Best places: Scenic spots in Los Angeles County

Waterfront hiking through wildflowers, with shipwreck views & access to the Sutro Baths ruins.

Tranquil coastal area featuring trails & rocky coves, plus blufftop views of Santa Catalina Island.

Hillside observation deck with panoramas of the Golden Gate Bridge, the bay & Marin Headlands.

A steep, short hike leads to this unique, lone-standing tree & sweeping views of Los Angeles.

Elevated park area offering hiking trails to the top of a hill with views of the city & the sea.

Renowned, 180-degree views of the Bay Area are offered at this 64-acre park with hiking trails.

Docks off Pier 39 that are a favorite hangout of hundreds of sunbathing, barking sea lions.

Navigation facility with monthly open days for WWII history & ghost stories at the onsite museum.

👍👍 Sea lions are majestic! They are so lazy and fun to watch. I could spend hours here and still want more time. It’s so calming and entertaining to be in this area. They sleep, move around, yell and play with each other. Must visit spot if you’re visiting San Francisco.

👍👍 Great views of both bay & Pacific & San Francisco. Some of the roads are closed, so you can get out and walk around. The public bathroom were open. Plenty of parking.

Creative, community-driven mosaic featuring a flowing sea to stars design up a 163-step stairway.

Trails lead to picnic areas, grassy fields, a pond/waterfall, city view overlooks & a playground.

👍👍 Go during weekdays when parking is allowed on ledgewood dr. There are signs at the bottom of the hill that say the road is closed but you can drive almost all the way up to the viewpoint for the sign. Once at the top of ledgewood park where the signage says parking is allowed and don't take your car...

Landmark scenic overlook built in 1984, offering unobstructed views of Los Angeles & the mountains.

👍👍 Very easy to get to and one of the best spots to view the Golden Gate Bridge! Access to the visitors center and a coffee shop make it a bit more complete experience compared to the other isolated overlooks.

Artist Eduardo Aguilera created this labyrinth with views over the Golden Gate Bridge in 2004.

👍👍 A nice place to watch the Sunset overlooking Topanga and Woodland Hills. Perfect for people who simply want to get some fresh air and be away from the city. A lot of people here before dark so finding a parking spot is a little difficult. Pets are welcome but please be responsible to pickup after yo...

👍👍 Unexpected fun find. Don't forget your adventure parking pass, you'll need it. It's pet friendly. If you park towards the top of the mountain the trailhead will be apx 100 yards away. Keep an eye out for the Millard Falls sign and follow. Eventually you'll arrive at the Millard campground (great spo...

👍👍 A good look at the Falcon reveals the awesome engineering that went into it. The landing struts are totally impressive. You must see Falcon up close. EZ access. Also check Mr. Musk's Hyperloop on same street. My friend Dwight in the picture said, "SpaceX is like Disney's Tomorrow Land only it's for...

This sizable tract of urban wildland features a large network of trails & dramatic views.