HIKE TO: Parker Mesa Overlook TRAILHEAD: Los Liones Trail (Los Leones Trail) MILES: 8.3 miles out and back TIME: 3:10 hr DATE I WENT: 4/18/15 DIFFICULTY: moderate ELEVATION GAIN: 1,352 ft HIKE PERMIT: no PARKING: street parking LOCATION: Pacific Palisades, Southern California
Los Liones Trail (aka Los Leones) to Parker Mesa Overlook is one of the most popular hikes in Southern California’s Pacific Palisades near Santa Monica. The hike is about 4 miles one way with only 1,352 ft of elevation gain, making it a moderate hike for all levels that ends with a beautiful ocean view.
Some people spell it Los Leones, some spell it Los Liones. Regardless, it is the same trail in Los Leones Canyon.
This is one of my favorite hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. The view is amazing and the hike is sure to kick your butt a little. I’ve done this trail a few times before.
Los Leones Trailhead and Parking
There are two places to park to reach Parker Mesa Overlook: lower down at the Los Leones trailhead, or in the residential area of Vista Pacifica St/ Paseo Miramar for the East Topanga Fire Road trailhead. The latter trailhead starts your hike about 2 miles into it.
We did the hike from Los Leones TH to Parker Mesa Overlook. The parking at the bottom is mostly street parking (there was plenty on an early Saturday morning) and a few free lots scattered throughout the road on the drive up. There’s even a narrow little trail that leads from the entrance of Topanga State Park to the Los Leones trailhead; I’ve done this before as well and parked along the street.
Ultimately, you will choose your trailhead depending on the length of hike you desire.
Los Leones Trail
We started at 8:30 am, made it to the top at 10 am, left by 10:30ish, and got down by 12:20 pm.
This hike ascends almost the entire way up. After the first mile or so on the Los Liones Trail, there was very little shade. Once you connect with the wide East Topanga Fire Road, the trail becomes very exposed and you will probably notice more hikers as well. The final section of the hike is a side trail, the Parker Mesa Overlook trail. This short 0.5-mile, narrow trail leads to a bench with a beautiful view of PCH, Santa Monica, and the California Coast.
You will see some narrow side dirt trails and those are just different trails that lead back to the wide trail. I’ve also seen rattlesnakes out here so be aware!
My friend made her own protein energy granola bars (which was pretty yummy), and I made hard-boiled eggs and brought bananas, so we had a little picnic at the top. We met this nice group along the way and mingled with them too. I love meeting new people and friendly hikers, even if I never speak to them again, but they helped us capture some fun pictures jumping around at top. On the way down, we also encountered a swarm of bees — we heard them first, then saw their shadow on the ground, so of course, we ran!
What to Pack for a Day Hike in Santa Monica
- Hiking Boots and hiking socks
- Day Pack
- Water
- Sunglasses and hat
- A swimsuit for the beach after
FAQ: Los Liones Hike
How hard is the Los Liones hike?
The Los Liones trail is a moderate hike, but likely strenuous for those out of shape. It’s a great working and training hike for a local LA trail.
How many miles is the Los Leones trail?
It’s about 8 miles, 4 miles each way to Parker Mesa Overlook. However, the Los Leones trail section of the entire hike is only 2.6 miles round trip, 1.3 miles each way. The full hike to Parker Mesa connects with the East Topanga Canyon Fire Road and then the Parker Mesa Overlook Trail
How long does it take to hike Los Leones?
It can take about half a day to hike Los Leones to Parker Mesa Overlook.
Are dogs allowed on Los Liones trail?
Los Liones Trail is in Topanga State Park, a California State Park, so dogs are prohibited.
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Tiff, the owner and author of Follow Tiff’s Journey, is a California/ Colorado-based adventurer and outdoor connoisseur who divides her heart between the Eastern Sierra Mountains and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Despite her fear of heights, she’s become a seasoned mountaineer, ultralight hiking and backcountry camping enthusiast, expert road trip planner, and a fervent explorer of alpine lakes, natural hot springs, and sandstone canyons.
With 10 years of experience exploring the outdoors, her blog is your go-to source for all things wilderness, offering invaluable insights and pro tips, essential gear recommendations, and awe-inspiring stories from her adventures.
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