Trail Run: Runyon Canyon Park

In the same way as there are many people who love to run along the beach or in the city, there are also many of those who enjoy running on trials in the mountains.

Runyon Canyon Park is located in the heart of Los Angeles, only a few miles away from Hollywood. It is one of the best places to go when you want to escape from the busy daily life and heal your stress. It is also a great place to wind down from a grueling day at work and the perfect free weekend getaway.

Runyon Canyon not only offers one of the best hiking/running trails in Los Angeles, breathtaking views of the city and an amazing dog friendly park, but it also offers free daily yoga classes with professional instructors and an atmosphere that anyone can enjoy.

It makes a great exercise either to run or jog or walk up the different paths in the park. The trails are short enough complete in less than an hour and it loops around the canyon and takes you back to where you started. Since there are not many big shady trees or bushes and there are quite a few people around, therefore, it is not that dangerous to even go alone.

When you reach the top, you can see the City of Los Angeles in all of its glory. You can see the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory to the left and all the way to the Pacific Ocean on the right. If you look straight, there is Downtown Los Angeles.

Sheila Hughes, a 19-year-old girl who comes to Runyon Canyon twice a month said, “This place is great for a moderate workout. I would always start off running up the paved road, and then I pass the abandoned tennis courts and graffiti houses. After that, I continue running on the trails and climb the hill.  I usually go during the late afternoon/evening to catch the sunset. All in all, Runyon Canyon is the trail that I love to run most.” 

There are also many other accessible mountain and desert trails in SoCal.
http://www.trails.com/catalog_product.aspx?productfamilyid=10025