Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area Hike

Spending some time on the Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area Hike is a great way to enjoy the outdoors no matter the day, although there is a fee to enter the park on weekends and holidays. Try to time your hike on a weekday during off-peak hours if you want to enjoy the natural beauty of the park for free and without the crowds.

Even if you do end up visiting the park on the weekend, the stunning views along the trail are well worth the price of admission. A charming park setting and sweeping views across the Los Angeles cityscape await on this laidback family-friendly adventure in the heart of the city.

Setting out from the trailhead next to the parking lot, you will follow along the Waterfall Trail as it leads north past Doris’ Japanese Garden. You can take your time here to enjoy the serene gardens if you wish, but you will also pass through them once again on the return leg.

Once you have reached a junction with the Main Trail, you will turn left to pass Randi’s Waterfall. Here, the trail will bend to the southeast and climb uphill towards several viewpoints. Take a few moments to appreciate the sweeping views from atop Christine’s Peak and Autumn’s Peak, before continuing on to Micheal and Ellana’s Inspiration Point.

After reveling in the stunning views of Los Angeles, continue on as the trail turns south alongside a powerline clearing. Once you have passed beneath the powerlines, you will arrive at a junction in the trail. Keep left here to begin your circular adventure along the Bowl Loop Trail.

Here, you will loop around a large greenspace in a clockwise direction, passing by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Tree Grove, before arriving back at the junction where you began the loop. At this point, you will retrace your steps along your initial path, once again passing by the viewpoints, waterfall, and gardens on the way back to the trailhead where you began the Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area Hike.

Trail Highlights

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

Situated in the Baldwin Hills Mountains and covering an area of 401 acres, the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area is one of the largest urban open spaces in the Greater Los Angeles Area and is often called “the Central Park of Los Angeles”. Created in 1984, the park features plenty of recreational space, including a wealth of hiking trails that lead to beautifully scenic vistas overlooking the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to pay to enter the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area?

Although it is normally free to enter, the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area does charge a fee of $7/vehicle on the weekends and holidays.

Can you drink alcohol in the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area?

Alcohol is not permitted within the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area under any circumstances, so make sure to leave your post-hike beers at home.