The Hub Out-and-Back

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Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

A great out-and-back run with climbs that reward you with spectacular views of the area around Will Rogers State Park and Topanga State Park.

Watch out for mountain bikers.

Parking at Will Rogers State Park is $12. There is free street parking half a mile South of the park entrance.

At the main building at Will Rogers State Park, look for the Inspiration Point Loop Trail and take a left (west). Continue on about half a mile where you'll see a sign and map of the Backbone Trail.

Go North onto the east trailhead of the Backbone Trail on a challenging incline, with a view of the Pacific Ocean behind you, and downtown Los Angeles view to the east. On a good clear day, you might also see the Santa Catalina Island which is about 30 miles off the mainland.

At 2.5 miles, you'll arrive at a bridge point, and the steepest hill climb for this part of the trail. After the climb, the trail becomes flat, and it is a good time to pick up the speed. There are a lot of trees and shady areas in the morning.

The rocky part of the trail will come after the 4-mile mark, and be sure to watch out for mountain bikers flying down the hill as you ascend the mountain. After a mile of climbing, the view of Mulholland Drive will appear and also houses in San Fernando Valley. Continue onto the Backbone Trail and merge left (West). Soon you'll see a small sign for the Hub.

The Hub is located 7 miles in and is on the Backbone Trail. If you head North, you'll hit Mulholland Drive; continue West for Backbone Trail.

For this route, return and take the same route back to the Will Rogers State Park.