Runyon Canyon Park

Honestly, I feel that Runyon is a bit overrated. I like that it’s a bit challenging but it’s oftentimes overcrowded and as much as I love all the dogs, I hate going to a park that smells like dog piss. Also parking is incredibly difficult.
Some positives to Runyon is the yoga/​boot camp they offer on the weekends, the snacks they offer at one of the entrances, and again if you like dogs and don’t mind the smell, a billion breeds come walking up the mountain. They’re so adorable!

WELCOME TO LA’s BEST DOG POOP AND MORON HIKING TRAIL
Anyone who rates this 4 or 5 stars is either a typical LA/​Hollywood dufus or just another dog worshiping cell phone carrying nut job.
What you should expect here are hoards of idiots stopping along the trail to take selfies of themselves every five feet, that and dealing with people and their dogs. There is in fact so many dogs on this trail that you will have the smell of dog poop in your lungs for days after coming here. And be advised: many, many people have their dogs off leash even in areas where it is not allowed. So if you like me, don’t appreciate people’s dogs running up to you, then I advise you to bring a big heavy hiking stick, a golf club— or even better still a baseball bat to protect yourself from people’s misbehaving animals. When I was here last fall on a photo jaunt early on a Tuesday morning I was knocked down from behind by someone’s German Shepherd. The owner kept saying, «don’t worry she is just being friendly”– as I was trying to keep my lens out of the dirt. I swear, it was probably a good thing this didn’t happen on a trail in Angeles Crest because then it WOULD have had a different outcome I assure you as I always hike there «with the appropriate mode of self defense» if you know what I mean? Had this happened in the «free state of Arizona» I know exactly what would have happened to that damn dog.
Note to dog owners: Not everyone is in love with your stupid dog— KEEP THEM OFF AND AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE— unless that person invites attention from your stupid animal! And really, if your dog craps on the trail— PICK IT UP. We don’t live in Bangladesh or Tijuana — most Americans find the rotting smell of feces to be offensive.
Oh and one last thing: Not every moment of your life needs to be recorded with a damn selfie photo, so keep that in mind while you are blocking the trail to take one more photo of yourself to share on your idiot myface page.

Must love dogs
Must love dogs Must love dogs
I love dogs so of course it makes our hikes better. We take the track team there to hike and its safe, FREE FREE FREE and wonderful. Round from bottom to topis 2 is miles doit 2 times at least to get anything out of it.
Lots of hawks and crows, wonderful vibrant flowers and great views on a clear day.

This is the go to hiking trail in LA attracting locals and tourists at all hours of the day and night due to it’s popularity among celebrities as well as amazing views.
It’s a bit of a hike itself trying to get to in terms of driving. One cool thing about the trail is it’s accessible through Mulholland Drive (insert David Lynch movie reference here). And in case you’re not too familiar with the Mulholland Drive area — it’s breath taking and beautiful. Quite the scenic neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills.
I came here around 10 AM and the trail was already fairly busy with a good mix of what you could expect in LA — I will let you assume because you’re probably right at some capacity.
There’s a couple of different ways to tackle the hike; you can either take the scenic route which has multiple photo opportunities with the Hollywood sign in the background or you can take the more rigid and not for the inexperienced trail path. The harder path is EXTREMELY steep and rigid!
I of course tried the harder path first and busted my butt a couple times but sometimes it’s good to be humbled — especially good for motivating you to get back in shape! And then I realized I was only getting more and more anxious the more I hiked so I changed direction and took the more scenic pathway. If you really wanted to, you could easily spend the whole day here on either route.
There’s tons of people here with dogs, and it’s strangely comforting to see a little wiener dog putting in just as much energy as you (if not more) while hiking. Just be careful not to run into any little furry creatures if you plan on running as most owners on the trail don’t have their dogs on leashes.
Runyon Canyon is massive and a really good outdoor workout. I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in getting in some physical activity outdoors.

Nice small hike. A great place to go for an hour or so.
The hike is fairly easy, but I recommend going up the trail to the right first then coming back down through the other trail.
A few things about parking, you will have to find residential parking by the North Fuller entrance. If you are being routed there, make sure you are being routed to the North Fuller entrance!

Nice place to hike, the downsides are the parking and the fact that the trail isn’t really marked with which way to go. It took us ½ an hour to find parking in the southern end of the park in the residential areas. Not to mention the fact that the roads are very steep, which makes it hard to parallel park. I would recommend parking somewhere on Fuller, Franklin (spots are very limited), or Sierra Bonita (it’s quite a walk but there is generally more parking here).
The hike is a nice challenge and it’s a good way to get your heart pumping!

Beautiful view of Los Angeles and worth the hike. I am scared of heights and not the best place for me. Runyon Canyon is off north fuller and La brea. Parking is slim and only street parking. We got the first spot a top of the hill, first timer luck. Once here there are a few routes you can go and the views are breath taking. Again, not for those scared of heights. I braved the first viewpoint and didn’t venture off beyond that but my son and husband did the whole hike, good for them. Ha. This park is dog friendly. Bring some comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. It gets hot up here and its early morning in early spring. Overall a great stop off the beaten path to experience the best of LA.

After all my years in Los Angeles, I popped my Runyon Canyon cherry today.
Overall, it was a peaceful, enjoyable experience in nature’s captivity. But uh, there’s just a few pro’s and con’s I need to give you as a heads up:
Cons: Dog caca, parking (I spent a .5 hour looking for parking, and finally found parking on Sunset), Coming down from the East trail (near the steps)…be careful, I know someone had to bust their ass before.
Pros: Well, parking on Sunset did add to my workout… it was bittersweet, lol. Great incline. Scenic views of the Hollywood Sign, Downtown L.A., and much of the city.
As for the crowds, I went today, a Monday, and it wasn’t bad. I’m just reading other reviews and I don’t think I’d be interested in coming on the weekends.
(*It’s been several hours since my hike and my calves are still burning… ah, they hurt so good).

This trail was simple and enjoyable. Parking available at the start of the trail and its free. The trails will probably take less than 30 mins but I guess depends on how long and which trail you take. We took a simpler trail that took us to a no trespassing zone so we had to turn back around. We didn’t mind it because the homes and views were quite nice. Very dog and kid friendly. A lot of hikers went without full hiking gear like jeans, sandals, dresses, etc.

This review is about the entrance from N Fuller Ave: This trail is a good way to get moving! Except for a short length of a somewhat steep incline, it is relatively easy. Also, the loop is short enough that it can be done in a reasonable amount of time (less than 90min with stops). Dogs are welcome and you’ll see many! There is a great view of the Los Angeles area including the Hollywood sign, and on a clear day you’ll be able to glimpse the blue of the ocean. Keep in mind this trail is popular and there’s always a bit of a crowd that can kill the mood. Parking is a struggle (there is $ 10 valet available just down Fuller). Enjoy!
P. S. It will be closed from April to July!

Came here with a friend such a beautiful hike! The view was amazing and the hike wasn’t exhausting! The hike was so gorgeous it reminded me of similar trails in Hawaii! Knowing this gem is just an hour away makes me so happy will def be coming back this spring/​summer! Also hot people everywhere, I felt like I was in a fashion fitness show. Dress to impress.

Parking is not so great, but that’s a given since it’s in the Hollywood area. I also had to subtract a star because of their trail signs. Either there were no signs or the signs were just not clear. The entrances don’t even have helpful maps either.
In my opinion, this is a place more for dogs. Not really a strenuous hike, but a good place to just walk and talk with friends. I found the hike to be pretty easygoing and there’s shade here and there so that’s a plus. Beautiful views overlooking the city.

Great hike in the heart of Hollywood. There is usually parking & a snack bar that runs on the honor system at the bottom of the trail. Here is a Pro & Con list of the hike:
Pros: Dogs are allowed, great views of LA & the Hollywood sign
Cons: Crowded & not near the water
Overall I would come back to Runyon & especially bring friends/​fam from out of town to get a nice scope of LA.
Side Note: If you are hiking at a moderate pace and stop a few times to take in the views the hike should take about 2 hours (for my crew & I it did at least). Enjoy some fresh air and exercise!

I’ve been coming here for so many years and absolutely love it. The drive isn’t the best, because you’ll hit the LA traffic and neither is the parking. It can be very frustrating trying to find parking. As you approach the entrance there’s a stand with goodies; water, bars, and fruit, so make sure you bring cash with you. Also before I forget to mention, this park is dog friendly but please keep them on a leash. There are two mountains/​hills as far as I know. I usually work my way up the first one to the far right that isn’t so step. Then I go down to the bottom and work myself up the second hill to the far left. This one is a bit more challenging, I feel like it has 3 stages; a steep hill, a steep hill of rocks, and the stairs. I really enjoy coming here in the morning before the sun is peeking.

Recent east coast transplant here…
TOTALLY AND UTTERLY amazed by the views and the trails here. It has become a the place for me to go on Saturday morning hikes and or cardio.
Love!

Runyon is one of the weirdest hikes I’ve ever done, with one of the most beautiful views of LA, so I feel pretty conflicted.
I haven’t hiked or lifted in about a month, so I wanted to do something not too strenuous to get myself back into the game. I also really wanted to do a sunset hike, so Runyon fit the bill as it’s not long and I didn’t want to hike back in the dark.
We found parking luckily on the neighboring streets, but parking generally sucks and I was really surprised by how many people were there on a Tuesday afternoon. Don’t people work? Oh, right. It’s LA, a city filled with creatives and non-​9-​to-​5 careers. At the park entrance, there’s a cool table with snacks, water, and dog treats mostly for $ 1 each. No one guards the table, so it’s all based on an honor system.
There are many trails in the park, but we took the main one. We started at 4pm and got to the top around 4:30pm, so my sunset timing was way off. It’s a gradual incline, with lots of steep steps, so it does get your heart pumping. Coming down the same way we went up, the hike roundtrip was ~2 miles, which isn’t bad at all. If you want more of a work-​out, there are three different routes you can continue on from the top. There, you get an amazing 180º view of the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, DTLA, Sunset strip, Catalina Island, and Santa Monica area, especially on a clear day.
The best part of the park is that there are dogs everywhere. If you love dogs, this is a glorified dog park and you’ll be in heaven. DOGGIES EVERYWHERE. I really just wanted to lay down and have them all surround and jump on me. The slight downside of this is that on occasion, you’ll have a douchebag owner who doesn’t pick up their dog’s poo.
The worst part about this hike is the people (Katie B. describes my sentiments perfectly in her review). I guess it’s a great spot to people watch, but we saw and heard the strangest and most annoying people:
A man loudly ranting about how his friend in real estate sucks because he hasn’t made a sale in three years and schooling his friends about how RE works (I’m in RE and half of what he was saying was wrong and misinformed); a woman hiking with a huge Coach monogram shoulder bag (?!); a man hiking with a huge leather duffle bag (!!!); various people hiking in regular clothes and inappropriate shoes (including one woman hiking barefoot!!!); so many people talking very loudly on their phones; and a woman wearing Doc Marten boots, fishnet leggings, and a «Satan» shirt loudly ranting about how she wanted to move to Australia because she’s all about that 80s life (good, we don’t want you here either).
My conclusion is that Runyon is the most LA hike ever, and not in a positive way. It’s perfect for you if you’re an inexperienced hiker, want to see and be seen (and heard), and/​or want to get in some cardio but not break a sweat. I don’t think I’ve ever hated LA as much as I did while hiking in this park. But again, there are so many dogs everywhere that it slightly makes it worth the pain and agony of being surrounded by the worst people. People don’t even greet you when passing by, like on most trails.
To be fair though, we did come across some extremely pleasant people. I had left my phone accidentally on one of the steps while taking a break, and a woman came after me asking if it was mine. Another man, after overhearing me say that the hike was so short, gladly told us where the other trails were and which offered more of a workout over others.
I’ll probably come back… just to ogle at all the doggies.

AMAZING !!
My boyfriend lived here for a few months and fell in love with this place .
We basically traveled all the way from Chicago to be able to hike this thing twice. Totally worth it and im glad I was able to experience it with him since its all he talks about .The views are really beautiful and the leg work out was ridiculous .My calves burned for 2 days .
He keeps talking about wanting to move here one day because he hates how flat Chicago is and if that ever happens we will definitely hit this spot up on the regular for a good burn !

Parking is TERRIBLE. We spent around half an hour trying to find parking… Please be careful parking on random streets, because a lot of them require a special permit to park there. LA parking enforcements are all over the place, don’t risk getting a ticket!
Other than the parking situations, we LOVE taking our dog here for a hike. They have a large part of the trail that you can off leash your dog. IT’S A PUPPY HEAVEN!!! So if you don’t like dogs, please just don’t even bother coming here LOL
The trail can get really steep really fast, but overall not too hard of a hike. They don’t offer too much shade once you’re up the hill, so bring your sunglasses and sunscreen!
You get a really nice view of LA city on top of the hill and don’t forget to look around for the Hollywood sign!

Great hike, my first hike in LA so I really don’t have much to compare to. Some trails are steep so check out the map, we walked down and went up the east trail– going up the steps is quite a workout! Bring a handkerchief, quite windy lots of dust/​sand in the air
Park on mulholand for easy access to park

Wish I could give them more stars. Overall I did enjoy this hike though. I love the incline and it would be a great workout! Only if there were less people.
I’ve been twice now and both times with a large group of veterinary students, our friends, pups and our professor (a board certified toxicologist). (See Nina P.‘s review). He definitely made the experience. He taught us about the many toxic plants all along the trail. See pictures. but it includes oleander, castor bean, California holly, mustard, tobacco. So be careful if you get hungry! We usually come on the weekend, so I would definitely give this place a try during off hours. People here do not have hiking manners! Don’t pass when there’s other people on the tiniest trail at an incline, it’s dangerous! Parking can be annoying also so plan accordingly. What’s different about this hike is that there are people living along some parts of the trail and they have a water fountain in the middle of it! Very convenient for hot days and you don’t want to carry 40 pounds of water, you can refill.
The best part of this hike is the off leash section for dogs! It’s amazing, dogs errwhere! My dream come true. So it can get crazy during the weekend, I do not recommend for people afraid of dogs (cynophobia). unless you’re trying to get over your fear through «flooding». The views are nice as well, you can see the Hollywood sign, ocean & LA from afar. Definitely try if you’re in the area, but make it a priority to come during the weekday.

This is a nice park, especially if you have a pet. My friends owns a dog, an australian sheperd, that unfortunately doesn’t get much exercise because his parents are plenty busy with jobs, a daughter, and even a cat. The parents also dont get much exercise but wanted to start. I’m in pretty good shape, so I offered to handle the dog and he loved every minute of this park. The terrain is pretty tricky to navigate, but you are rewarded with some amazing views of Los Angeles. A lot of people let their dogs roam free, only suggest if your dog is well trained or behaved.
PLEASE pick up after your dogs, the park should be enjoyed by everyone, not just lazy douchbag down owners. It was a pretty fun day, we ended up eating at Chipotle after, so pretty much ruining anything we worked off, probably added more work haha

Parking is a nightmare.
Tons of people (and dogs) and everyone thinks it’s a fashion show… nothing wrong with that though! In fact I loved that aspect of the hike, ha! Just keep this in mind when getting dressed or in case you are looking to be one with nature (this is not your hike).
Beautiful city views of LA.
I was not feeling the stairs… fine going up them but was quiet scary coming down and can be dangerous… I’ve had too many broken bones and scared of falling.
Overall it was fun but I think I’ll stick to my Malibu/​Pacific Palisades hikes.

DO: Wear your sunglasses fellas!
DO NOT: wear jogging pants (trust me fellas!)
Let the rubber necking begin!

My friend said this was an ‘easier’ walk in LA and it wasn’t bad! Everyone I saw hike here had a dog and it was nice and uphill with great stops with views. Hopefully you can find parking when you get there! Just a great way to see it all– the Hollywood sign to the views that are outstanding. People even brought their young kids– talking about two year olds! The steps down are a little steep here and there but a great work out and definately a crowded and popular stop!

If you’re looking for a good workout, don’t come here. If you came here and still thought you got a good work, it’s a sign that you should probably work out more often o_​O
The herds of hikers congesting these trails completely stunt their difficulty levels. Because the trails were so crowded, I couldn’t jog or power walk at the neurotic pace I usually prefer.
However, the gorgeous view and thriving green scenery allowed me to easily enjoy myself! I recommend this hike for those looking for a relaxing stroll, cute date spot or place that’ll impress out-of-towners…and also for people easily amused by plants or ease dropping on other people’s conversations.
Before coming here, I read the reviews warning Unilocalers about how the hikers trotting around these trail are usually super «la» with their over the top make up, half nakedness and elaborate workout gear. This actually excited me! Lol I thought «FINALLY I can workout with people who understand me» and came here with no shirt, smokey eyeshadow and fully charged phone for the bajillion planned selfies. I even asked my friend to braid my hair in the car before entering the trial hehe.
Unfortunately for me, everyone looked pretty normal (aside from a few dogs wearing fancy shoes), making me the only obnoxious one that probably come off as soooo «oc». Sighhhh I’m cursed to live a life in exile.
But fortunately for other Unilocalers who’re turned off by these types of «workout» people, no need to worry! I feel like other reviews exaggerated a little and everyone looked pretty down to earth when i was there.
In summary, i really liked the views here and will definitely be back. Hopefully I’ll crash a less crowded day.

Ok place now atleast. I use to come here when i was 13 with friends and if we saw two persons it was a lot. The parking could be an issue. Its a good wotkout.

If you’re up for the task of finding a parking spot just so you can basically walk on the backyard of the wealthy Hollywood Hills residents, then by all means, have fun looking for a spot. Just make sure you’re not in an area where they’ll tow your car or give you a parking citation. The parking enforcement won’t hesitate to cite all the cars, I’ve seen em’ do it.
Natural escape? I wouldn’t go as far as to say that, but you’ll definitely get a nice view of the Hollywood sign from the southern side of the 101. Some of the trails even offer a decent view of Hollywood and Downtown LA in the distance.
I definitely wouldn’t recommend this as a good workout destination, as it seems to be one of those busy hikes. So I don’t know how much of a real workout you’ll get with people all in your way. I’d consider this place suitable as an outdoor activity followed by some drinks over brunch. Wonder why that sounds familiar? Oh, that’s actually what I did.
For those of you that truly want to enjoy the hike, arrive early so that you can forgo the horrendous parking situation and really have a grand ol’ time in what we call the outdoors in LA.

My brother took us here on our visit to LA. He comes running here several times a week. I definitely did not plan on running up the hill, but I thought it would be cool to see the entire city from the top. Boy was it ever cool! 360 views of LA! You definitely have to work for that view though. The trail is steep and rocky. If you are out of shape like me, you will most definitely be tired once you reach the summit. You may even be out of breath!
I managed to make it to the top without dying, so overall it was a great time!

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Runyon? It is a wonderful nature escape from the craziness of Los Angeles. We went at the end of the day as the sun was setting over the city and it was BEAUTIFUL. Even though this is a hot spot and well known in LA its wasn’t packed with people. It was still rather quite and peaceful.
Don’t forget to wear good shoes so you can grip the ground as you hike to the top. Once you get up there take a deep breath and realy take the view in. You might even see a celebrity or two!

Depending on which trail head you take, this park is either a stroll or a true hike. Having both frequented this park while I lived in West Hollywood and returned now that I’m an eastsider, the place is truly a hit or miss affair. I’d avoid it completely on weekends, but I admit that I am still charmed by the views and love coming here on a weekday or rainy day when the trails are empty.
The main trail is short, but if you’re up for a strenuous hike, I’d enter from the vista st. entrance, fork left, and then fork left just past the gate for a true uphill hike overlooking the simpler roundabout hike below that most Runyon hikers take. It’s more work, but you get more barren trails and even better views of LA. In my opinion, not to be missed for a native Angeleno.

Parking!!! (Since parking sucks in DTLA): the most important part of any LA trip… park at the highland and Hollywood center. It’s a 10 floor parking lot. First two hours are $ 2 if validated at one of the shops (we went to Starbucks). We stayed there past 2 hours so we validated, paid, drove it of the structure, drove around the block, and reparked. 4 hours for $ 4 is awesome for LA.
From the parking structure it’s a couple blocks away from the trail entrance. There is a little cart with waters, fruit, and snack bars at the start of the trail. It’s honor system, so bring dollar bills to put in the little money slot.
There is a easy and hard trail, the easy trail veers off to the left. Super wide dirt trails with lots of cute dogs.
A lot of fun and the view on the top is really worth it. I would take people here who want to see the Hollywood sign versas the Hollywood sign hike which you only go to the back of the sign.
Beautiful view and easy hike, not too much of an incline– perfect for a date or hanging out with friends. Make sure you check the weather; we got rained on coming down the hike. Lots of fun but we were cold and freezing!

Okay. The thing about Runyon is that it is one of the most hated and loved hikes in LA, not to mention one of the most popular.
With that said I will categorize this for why I hate it & why I love it.
HATE: So many people love to show off their bodies here. Now this isn’t jealousy– I’m all for the «If you got it, flaunt it» saying. BUT kids are going up & down these hikes too, so just be respectful. As for my other reasons it is overcrowded, if you aren’t careful enough to read every bit of those parking signs you will get a ticket, & sometimes there are people trying to sell you things in the middle of your hike! C’mon, leave me be. Just wanna burn off some calories without being hassled! Also, those summer days in LA. The sun is super strong and will never fail to tan or burn you. That is also because Runyon has MINIMUM shade in comparison to LA’s other hikes.
LOVE: It gives you some of the biggest sights of LA as Runyon happens to technically be in the middle. Griffith observatory, Hollywood sign, & the city in general just down below. It is a more difficult hike than Griffith (BUT it doesn’t give you as many trails as Griffith). You feel this hike more afterwards, it’s a good example for an intermediate hike.
Top hits:
— You are closer to all of the good Brunch spots LA has to offer (Ex: Larchmont, Grub, or Blu Jam anyone?) There are also juice spots like Verve & Naturewell! Don’t let my suggestions screw up what you worked off!
— Super dog friendly!
Heads up (s):
— Parking sucks. We all know this. So go early (8:15AMish). Crowd picks up throughout 9:00AM-11:00AM.
— If you need to catch your breath, please quickly step aside as to not block another’s hiking pace.
— For those hot LA days, sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen!
PRO-​tip: I personally think it’s safer to go up the sandy stairs (the big steps not the small ones) rather than to go down them. Because after a rainy day, those dirt steps can be really slippery or loose. Just be careful.
Happy hiking, Unilocalers!

Glad I finally got to check this one off of my LA to-​do list!
Runyon is a welcome breath of outdoor scenery in the midst of claustrophobic LA. It’s steep but not too steep, and the expansive view that you get to take in after ascending to the top is both soothing and thought-​provoking — especially if you visit at sunset!
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— Some Good Samaritans out there decided to set up a cart filled with snacks, fruit, waters, etc. at the entrance to the trail. Instead of assigning someone the task of watching over the cart, this small selection of goodies is operated via a system of mutual trust; the prices for each item are listed, and you’re expected to simply leave the appropriate amount of money behind. For those who may be intent on snatching items without paying for them (and virtually everything listed is $ 1 – 2, so that’s really just pathetic), there’s a mirror positioned above the food and drink items — so be sure to take a good, long look before choosing to do so! The quirkiness of this «market» sets the tone for the Runyon experience; it’s all distinctly LA.
— The path is wide, and not overly demanding if you choose to hike it at a balanced (i.e. lazy & slow like us) pace.
I appreciated how the hike was so unexpectedly dog-​friendly. Many visitors take their dogs off-​leash and give them the chance to roam and socialize; we found all the dogs (and their owners) whom we interacted with to be very friendly and cheery with both ourselves and our own four-​legged pal.
— As mentioned above, the view at the top of Runyon is pretty awesome. It’s quite an experience to gaze from the top of the hill at the backdrop of LA’s skyline and see nothing but glowing lights, a few airplanes doted here and there, and traffic as far as the eye can see. Definitely one of the more picturesque walks I’ve had the pleasure of going on.
— While it’s true that finding a parking spot here may prove to be an uphill battle (haaaa!), we had good luck securing a space in front of one of the apartment buildings located at the foot of the trail. Not sure if these spaces tend to free up more than the metered parking spots do, or if we just happened to luck out.
— And yes, you’re bound to have at least one «wtf» moment during a visit to Runyon. In our case, it came in the form of an Asian chick heading up the trail in Chelsea boots with an MCM backpack. Form before function, I guess…

If I lived in LA, THIS place would be my gym… but I live in Illinois and I have a gym membership, two actually.
I did the Hollyridge Trail hike to the Hollywood Sign back in April, and my friend in LA has been hiking Runyon regularly. At some point in time I learned about this place and figured I needed to try this one too! I visited a few weeks ago and we hiked Runyon. I’m SO glad I did!!!
So parking… I guess we lucked out because we scored a spot like a half block from the entrance. Other reviews tell me we really lucked out.
There are different trails… we took the «easy» one which was my preferred trail only because I typically don’t do hiking, period. I also don’t really have much incline to walk here in Illinois so incline and stairs are an entirely different kind of cardio. Seeing it was 100 degrees the day we went to Runyon… the easy trail was perfect. I’m also doing a weight loss challenge at my gym, so again this worked out really well.
I will say the incline isn’t as «steady» as the Hollyridge Trail is… this hike levels off a lot or it’s a gradual incline that you just don’t notice. The view of the LA area is spectacular though, much better than Hollyridge as well… and you get a view of the Hollywood sign from afar, at about the same level.
Lots of dogs here… lots of people just out hiking like you. I’d love to come back here again one day when I visit!

This place gets 2 or 3 stars during the day when it’s desert hot and the whole wide world appears to show off their newest sports bra, but five stars at night when the parking becomes abundant and the people vanish. However, don’t park inside the lot or you will get locked in sometime between sundown and 10 pm. You cannot, however, get locked inside the park which also houses several residences right on the main trail so also be prepared for cars along the wide path.
Also, stay alert as this is when snakes and scorpions appear in the middle of the trail. The views at night are breathtaking and you feel like you are going to walk right into Hollywood at some points. The highest peak gives a view of the Hollywood sign and never ending lights from the sunset strip. The owls come out after ten (see pic) as do the coyotes. You feel the divide between urban and wilderness and literally see the line.

I suppose this is «the hike» to go to if you’re in L.A. Similar to Big Basin in SC Mtns or Muir Woods in North Bay, Runyon is one of the biggie hikes that have that power factor.
People instagram this, celebz hashtag this, and yes, people who come here to truly work out get a sweat (if you go the right direction). There are stairs for the brave, and steep inclines for the strong of heart! The main downer is the lack of shade and majority of dirt/​sand that will no doubt lock onto your socks and coat your shoes. In some parts of the hike, you’ll see doggy doodoo and smell the essence of LA – urine. But for the most part, the hike is quintessential LA. You have to do it and you have to post it to social media because that’s what’s up.
Parking is almost entirely impossible, but we got lucky and parked in the apartment street parking area that Google Maps has under the «entrance» of Runyon. We got SUPER lucky because even though we parked and started the hike around 8:30AM and got back to the car by 10AM, a local who lived there kindly told us that she once saw a tow truck tow a WHOLE row (about a dozen) of cars without mercy. READ THE SIGNS! We thought we didn’t see any signs, but upon returning to the spot after the hike, we noticed a sly inwardly-​turned sign that stated no parking during specific hours. Parking is no bueno in LA, period.
In all, this hike is a must-​do. It’s also super close to Griffith Park, so why not do both attractions at once until you get your H O L L Y W O O D sign fix? Oh, and we didn’t see anyone famous in case you’re wondering.

When in LA, do as the L-​Aliens.
Cali has sooooo many extraordinary places to exercise outdoors, it’s no wonder the residents are in great shape. Runyon has GOT to be on your list of places to visit. Not only for the awesome hike but the full-​body workout you’ll get is priceless. There are tons of beautiful scenic peaks at this park for you to explore.
It’s amazing views are worth every photo opt you’ll capture so don’t go without your Nikon or iPhone.
There is a FREE confession at the entrance where you can help yourself to a water or healthy snack. However, it’s is an honor system. If you take an item that is placed there for your convenience please make a donation so the system is funded and remains available to visitors in the future.
How cool is that!