3 hikes near Los Angeles to observe Yom Kippur in nature
My friend Deborah and I had already walked two miles around the Arroyo Seco, and I was beginning to worry we’d missed it. Somewhere along…
Throop Peak, reached via a 4-mile hike near L.A., offers great views
Many of the treks to reach the San Gabriel Mountains’ highest peaks are arduous slogs up steep hillsides, all-day affairs that, while rewarding, are not…
3 fun hikes around Los Angeles to escape the heat 🥵
I was so tired of being hot, and my patience for city life was wearing thin. I needed to find a place with a cool…
Here’s how to spot California condors near Los Angeles
I have a common refrain, almost a mantra at this point, whenever I — still excitedly — spot a large black bird soaring above me…
Where to camp last-minute near L.A. for Labor Day weekend
A three-day weekend is approaching, and you’d like to escape to the mountains. But you didn’t plan ahead. What’s an L.A. outdoorsy resident to do?…
This less-crowded hike in Yosemite features meadows and epic views
Let’s just get this out of the way: Hiking through Yosemite Valley, whether it be to Vernal and Nevada falls or through Cook’s Meadow, is…
3 L.A. hikes that will impress your out-of-town guests
Los Angeles and its surrounding landscapes offer limitless opportunity for adventure. But which one should you take your out-of-town guests on? Newsletter You are reading…
How to view the Perseids and other meteor showers near L.A.
My wife and I sat in camp chairs looking up alongside dozens of other curious stargazers. Suddenly, shouts of awe and joy rang out. We’d…
Here’s how to find bighorn sheep near Los Angeles 🐏
My friend Bob and I had stopped to rest during a hike in Icehouse Canyon near Mt. Baldy and were having an uncharacteristically quiet moment…
Here’s how to find the shadiest hikes around Los Angeles
My plan for today’s Wild was to write about three shady hikes near L.A. where you could escape the summer heat.But last week, as I…
The Mt. Baden Powell trail near Wrightwood and others have reopened
On Friday, I visited an old friend I hadn’t seen in months: the Mt. Baden Powell trail near Wrightwood. I was nervous about what I’d…
3 hikes near L.A. where you can cool off on a hot day
Monrovia Canyon Park reopened just in time for this week’s heat wave to remind us that summer is here.This 80-acre wooded treasure was closed for…
Want to escape L.A.? California’s BLM land remains wild and often free
One of the most maddening situations that any L.A. outdoors lover can experience is wanting to go camping only to find that every campground within…
The Bridge to Nowhere hike reopened. But is it actually safe to go?
I was concerned when I arrived Tuesday to the Bridge to Nowhere trailhead about the conditions I’d find in the canyon. Last September, the Bridge…
‘Jaws’ was wrong. Great white sharks are not mindless killers
Duhhhh-nuh. Duhh-nuh. ...Friday marks 50 years since the 1975 film “Jaws” from Steven Spielberg introduced audiences to that infamous John Williams movie score — and…
This California hike features massive waterfalls and swimming holes
Whenever I’m feeling stressed out, heartbroken or scared over the state of our nation, the one place where I can find solace, however fleeting, is…
3 campgrounds near L.A. where you can start the morning with a hike
Even though I’m technically a “professional” hiker, I do not excel at arriving to trailheads early. Unless I’m camping. Camping removes all distractions and simplifies…
How trails are recovering from the Eaton and Palisades fires
Eaton Canyon and adjacent federal land that burned in the January wildfires in L.A. County will remain closed through 2026 and maybe longer given the…
What to do if you get stung by a stingray in the ocean
Last year, I started teaching you, dear Wilder, what to do if you see an animal on the trail who could possibly hurt you. We’ve…
A coastal L.A. hike with views, wildflowers and a path to the beach
Whenever friends or family visiting L.A. ask to go spend a day swimming in the ocean, I always take them to Leo Carrillo State Beach.…