Explore the best hiking trails in Palos Verdes: Scenic Coastal Trails, Ocean Views & Local Tips
The Palos Verdes Peninsula offers some of the most breathtaking coastal hiking in Southern California. Just south of Los Angeles, this stretch of preserved blufftop and canyon terrain delivers some of the best hikes featuring panoramic ocean views, wild coastal landscapes, and thoughtfully maintained trail systems.
Whether you’re searching for an easy oceanfront walk, tide pool access, or a longer scenic loop with elevation gain, the best hikes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula offer something for every pace and preference.
Below is a curated guide to the top trails — including trail length, estimated round-trip time, scenery highlights, and parking details — so you can plan your next hike with clarity and confidence.
Portuguese Bend Reserve – The Largest Trail Network in Palos Verdes
Trail Length: 1 to 5+ miles (customizable loops)
Popular Loop Distance: 3–5 miles
Round-Trip Time: 1.5 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Portuguese Bend Reserve is the crown jewel of hiking in Palos Verdes. With over 400 acres of protected open space, it features some of the best hikes in Palos Verdes with an interconnected network of trails that allow you to tailor your hike based on distance and elevation preference.
You’ll move through coastal sage scrub, rolling hills, and blufftop ridgelines with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island on clear days. In spring, wildflowers add color to the landscape, and the terrain feels wide, open, and refreshingly untouched.
This is where you go for a longer, immersive hike that captures the full character of the peninsula.
NOTE: Several trails are closed due to landslide activity. Always check the latest closings before planning your hike.
Parking Information:
Primary access is at Del Cerro Park on Crenshaw Boulevard. There is a small lot and ample metered street parking along Crenshaw. On weekends, especially mid-morning, parking fills quickly. Arriving early ensures a smoother start.
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park – Tide Pools & Coastal Cliffs
Trail Length: Approximately 1.5 to 2 miles round-trip
Round-Trip Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate (due to incline on return)
If you’re searching for tide pools in Palos Verdes, Abalone Cove delivers one of the best hikes and most scenic coastal descents in Southern California. The trail leads from the blufftop down to secluded coves and rocky shoreline formations.
The terrain is moderately steep on the way back up, but manageable for most hikers. The reward is layered scenery: rugged cliffs, sea caves, marine life in tide pools, and Catalina Island directly offshore.
For the best experience, time your visit during low tide to safely explore the pools.
NOTE: The park is subject to closure due to landslide issues and following heavy rains. Always check whether its open before visiting.
Parking Information:
There is a dedicated paid parking lot at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. It fills quickly during low tide windows and weekends. Overflow parking is limited, so checking tide charts in advance is recommended.
Ocean Trails Reserve – Easy Coastal Bluff Walk with Ocean Views
Trail Length: 2 to 3 miles (loop options available)
Round-Trip Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Ocean Trails Reserve offers one of the most accessible, well-maintained and best coastal hikes on Palos Verdes Peninsula. The path winds along the blufftops near Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, offering uninterrupted ocean views with minimal elevation change.
This trail is ideal for families, sunset walks, or anyone seeking a relaxed experience with dramatic scenery. The pathways are wide and clearly marked, and viewpoints along the route provide excellent photo opportunities.
Expect manicured trails, sweeping Pacific views, and some of the most reliable sunset vantage points in Palos Verdes.
Parking Information:
Free parking is available in the public lot adjacent to the trailhead near the golf course. Compared to other hikes on the peninsula, parking here is relatively convenient.
Forrestal Reserve – Rolling Hills & Panoramic Ridgelines
Trail Length: 2 to 4 miles depending on route
Round-Trip Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
For those looking for elevation gain and expansive inland views, Forrestal Reserve provides a slightly more challenging hiking experience.
Switchbacks lead to higher ridgelines where you’ll see the coastline stretch in both directions. The open hills, seasonal wildflowers, and quieter atmosphere make this one of the most scenic moderate hikes in Palos Verdes.
It feels less trafficked than the blufftop trails, offering a peaceful and panoramic experience.
Parking Information:
There is a small lot at the end of Forrestal Drive, along with limited street parking. Arrive early on weekends to secure a spot.
Vicente Bluffs Trail – Short Scenic Walk Near Point Vicente Lighthouse
Trail Length: About 1 mile out-and-back
Round-Trip Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
If you’re looking for a short, scenic ocean walk, Vicente Bluffs Trail offers immediate rewards. Located near Point Vicente Lighthouse, this mostly flat path runs along dramatic cliff edges with uninterrupted Pacific views.
During whale migration season (typically winter through early spring), this is one of the best land-based whale-watching spots in Southern California.
Interpretive signage along the trail adds educational context, making it ideal for visitors and locals alike.
This trail also leads onto the scenic property of Terranea Resort, which is open to the public and offers restaurants, picnicking spots, and scenic views toward Catalina Island.
Parking Information:
There is a dedicated parking lot near the lighthouse, along with additional street parking on Paseo del Mar. Parking is generally manageable outside of peak whale-watching season.
Why Hiking in Palos Verdes Is So Unique
What makes the best hikes in Palos Verdes truly exceptional is the preservation of open space. Unlike many coastal areas in Southern California, large portions of the peninsula remain protected, allowing uninterrupted views, native habitat restoration, and expansive trail systems.
And for those considering calling Palos Verdes home, these trails are more than recreational amenities. They define the lifestyle. The coastline shapes the rhythm of daily life. The preserved land ensures lasting views and enduring value.
On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, every trail leads to something beautiful — and every view reminds you why this community is so extraordinary.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal interpretation of disclosure requirements, consult a qualified California real estate attorney.
Call The Stephen Haw Group at 310.503.9886 or email [email protected] for other local area tips and recommendations.
