The best walks and hikes around City of Long Beach

Yes, Long Beach is great for family outings. The El Dorado Nature Center is a popular favorite, offering a 105-acre sanctuary with easy, flat dirt paths and a paved 1/4-mile loop suitable for strollers. For a simple walk with a pond view, the Valley Stream Pond loop from Valley Stream is another excellent choice.

For expansive ocean vistas, Bluff Park offers a popular walking path along the coast with benches and telescopes. For a bit more elevation, the hike up to Hilltop Park on Signal Hill provides stunning panoramic views of the coastline, the city, and on clear days, out to Santa Catalina Island.

Many trails in the wider area are dog-friendly, but policies vary. Within Long Beach, leashed dogs are welcome on many park paths, but are typically not permitted on the trails inside the El Dorado Nature Center to protect the wildlife. For more rugged, dog-friendly trails, the nearby Palos Verdes Peninsula has options like the George F. Canyon Nature Trail.

The Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath is a top choice, offering 5.5 miles of paved path right along the coast, perfect for running, walking, or skating. For a more natural setting, the trails within the highly-regarded El Dorado Nature Center and the restored DeForest Park and Wetlands provide excellent options for trail running and peaceful walks.

Long Beach itself is mostly flat, offering easy walks. For more challenging terrain, you'll need to drive a short distance. The Palos Verdes Peninsula offers more rugged coastal trails with some elevation gain. For true mountain hiking, the San Gabriel Mountains are accessible by car and feature strenuous hikes with significant elevation, such as trails to Strawberry Peak or Mount Baldy.

The El Dorado Nature Center features a well-maintained network of trails. You'll find over two miles of flat dirt paths that meander through forests and around two lakes. There is also a 1/4-mile paved loop that is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. The trails are generally easy and suitable for all skill levels.

Absolutely. Many of the best walks in the area are loops. A great example is the McDonald Pond loop from Lakeview, which provides a pleasant walk around a pond. Most trails within local nature preserves, like the El Dorado Nature Center, are also designed as interconnected loops.

Yes, many of the trails and parks within Long Beach city limits are accessible via the Long Beach Transit bus system. Parks like Bluff Park, DeForest Park, and the El Dorado Nature Center are located near bus routes. For trails further afield, such as in the Palos Verdes Peninsula or San Gabriel Mountains, a car is generally more practical.

The immediate Long Beach area is coastal and flat, so you won't find natural waterfalls on the local trails. To see waterfalls, you'll need to travel to the nearby San Gabriel Mountains, especially after recent rains. Trails like Eaton Canyon Falls are popular options, though they are a significant drive from Long Beach and can be very crowded.

The trails around Long Beach are highly rated by the komoot community. Reviewers often praise the accessibility of the routes and the pleasant mix of urban and natural environments. The easy, flat paths in places like the El Dorado Nature Center and the scenic coastal views from Bluff Park are frequently mentioned as highlights.

Yes, many excellent trails are free to access. Walking the paths at Bluff Park, Hilltop Park, and DeForest Park and Wetlands costs nothing. However, some dedicated nature areas like the El Dorado Nature Center may have a small vehicle entry fee for parking, which helps maintain the facilities.

For most hikes within Long Beach, comfortable walking shoes, water, and sun protection like a hat and sunscreen are sufficient. If you're heading to the more rugged trails in Palos Verdes or the San Gabriel Mountains, you should also bring layered clothing as coastal weather can change, a small first-aid kit, and snacks or a packed lunch.