Editor’s note: The Wild is on vacation. We will be taking a break from December 26th and will return to our regular program from January 9th. At Wild, we hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season.
The Friday before Thanksgiving, I was in a seasonal parking lot in the unluckiest place on earth.
At 10:30 p.m., I was inching closer to Los Angeles International Airport to pick up my best friend Emma, who was flying in from Oklahoma for a two-week stay. We thought it wise to book her cheap flight to arrive later. But I was among thousands of other “smart” people.
While everyone around me was honking and furious, I returned to my happy place and started thinking about nature. Which brings us to this week’s Wild topic.
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If your loved one’s flight is delayed or the traffic is really bad when you’re picking someone up, where can you kill an hour in nature near LAX? Here’s your answer.
A hawk takes off from a palm tree near LAX Dunes Preserve.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove/Los Angeles Times)
1. LAX Dunes Preserve
Distance: less than 1 mile
Elevation Gain: Less than 50 feet
Difficulty: Moderately easy
The LAX Dunes Preserve is home to 302 acres of habitat and a growing list of protected and endangered species, including the El Segundo blue butterfly, legless lizard, burrowing owl, and Brenbil horned lizard. Estimated to have formed between 20,000 and 70,000 years ago during the Pleistocene, they are now the largest remaining coastal dune community in Southern California and once extended along the coast from near Santa Barbara to Mexico. It is part of the sand dune system.
The preserve is closed to the public, but there are nice trails to the north that take you through native plants, ocean views, and opportunities to peer into the dunes.
You can start the promenade by parking at either end of Waterview Street and Pershing Drive or Vista Del Mar and Napoleon Street. Along the way, you can read educational signs about life in the dunes. The trail is just under half a mile each way, so you can easily cover more than a mile in a round trip.
Even on a rainy day, we spotted several birds hunting in the dunes for their next meal, including a house wren, a common wren, and a couple of red-tailed hawks flitting from the palm trees. A short hill along the trail gave us a great spot to view the ocean.
Despite the frequent flights of airplanes over the sky, many changes in life, such as the transition from the front dune (uphill area facing the sea) to the back dune (the side facing away from the sea and not exposed to sunlight), were observed. It was a fun trip where I learned a lot. .
Want to continue your journey? Cross Vista Del Mar and continue along the beach path. I rented a bike from the LA Metro Bike Share program and pedaled to my next location.
The Tongva Monument, or Monument, located at Barona Discovery Park, is a monument honoring the Tongva people of the village of Guashna, now known as Playa Vista.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove/Los Angeles Times)
2. Barona Discovery Park
Distance: up to 4 miles
Elevation Gain: Minimum
Difficulty: Easy
Ballona Discovery Park is a two-acre oasis featuring native plants and a riparian corridor where you can see coots and other waterfowl. There are gentle dirt roads throughout. I easily walked about half a mile around the park without trying too hard.
Left: The trails at Ballona Discovery Park feature some native plants and are the perfect escape from the world around you. Right: A tunnel of plants near a model of Kii, the traditional domed dwelling of the Gabrieleno Tongva people.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove/Los Angeles Times)
Take a self-guided tour and discover the medicinal gardens and monuments of the Gabrielino-Tongva people, the original inhabitants of Ballona. There is also a ‘kiiy’ where you can sit inside and learn about local indigenous culture.
Want to take a longer trip? You can also take advantage of the nearby mostly flat Bluff Creek Trail. The trail is a 4-mile long trail that heads northeast through the park, roughly parallel to Bluff Creek Drive, and then loops around the creek.
Aerial view from the top of Culver Stairs.
(Michael McKnight)
3. Baldwin Hills Observation Deck
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: Just over 300 feet
Difficulty: Moderately difficult
This requires a bit of planning as it’s the farthest from LAX.
But let’s say you and your guests are on your way back from the airport and traffic is really bad. You’re such a good host that you know that if you kill an hour somewhere, the traffic will subside.
Lace up your sneakers and head to Culver City Stairs, officially known as Baldwin Hills Overlook. The stairs are straight to the top. Climb 282 steps to enjoy panoramic views of Los Angeles from this 500-foot peak, with views of the ocean and nearby islands visible on a clear December day. For those who find stairs difficult, you can also climb a winding dirt path to the top. There is a great visitor center with restrooms, fountains, and educational panels about the local flora and fauna.
If you get hungry, there are food trucks lined up near the park entrance. Tacos and trekking! What better way to show your guests the Angeleno way of life? If you’re still not tired of the outdoors after that, feel free to check out my guide to the 17 best hikes in LA for out-of-towners of all kinds.
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The rest of the world has five love languages. LA has a sixth. When someone gives you a ride to LAX, you know they love you.
May you feel the most loved this holiday season!
3 things to do
Griffith Observatory with the downtown skyline in the background as seen from the hiking trail in Griffith Park on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
(Myung Jay Chun/Los Angeles Times)
1. Take a walk through Griffith Park to ease your anxiety
Nature advocate Samantha Feinerman and naturalist Jason Wise will host a guided nature walk with yoga and meditation at Griffith Park on Saturday from 2pm to 4:30pm. The purpose of this event is to ease participants’ fears and connect them with the earth and each other during the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. The exact location will be disclosed to participants. The participation fee is $33.85. Register at eventsbrite.com.
2. Count Ventura County Birds
The Ventura Audubon Society will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count at the Ventura Land Trust Regional Preserve from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. This is Audubon’s 125th annual survey and the 45th in Ventura County. The data collected will help researchers and institutions assess the long-term health and welfare of bird populations across the United States. Some level of bird watching experience is required. Participants will need binoculars and must have the Merlin Bird Identification App downloaded onto their mobile phone. Sign up at venturalandtrust.org/volunteer.
3. Plant native species in LA
Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife will hold its final rewilding event of the year in the Mulholland Corridor from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers learn about native species, plant trees, and help restore the land. Volunteers must wear long pants and open-toed shoes. Space is limited. Sign up at clwonline.org.
Must read
(Illustration: Rian Johnson/For the Times)
Getting lost is a hiker’s nightmare. Getting lost in the snow can be even more frightening. In the latest installment of our Outdoor Survival series, Between a Rock, hiker Tom Setterlund tells the story of how an easy day hike to Lukens Lake in Yosemite National Park took a turn for the worse. Setterlund and his wife are experienced hikers and have visited Yosemite several times. Setterlund wanted to take pictures of the trees reflected in the water, so the ranger suggested a short hike to Lukens Lake. But while they were there, about 5 inches of snow fell in less than an hour. Snow covered the path they took. They tried to leave but could not find their way back. Read here to find out what happened next.
If you’ve ever had a close call with nature, we’d love to hear about it here.
Have a fun adventure
P.S.
California State Parks will hold its annual First Day Hike event on New Year’s Day. Hike any of the 86 planned hikes in 67 state parks with an experienced guide. More than a dozen events are planned around LA. It’s a great opportunity to start 2025 on a fun note.
For more information on Southern California’s beaches, trails, and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. Click here to view this newsletter in your browser.
