird, that is because it is a little weird. Overall, this is a decent hike, much of which is on a paved road with pretty cool views at times. There are also more challenging sections of the trail you can take, if you wish. There is no shade anywhere so keep that in mind. Also, you will never really feel like you are away from it all because there are tons of people, all those cute dogs, and houses and power lines and helicopters and such. But some of the views of the city (and the Hollywood Sign) are very nice. And you can't beat the convenience of having the opportunity to hike right smack in the middle of Hollywood. And no, I didn't see any celebrities. There are three entrances. We chose the Fuller entrance and by an absolute miracle, found parking about a block away. At least at this entrance, all of the parking is residential. Watch those parking signs, though, unless you don't mind donating to the city. For a fairly easy hike in the middle of Hollywood, I would return. Next time, I am bringing a dog. read more

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Great trail for walking or running! Very runnable. Don't even look for parking on Fuller after like 7 am, just find it on nearby neighborhood streets like Camino Palmero and Vista. There are porta potties just past the entrance on Fuller! If you want soft surface, go straight; if you want paved road, take a left before the porta potties. You can make it a loop or out and back. Very cool views of the city and hills. read more

Lovely walk especially with how green it is right now a few weeks after the rain. You can see so much at the top too. Super quiet and peaceful, I definitely recommend this hike! read more

The Runyon Canyon Park is really an amazing place. It is highly recommended for walking, a stroll, a hike or even a run. I enjoy this hike more than the Griffith Park & Observatory hike. There are wonderful views of LA, Hollywood sign, & the hills. Even the ocean and islands on a clear day. This is more of a mature crowd of joggers and hiker that are (mostly) all super respectful. This is an essential LA hiking experience! Parking can be a challenge, but well worth it. There are a few entrances, some easier to park at than other entrances. I am fortunate that this is in my backyard, and I just need to really leave the apartment and head to the gate, so I don't end up wandering around Hollywood. There are lots of well-behaved dogs. A lot of them off leash, but when they are trained well, this is no big deal. It makes me want to get some dogs again. The trails are well laid out. Some parts of the trails are paved, some are just packed dirt, some are looser dirt and you need to pay attention to your steps. No really gnarly climbs, but there are some stair sets and climbs that can get the heart racing and the legs burning.   Restrooms - Yes, they are at the head of the trail Dog-friendliness - So many wonderful doggies Picnic area - Small spots abound read more

Runyon Canyon Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Super scenic hike option in LA! We went around 8am on Saturday morning and were lucky to find a spot at the Mulholland entrance but that little lot is SUPER tiny. We were able to do a loop starting at the paved trail and going all the way down and back up via the east trail. There were lots of people and LOTS of dogs, majority of them not on a leash so just keep an eye out to not step on any tails. The hike is super scenic with views of the city and the Hollywood sign. There's benches as well that you can take a breather at with a beautiful view. It was about 3 miles round trip so a great start to the day! read more

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One of my favorite hikes. It's a total scene here but typical for LA. I miss this spot. Would take my dog and when sometimes the double stroller when my kids were small. Talk about a crazy workout. read more

Went for a hike here with my friend since she said its one of the best ones in the area. Overall it was a pretty easy hike and also enjoyable. Would recommend to go if you haven't yet. read more

Felt very quintessential LA for finally doing the Runyon Canyon hike. I went with a friend who is a pro at this hike so I didn't have to plan ahead. Went on a Thursday afternoon and found street parking pretty quickly near the entrance of the park. Went along the trail for a couple of hours where I was treated with cute dogs, the Hollywood sign, sunflowers, and amazing LA views. It was a pretty hot day and not much shade so I can thank Runyon for the tan I've been trying to get all year long. read more

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Beautiful views along the way up and Gorgeous photo ops at the top. We parked on Franklin (be sure to read parking signs on either side) and entered the gate at Vista. There is a trash can and a water fountain that currently does not work. Off leash area starts past the next set of gates all the way to the top taking the fire road route. There are 2 more water fountains along the way to the peak. Also 3 benches. One at the 2nd water fountain, another at the top on the right and another top on left. The fire road is paved steady uphill, great workout. We have not yet checked out the dirt trail off shoots yet. No shade. Trash cans along the way. read more

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Classic LA trail that is a pain to find parking. Best to get an Uber or Lyft or attempt street parking nearby. We went in the afternoon and got lucky and snagged a spot when someone else was leaving. There's a paved trail and a dirt trail in some areas. The views are great and is very nice when it's a clear day. Pretty city views and you can see the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory from here too. read more

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After participating in a group meal in the San Gabriel Valley, I decided to drive over to the Hollywood Hills and tackle this trail famous for celebrity sightings. Runyon Canyon is a 160-acre park located at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. There were several entry points. I began from the trailhead on the north end at the Mulholland Entrance. A dedicated dirt parking lot was adjacent to this entrance. It probably gets filled quickly if you start in the morning. Several spots were available when I arrived after lunch. A hiking app estimated that it would take approximately 100 minutes to complete the 2.7-mile loop. Most of the path was unpaved. A couple of service roads did cut through the canyon which provided a sturdy surface for hikers and their pets. It was cloudy that afternoon which was good because there was minimal shade available on the trail. The overcast conditions did obscure the views of the Hollywood sign and downtown LA skyline though. I went counterclockwise and walked the West Ridge Trail first. There were some surprisingly steep ascents and descents on this ridge. Near one of the peaks, I encountered a couple of Western Pacific Rattlesnakes doing a tangle (mating or fighting?). These two reptiles were the largest rattlers I have ever seen on a hike. They were intimidating with their movements and caused a few folks to retreat in the direction from which they came. As I reached the bottom of the park on the south end, there were two more entrances, Fuller and Vista. Even though multiple signs stated there were no restroom facilities, a few porta-potties were available in this section of the park. The return portion of the circuit took me on the East Ridge Trail. It had better looks of the Hollywood sign and hillside mansions. There were sufficient slopes to get the heart pumping. The elevation gain ranged from 757 to 777 feet according to the app. The trails were maintained well and not littered with poop which tells me that most pet owners were responsible with pick-up duty. Dogs were allowed off-leash in designated areas, however from what I observed, plenty of pooches were roaming free. Between the convenient proximity to West Hollywood and the lovely views, I can see why Runyon Canyon Park is such a popular spot for hiking and running. read more

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Amazing hike, amazing views, and it was just an absolute amazing day! Took my pup out for stroll/hike at Runyon Canyon and it was actually one of my favorite hikes because it was a good amount of incline and all worth it for the beautiful view of the city. There seems to be different paths you can take because at one point, I did see a set of stairs. Next time I visit again, I would take those steps and see where it leads! I think in total, I walked about 3 miles round trip which is not bad at all. I went on a Sunday around 11 am and there were a lot of foot traffic and paw traffic (tons of dogs out there). Many pups which were off leash but all super friendly. It's a good family hike, friend hang out, or even a good incline run. Overall, awesome place and the best views! read more

Runyon Canyon Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Nice park with great views of the city and mountains. It has trails that are well-maintained and looped which makes it easy to explore. Parking can be found near by the apartment streets. read more

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Perfect location for an intense outdoor workout while still being in the city. Yes, it get crowded on weekends but I think that's part of the appeal. I definitely work up a sweat running up. Great views of l.a. throughout the hike. Parking is very tricky with no-parking areas all around. I always have to read the parking signs closely so as not to get a ticket! read more

This park has 3 entrances off of Mulholland, Fuller and Vista. Mulholland entrance has a free (for now) parking lot for about 30 cars. It gets filled up pretty fast on the weekend mornings about 8 am but cars seem to be coming and going at pretty regular intervals. Fuller has NO parking lot and NO street parking by the gate. Your next try should be Hillside that is the first left off of Fuller heading down the gate. Finding a spot there is a rare but occurrence. If you had no luck, head down and make the next right to La Brea and then the next right on Franklin. Franklin usually has some spots, especially at Fuller and Camino Palmero that have dedicated street parking lots for about 15 cars each. Your last resort is to take Franklin till last intersection, made a left and park on Sierra Bonita and that usually always has parking. Vista entrance is pedestrian traffic only, NO parking. Tow away signs. The park has 3 trails. #1. The fire (paved) road starts at Vista entrance and goes up to Mulholland gaining about 800 ft elevation in about 1.5 miles which is a decent workout. It's the most popular trail that gets the most traffic. It's where you could spot a celebrity, supposedly. It has 4 water fountains at the beginning (haven't been working for at least a year), at the end and two in the middle with each fountain having 3 levels of faucets and bowls: higher up for adults, lower down for kids and ground level for dogs. The water quality has been pretty ok. The views at this trail on the way up are good but not the best. I personally enjoy the views on the way down much better. It has 3 benches along the route which are rarely occupied. The one by the P6 marker has a great night city and is a perfect romantic spot because it sits about 30 ft off the trail. Fuller entrance starts with a dirt trail that connects to the fire road trail and the east trail. It has 2 water fountains, 1 by the entrance and 1 by the chat bench behind the garden. There's a pretty big yoga park where people gather for yoga, picnics, photo sets or just solo sunbathing and book-reading. Behind the yoga park there's an even more secluded tree shaded area, where you can also sit and read a book or just lay down. #2. is the east trail and the 2nd most popular trail. Probably most popular by the views. It's a dirt trail that has steps but since the trail has been reshaped by the floods the stairs are not helping that much when you're hiking uphill and descending can get downright dangerous. That's why I strongly suggest you use this trail uphill only. Trail shoes/boots will help you a lot with traction and may save you from losing it in the loose dirt. This trail has a beautiful view of the city, especially at night at so called inspiration point marker E3. It has a pretty big concrete unfinished playground the legend says it was supposed to be a basketball court but the people living nearby halted the development because the wind would pick up the construction noise. The trail has a segment fence used to demarcate the private land adjacent to the trail where people leave their locks and pictures of deceased people or animals. 2 water fountains in the beginning and the end. #3 is the west trail and the least popular trail that gets mostly hikers enthusiasts and anyone who is looking for a good workout. Pretty steep, and pretty technical on the way up or down. Hiking shoes/boots strongly suggested. Descending was scary the first couple of times! No water fountains. Variety of all kinds of pretty good views. read more

Runyon Canyon Park - West trail - Dog Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Sure ... this is the most touristy, centrally located canyon where many come to be seen, just as much to hike. However, it is mostly paved and the trails are clearly marked. It's impossible to get lost and although there are steep inclines in places, nobody who is moderately out of shape or scared of heights needs to worry. This is vanilla with fantastic views. In fact, if you can go at sunset/dusk, it might be a little dark going down but the views of Los Angeles all lit up is like no other view you'll see. The one thing I really have to say is that there are a lot of self absorbed assholes who blare their music from speakers while they walk up the mountain. Like everyone else wants to hear their bullshit gangstah rap. You selfish pricks should know better than to go out into nature and subject everyone to your 20-year old terrible taste in music which nobody but you wants to hear. Put in a pair of earbuds or get off the fucking mountain! Ditto to the giant flaming assholes who let their dogs off the leash and then don't pick up their shit and leave it front and center on the trail. It would be awesome to go full wicker man on these douches with a swarm of bees and a head cage. Rant over ... Runyon is an institution. You have to be able to walk up pretty good inclines to get to the view section ... we saw one tourist doubled over puking up yellow bile at the top of the canyon. Stay classy Minnesota. However, if you are in LA for a few days, by the second or third time you do this in a week, it's really quite easy. Just make sure not to wear your best sneakers because they will get very dusty on parts. There are not many water stations as you climb ... or trash cans. Generally, tourists and locals are surprisingly good about not littering. You don't see trash everywhere, which is shocking in LA. If you really want to see the amazing views with the Hollywood signs and the valley on one side and the city on the other, you can drive into the parking lot in the back of Runyon (is it on Mulholland?) and if you can find a spot, walk out on a straight paved path to see the views. The hike is more fun, but this pathway allowed our relative, who is not in hike shape, to see the views. If you are really adventurous, you can climb up to the top of the canyon, near the electric tower, and see panoramic 360 degree views. I always tell myself I am going to try other canyons and hiking trails ... but wind up back at Runyon because its easy, comfortable, free and the views are amazing. read more

I was born and raised in Los Angeles and have lived here continuously since 2010. I'm apparently a lazy slob, though, because I only checked Runyon Canyon off my list a few weeks ago, when I went for a morning hike with my husband. It was, of course, 100% his idea. We found street parking a bit south of the park, and the hike up had me worried, as my thighs were already burning by the time we got to the entrance. Thankfully, this was the hardest part. We meant to hike up one of the ridges, which offer he best views, but we ended up on the fire road trail. This was, it turns out, a relief for me, as the fire road trail is less steep than the ridges, and paved all the way through. It also looked to be at least as popular as the other trails. We saw more people on our way up than on the ridge trail we took to get down. The hike was pleasant and not terribly difficult. Even I was able to do it with minimal suffering. There were lots of people and dogs out, definitely a fit, attractive West Hollywood crowd. Not a lot of kids, and I didn't see a single halmoni decked out in hiking gear, though the trail would be pretty good for the old folk. It took us about an hour and a half to go up the fire road and down one of the ridges, where we enjoyed some views while trying not to tumble to our deaths. We felt energized and accomplished going into lunch, and we talked about how we should do this kind of thing more often. I don't know that we'll become hot Angeleno hikers in our middle age, but it would be nice to come back to Runyon Canyon more than once every 38 years. read more

Me and my girlfriend we're here in LA for my birthday weekend we had decided to hike the Hollywood sign on my birthday which was May 8. We did the hike around nine in the morning so it wouldn't be too hot beautiful views of Los Angeles and the hike took about 2 1/2 to 3 hours Shout out to Anthony who is our tour guide during this hike he did amazing job and he also took beautiful photos of me and my girlfriend while we were visiting in LA read more

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Excellent hiking. Wonderful views. Terrible parking situation. I love the views. The fun, friendly people walking their dogs. Once you are there it is wonderful. BUT trying to park and figure out if your car will be towed before you get back - a bit stressful. read more

We hiked with rescue dogs and it was all of our first time hiking this park. It was a nice park with a lot of people and it was very dog friendly. However, there was barely any shades or trees. A lot of dogs were off leash and very sociable. Hiking with dogs is a different experience but fun. There were multiple views and it was breathtaking. Overall, it was a nice hike for a Saturday morning. read more

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A lovely hike where you interact with very interesting people. The best part is all the dogs to meet.

A decent dog-friendly park with a nice overlook of the city. I felt pretty safe walking here since this hike is popular in LA. It's also easy to navigate and you either have the option of following the fire road or the dirt road. The website says that the park closes at sunset but my friends and I noticed that the door was actually still left open at 8pm. I'm pretty sure you have to find parking, but the nice thing is that it's free and you don't need a permit if you manage to get a spot. The hike also has plenty of trash cans, benches, and water fountains. read more

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Such a fun/iconic little hiking area. Parking can be a bit outrageous since it's WeHo so it gets tight, however, I think its worth it especially for your doggies! read more

One of my go-to hiking places in the area whenever a friend or relative from out of town is visiting LA! Short, relatively easy hike that is essentially a big loop. Plus: - Dog/pet friendly - At the entrance, there are snacks, water, energy drinks, and more available for purchase via the honor system - Pretty views of DTLA, Hollywood, LA... - Hike is short, only takes ~1 hour even if you are a slower walker - Cute gate you can place your own personal lock if you like to! (See pictures) Minus - Very difficult to find parking (street parking only) - Depending on the time of day/week, LOTS of people (but that's the beauty of being in LA, right?) - No shade Overall, a fun place to take anyone, a pet, an acquaintance, a friend. I feel like this is a must-do hike in LA. Check it out to see what you think! read more

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Of all the places we went in LA, Runyon Canyon definitely felt the most "LA." Folks here looked more ready for strut on a catwalk than a hike in a dog park. We took the most strenuous option and I'm glad we did. It's nice to get the cardio out of the way at the beginning of the day! And the steeper climb gave us lots of scenic views. I was a little nervous about the parking situation since the reviews contain so many warnings but we got lucky around 08:00 and parked near the Fuller entrance without even having to circle the block. read more

Nice place for a hike with an amazing view of downtown LA. Highly recommend checking this spot out if in the area.

Great trails !!! Many paths . Awesome views. Peace and euphoric. Worth every moment. For a great escape and epic views but also calm Surroundings. No matter which path you're taking you will always find a new adventure... experience... vibe .. nature creature and all Types of beautiful people and their dogs out and about all over the trail. For sure never a dull moment or scene. read more

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Truly one of the only "tourist attractions" in Los Angeles worth going to time and time again. A classic hiking trail that is well known to most angelenos. Sure it's not the most difficult, but it's consistent and reliable. Parking is obviously tough but if you know where to look you can usually find something. I used to live only a few blocks away from the entrance and would come regularly, but now it's a place I enjoy visiting a few times per year with some friends or my pup. read more

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My go to hiking spot for my fur babies. A nice quick 1-2 hour hike depending on your speed. Lots of shade and water fountains for those hot summer days with your fur babies. read more

This is one of those hikes that's strenuous enough to make you feel like you're getting a good workout in, but you're not absolutely dead on your deathbed by the end, AND you get a good view. I'm not gonna lie though i was a little scared for my life at some points because it's so steep. Like my shoes didn't have great traction and i thought i was gonna slide off the edge of the cliff. So worth the risk though because the views are 10/10. Also there are SOOO many off leash dogs here and they were all so cute and i didn't see any of them acting crazy, so slay. Idk if it was west coast culture shock or something but i couldn't believe how many of them were just chilling walking wherever they want. read more

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One of the most popular hiking places in LA and for good reason. There's a lot of trails to take, its pet friendly, and it has some of the best views of the city. I'd say it's a bit more challenging here than at other places, but I'm also not an avid hiker. I definitely put in a workout while I was here and explored 2 different trails. But this place is huge, so there's some trails that are more challenging than others. It can get pretty crowded here compared to the other trails I've been on, so I recommend going on the weekdays. On your way up, you can see the Hollywood sign and all of LA. It's challenging, but super worth it. There's very limited shade, so make sure to bring some water and maybe a hat. After you're done on the trail, you'll be feeling great you did it! Parking is pretty tough here because it's all street parking. Since it is usually pretty crowded, you'll have limited luck finding something nearby. But, if you go down a couple of blocks, there's some meters available. Overall, a great hike to try if you want something new with your friends! read more