An attorney, healthcare professional, and writer with deep roots in Southern California, Luzanne Otte has built a career that spans multiple disciplines. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science summa cum laude from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in biomedicine and theological studies from Harvard University, later completing her legal education at the University of Notre Dame Law School. Luzanne Otte served a decade with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’s Office of General Counsel and subsequently took on the role of chief legal officer at Barrister Executive Suites. She is a published writer whose work has appeared in ELLE Decor and Town and Country. A Pacific Palisades resident who counts hiking among her personal pursuits, she brings firsthand familiarity to the trails that define Southern California’s most celebrated natural landscapes.
California is home to some of the best hiking destinations in the US, consistently placing first in state rankings because of its weather, landscape variety, and hikeable land. There are more than 13,000 hiking trails in the Golden State, many of which are located in the Santa Monica Mountains just outside of Los Angeles.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area boasts more than 500 miles of trails across thousands of acres. It also features awe-inspiring coastal views and several historical and cultural sites.
Solstice Canyon is one of the most popular hiking spots in the area. The four-mile loop trail is a great option for novice or day hikers, as it can be completed within two hours. It’s a unique blend of natural beauty and wildlife and architectural ruins.
Hikers should expect to see acorn woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, or fence lizards, along with the Solstice Waterfall. There are also two iconic ruins, the Keller House and Roberts Ranch, the latter of which was designed by Paul Revere Williams, the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects.
Pop culture enthusiasts may particularly enjoy the Crags Road Trail in Malibu Creek State Park. This moderate difficulty 4.7-mile hike runs through the area where the TV show MASH was filmed from 1972-83. After production wrapped on the series, several set pieces were left behind, creating something of an outdoor museum that provides a unique juxtaposition with the natural land.
Along the way to the discarded MASH set is the Century Reservoir swimming hole, swaths of grassland, and fields and forests. The trail is part of a larger area maintained by the National Park Service, which Paramount Pictures Corporation once used to film movies and TV projects, including Westworld.
The 67-mile Backbone Trail is another popular hiking spot, but one that is more appropriate for experienced hikers on multi-day trips. A designated National Recreation Trail, it is about 20 miles from downtown LA and features a variety of landscapes, including rocky outcrop spires and deep wooded canyons.
Along the way are panoramic ocean views extending to the Channel Islanders and dramatic inland views of the San Gabriel Mountains. The Backbone Trail has 12 official trailheads and reaches a peak elevation of 3,111 feet at Sandstone Peak. It also has a 16-mile stretch from Ray Miller Trailhead to Mishe Mokwa Trailhead that doesn’t cross a road.
The trail also features 43 miles of accessible mountain biking paths, as well as opportunities for rock climbing and birding. Hikers should keep an eye out for red-tailed hawks, California towhees, scrub jays, and turkey vultures.
Point Dume Trail, Tuna Canyon Budwood Motorway, Topanga Lookout, and Temescal Canyon Loop are a few of the more modest hiking trails for beginner and intermediate hikers. These are all less than five miles in length and have peak elevations of less than 1,000 feet.
The Point Dume Trail, accessible from Point Dume State Beach, offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, along with a diversity of animals and plants, including pelicans and rabbits. There are also sea stars, urchins, and other small ocean life in the nearby tide pools.
Topanga Lookout is another short trail, about two miles in length, that offers great sightseeing opportunities. It has a paved road and dirt trail leading to a former fire tower site, where hikers can take in sprawling vistas of Red Rock Canyon Park, Calabasas Peak, and the San Fernando Valley.
About Luzanne Otte
Luzanne Otte is a Pacific Palisades, California-based attorney, healthcare professional, and writer. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a political science degree, earned a master’s in biomedicine from Harvard University, and holds a juris doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Her career includes ten years in the Office of General Counsel at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and nearly five years as chief legal officer at Barrister Executive Suites. Outside her professional work, she serves on the board of the Corpus Christi Rebuild Committee and is an active hiker with a deep appreciation for the trails of Southern California.
