10 Best Family-Friendly Hikes Near Los Angeles for Kids

September 22, 2026

Los Angeles might be famous for beaches, freeways, and Hollywood, but some of Southern California's best family adventures are hidden in the mountains and canyons surrounding the city.

Within an hour or so of much of Los Angeles, families can find waterfalls, oak forests, ocean overlooks, historic movie ranches, wildlife habitats, and short nature trails that are manageable for younger hikers.

The challenge isn't finding somewhere to hike.

It's finding a trail that's actually enjoyable with kids.

For this list, we focused on hikes that offer a combination of manageable distance, interesting scenery, natural stopping points, and something memorable for children to discover along the way.

Here are 10 of the best family-friendly hikes near Los Angeles, from first nature walks to longer adventures for growing hikers.

1. Solstice Canyon Trail — Malibu

Best for: Waterfalls and first family hikes
Distance: About 2.1 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Solstice Canyon is one of the easiest hikes to recommend to families visiting Malibu.

The trail follows a creek through a surprisingly lush canyon filled with oak and sycamore trees. Along the way, kids can discover historic ruins before eventually reaching the remains of the Roberts Ranch house and a waterfall.

The National Park Service lists the main Solstice Canyon Trail at approximately 2.1 miles round trip and describes it as easy to moderate. Portions of the route include paved or wide trails, although some sections become narrower and include small creek crossings. 

It's particularly good for children because there are things to discover throughout the hike rather than one payoff at the very end.

One thing to know: Solstice Canyon is extremely popular, especially on weekends, and parking is limited. The National Park Service recommends carpooling when possible. 

2. Satwiwa Loop Trail — Newbury Park

Best for: Easy hiking and wide-open mountain views
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy

The Satwiwa Loop is an excellent choice for younger children who are ready for a real trail without committing to a long hike.

The 1.5-mile route passes through grasslands and chaparral with views toward Boney Mountain and Sycamore Canyon. The National Park Service classifies it as easy and notes that most of the trail has relatively even ground and minimal grade changes. 

Satwiwa is also more than a hiking destination. The area was preserved in part to celebrate Native American cultures, and the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center is generally open on weekends, adding an educational element to the outing. 

For families wanting to introduce children to hiking without making mileage the focus, this is one of the strongest options on the list.

3. Discovery Trail at Franklin Canyon Park — Beverly Hills

Best for: Toddlers and very young hikers
Distance: 0.3 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy

Not every family hike needs to be several miles long.

Franklin Canyon's Discovery Trail is only about 0.3 miles round trip, making it a great introduction to nature for toddlers, preschoolers, or children who are still getting comfortable on trails.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority describes the route as an easy loop through black walnut woodland along the canyon bottom. 

Franklin Canyon feels surprisingly removed from Los Angeles despite sitting between the San Fernando Valley and Beverly Hills.

Families who finish the Discovery Trail with plenty of energy can spend more time exploring the surrounding park rather than committing to a longer route from the beginning.

4. Zuma Loop Trail — Malibu

Best for: A slightly longer family hike
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

For families ready to progress beyond tiny nature loops, Zuma Canyon offers a good next step.

The Zuma Loop Trail is approximately two miles and travels along the lower slopes of Zuma Canyon through sycamore, oak, willow, and black walnut habitat.

The National Park Service rates the route from easy to moderate. 

This can be a great choice for kids who already have some hiking experience but aren't ready for a major climb.

Because Southern California trail conditions can change significantly with weather, families should always check current conditions before leaving.

5. Anne Skager Trail — Malibu Creek State Park

Best for: Gentle terrain and younger hikers
Distance: About 1.16 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy

Malibu Creek State Park contains some much more ambitious hiking routes, but families don't have to tackle them immediately.

The Anne Skager Trail runs approximately 0.58 miles each way and is generally flat, with views toward Las Virgenes Creek, Stokes Canyon, and the surrounding mountains. California State Parks identifies it as an accessible trail with picnic areas and interpretive displays along the route. 

If your children are stronger hikers, Malibu Creek provides plenty of opportunities to continue exploring.

The park currently lists the Rock Pool and Century Lake routes as easy, while the MAS*H site and Lookout Trail are considered moderate. 

That makes Malibu Creek particularly useful for families because you can return as your children's hiking abilities increase.

6. Paramount Ranch Trails — Agoura Hills

Best for: Kids who like movies and exploring
Distance: Flexible
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Sometimes the easiest way to get children excited about hiking is to choose somewhere that doesn't feel like it's just a hike.

Paramount Ranch is a great example.

The ranch has a long history as a Hollywood filming location, beginning when Paramount Pictures leased the property in 1927. Today, the National Park Service maintains several miles of easy-to-moderate trails through grasslands, oak savannah, chaparral, and riparian habitat. 

Because several routes are available, families can tailor the outing to their children's energy instead of committing to one long destination hike.

The combination of nature and movie history gives parents plenty to talk about along the way—and gives kids something besides mileage to focus on.

7. Inspiration Point at King Gillette Ranch — Calabasas

Best for: A short hike with a big view
Distance: About 1 mile round trip
Difficulty: Short but steep

King Gillette Ranch offers one of the best examples of a hike that proves distance doesn't tell the whole story.

The route to Inspiration Point is only about one mile round trip, but the trail climbs relatively steeply to a viewpoint overlooking the Las Virgenes Valley. Families can extend the adventure along the ridge if everyone still has energy.

This makes it a good progression hike for children who have already mastered flatter trails.

You get a relatively short outing while introducing young hikers to what climbing and elevation feel like.

Bring water and remember that a one-mile uphill hike can be considerably harder for little legs than a longer flat walk.

8. Temescal Gateway Park — Pacific Palisades

Best for: Canyon scenery close to the city
Difficulty: Flexible depending on route

Temescal Gateway Park is particularly noteworthy right now because it reopened in July 2026 after an 18-month closure related to the Palisades Fire and subsequent restoration work.

Families can now use the rebuilt Rivas Trail to reach scenic overlooks, while the Sunset Trail provides access toward Temescal Ridge and Topanga State Park. The park encompasses oak and sycamore canyons and offers both city and mountain scenery surprisingly close to central Los Angeles. 

Because restoration and trail conditions can continue changing, this is one destination where checking the current MRCA status before visiting is particularly important.

For families, that can also become a useful lesson: outdoor spaces aren't static. Fires, storms, restoration, and conservation all shape the places we explore.

9. Fern Dell to Griffith Observatory — Griffith Park

Best for: Iconic Los Angeles views

Few hikes combine nature and an unmistakably Los Angeles destination better than Griffith Park.

Families can begin around the Fern Dell area and follow hiking routes toward Griffith Observatory. The City of Los Angeles specifically recommends trails originating near Fern Dell or the Greek Theatre for visitors walking to the Observatory.

The reward is obvious.

Kids get a hike, sweeping views over Los Angeles, and one of the city's most famous landmarks at the end.

You can also make an entire family afternoon out of it by exploring the Observatory after the walk.

Because Griffith Park contains numerous interconnected routes, check the current park hiking map and choose a distance appropriate for your children before setting out.

10. El Dorado Nature Center — Long Beach

Best for: Wildlife and nature exploration
Distance: Up to roughly 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy

For families whose children care more about animals than mountain views, El Dorado Nature Center is an excellent alternative to a traditional hillside hike.

The preserve includes forested habitat, streams, and lakes, with a two-mile dirt trail as well as a shorter paved route. The City of Long Beach also runs children's nature programs and guided family activities at the site. 

Current trail hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with final trail entry at 4:30 p.m.; the center is closed Mondays and certain holidays. 

This is particularly good for families with younger children because the objective can simply be spotting birds, watching wildlife, and exploring rather than reaching a summit.

How to Choose the Right LA Hike for Your Kids

The "best" hike depends much more on your children than on the trail's popularity.

For toddlers or first-time hikers, something like Franklin Canyon's Discovery Trail or the Anne Skager Trail may be enough.

Once children have more experience, Satwiwa, Solstice Canyon, Zuma Canyon, or Malibu Creek can add more distance and terrain.

As they become stronger hikers, short climbs like King Gillette's Inspiration Point introduce elevation without requiring an all-day commitment.

The most useful rule is simple:

Choose the hike based on what your child has comfortably done before—not what you hope they'll be able to do today. If you're still deciding what type of route fits your family, see our guide on how to choose a family hiking trail.

What If Your Child Gets Tired?

This is where family hiking gets interesting.

A four- or five-year-old may be capable of walking several miles—but that doesn't mean their energy is predictable.

Remember that a two-mile hike away from the car can mean another two miles back.

For longer adventures, decide beforehand what you'll do if your child stops walking. Families dealing with this regularly may also find our guide to limited walking endurance in children helpful.

That may mean:

• Turning around sooner

• Choosing a shorter route

• Taking a longer rest

• Sharing carrying duties between adults

• Bringing an appropriate child carrier

For an independent walker, a carrier doesn't have to mean riding all day.

It can simply provide a backup:

Walk → Explore → Ride → Rest → Walk Again.

Where the Freeloader Child Carrier Fits

The Freeloader Child Carrier is designed for children who have moved beyond the traditional baby-carrier stage but may still need occasional help during longer family adventures.

That's particularly relevant to hikes like these.

Your child might walk the entire Discovery Trail without thinking twice.

They might hike most of Solstice Canyon independently.

Or they may reach a viewpoint and suddenly decide they're finished.

The point of bringing a carrier isn't necessarily to carry them from the parking lot.

It's to give your family another option when their energy runs out before the adventure does.

Before using any child carrier, confirm that your child meets all current manufacturer requirements and follow the appropriate fitting and usage instructions.

A Few LA Hiking Tips for Families

Southern California hiking has a few characteristics families should keep in mind.

Start earlier on hot days. Many LA trails offer limited shade and temperatures can rise quickly.

Check conditions before leaving. Wildfires, storms, restoration projects, and seasonal closures can affect trails. For example, Eaton Canyon remains in active restoration following the Eaton Fire, while Temescal Gateway only recently reopened after the Palisades Fire. 

Bring more water than you think you'll need. Kids can turn a quick hike into a long exploration session. 

Don't make the destination mandatory. If everyone has spent an hour happily exploring and your child is ready to turn around, you still had a successful hike.

The Best Family Hikes Aren't Always the Longest

Los Angeles gives families an incredible range of outdoor experiences.

You can spend 30 minutes exploring a woodland trail in the middle of the city or an afternoon following a creek toward a waterfall in Malibu.

Young children don't need huge mountains or impressive mileage to begin enjoying hiking.

They need interesting places to explore, enough time to experience them at their own pace, and parents willing to change plans when necessary.

Start small.

Explore often.

Let your kids stop for the rocks, bugs, streams, and sticks adults usually walk straight past.

Those are often the moments that turn a family hike into something they'll actually remember.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best easy hikes for kids near Los Angeles?

Good starting points include Franklin Canyon's Discovery Trail, the Satwiwa Loop, the Anne Skager Trail at Malibu Creek State Park, and Solstice Canyon. The right choice depends on your child's experience and current trail conditions.

Where can I hike with a toddler in Los Angeles?

Very short nature trails such as Franklin Canyon's Discovery Trail are useful for younger walkers. Nature centers and flexible trail systems are also good choices because families can easily shorten the outing.

What is a good family hike with a waterfall near Los Angeles?

Solstice Canyon in Malibu offers a roughly 2.1-mile round-trip route to historic ruins and a waterfall and is one of the more accessible waterfall hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. What should I bring hiking with kids in Los Angeles?

Bring appropriate water, snacks, sun protection, clothing, navigation, and basic safety supplies for the specific trail and weather. For longer hikes with younger children, also decide how you'll handle tired legs before setting out.

Are Los Angeles hiking trails open year-round?

Many are, but individual trails can close because of wildfires, storm damage, restoration, extreme fire conditions, or other hazards. Always check the managing agency's current trail status before leaving.

Should I bring a child carrier hiking in Los Angeles?

For an eligible child who walks independently but may not complete an entire longer hike, a carrier can provide a useful backup. It may be unnecessary for short, familiar trails your child already completes comfortably.

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