Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Southern California. Exploring Mountains, Seashore, and Desert онлайн

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On a clear day the view is truly amazing from here, with distant mountain ranges, the hazy L.A. Basin, and the island-dimpled surface of the ocean occupying all 360 degrees of the horizon. To complete the loop, return to the Backbone Trail and resume your travel eastward. Descend a twisting 1.5 miles to return to the trailhead.

Balanced rock above the Dihedrals

HIKE 5

The Grotto

Location: Circle X Ranch (Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area)

Highlights: Spooky rock formations and live oak groves

Distance: 2.8 miles (out-and-back)

Total Elevation Gain/Loss: 650'/650'

Hiking Time: 2 hours

Optional Maps: Trails Illustrated Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area or USGS 7.5-minute Triunfo Pass

Best Times: All year

Agency: SMMNRA

Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Use: Dogs allowed, good for kids

The 1,655-acre Circle X Ranch, formerly run by the Boy Scouts of America but now administered by the National Park Service, is positively riddled with Tom Sawyer-esque hiking paths. Chief among those is the Grotto Trail, perfect for young or young-in-thought adventurers. This hike is almost entirely downhill on the way in and uphill on the way back. Plan accordingly and bring enough drinking water.