MALAGA COVE AND FLAT POINT ROCK, TORRANCE AND PALOS VERDES
If you’re looking for an invigorating but relatively simple hike, check out the stretch of sand between Torrance, Malaga Cove and Flat Point Rock. Starting just outside Palos Verdes, the trail’s roughly a 4-mile loop that will take you right along the water. There are plenty of tide pools to check out, so wear your best waterproof shoes. Keep in mind that this isn’t a hike you can do at high tide. Much of the trail is underwater at that time, so consult a tide chart (or visit surfline.com for a quick update) before you head out. There’s a beach access point at the end of Malaga, so hikers can trek back through Palos Verdes Estates if they’re looking for a much longer hike.
Spending the day exploring Abalone Cove can make for the perfect weekend adventure. The trails in the area are short, and the hike from the parking lot to the actual cove is what takes the longest (20 to 30 minutes). But even trekking down to the cove is a gorgeous walk, complete with perfect vistas of the Pacific—you can often see Catalina in the distance too. The real draw at Abalone Cove is the marine life. The area is home to scores of different sea critters, including octopi, sea hares, urchins, crabs and starfish. When the tide’s low enough, there are nearby sea caves to explore. If you’re looking to score a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, head over to the cove on a weekday, and you’ll completely forget that you’re only an hour or two from the center of the one of the largest cities in the world.
ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK, RANCHO PALOS VERDES
ROLLING HILLS ROLLING HILLS ESTATES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
POINT VICENTE AND SEASCAPE TRAIL, PALOS VERDES
Starting at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, hikers can check out the nearby Seascape Trail, which despite being fairly short offers incredible views of the Pacific. Those looking for a bit more of a challenge can travel down a beach access trail and explore a few tide pools. There’s also the sizeable Point Vicente Lighthouse to check out—built in 1926. If you’re hoping to do some whale watching later in the year, Point Vicente is one of the best spots in Palos Verdes to watch the annual grey whale migration that takes place between December and April. Lighthouse tours offered the second Saturday of each month (first Saturday in March.)
PALOS VERDES ESTATES
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