Not sure what the categories mean? We break down our difficulty ratings for you here.
Unsure about the different registration options? We explain what driving for our trips actually involves here.
Sign ups are first come first serve! Links will be live at 9PM sharp on Sunday, March 2nd.
Ok ok ok, who doesn’t want to go to a National Park?! Professor Ronney is so excited to show USC students one of his favorite hikes—Keane Wonder Mill, which besides being a gorgeous hike, contains so much rich history! Check something off your bucket list and sign up!
Join Professor Uzquiano for a hike unlike any other—where the conversation is as mind-expanding as the views! A world-renowned expert in metaphysics and philosophical logic, he’s taught at Oxford, St Andrews, and MIT, tackling deep questions about existence, paradoxes, and the limits of thought. Ever wondered if something can be in two places at once? Or how to solve the hardest logic puzzle ever in just two questions? Here’s your chance to get outside and get thinking!
Whether you're into philosophy or just love a good thought experiment, this is a rare opportunity to walk and talk with one of USC’s most fascinating thinkers.
Happy Earth Month y’all! Come celebrate with a stunning Malibu beach hike with the USC Office of Sustainability’s own Chief Sustainability Officer—Mick Dalrymple! This mild 2.7 mile hike features expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and rolling hills covered in the greenery of California native plants. Let’s chat about how to protect our ocean while looking at it!
Looking for a nice hike right outside of LA? Or curious to see a Catalina Marisa lily? Maybe even hoping for a way to unwind from a (biology) midterm? Join us on April 12 from 8:00AM to 2:00PM for an exciting 5 mile hike through Turnbull Canyon with the one and only Dr. Rita Barakat! Enjoy some stunning views alongside riveting conversations about biology, life, and everyone in between.
If you are looking for a pleasant stroll and outdoor escape right in the heart of LA, this is the hike for you! Featuring beautiful trails, a lake, and a Japanese garden—this hike is perfect for those of you looking to relax before your upcoming OChem (scary!) exam. Pull up for this fun and casual 2.8 mile adventure!
Do you enjoy contemplating the nuances of religion and intentional design? Do you like scenic hikes and connecting with nature and like-minded individuals? Do you simply want to escape USC’s city-locked campus? Yes? Then join us for a lovely 7-mile hike to Strawberry Peak with Professor Matthew Peterson! With 1,771 feet of elevation gain, some light rock scrambling, and a short meditation led by Professor Peterson, you will end this trip feeling accomplished, refreshed, and ready to continue thinking outside.
Whether you’re interested in theology or simply want to broaden your intellectual horizons, this is a great opportunity to explore religious thought with a master of the subject… all while enjoying the wonderful natural beauty of Southern California.
Join Professor Matthew Manos for a sunny Sunday on the beach! With an easy 2 mile out-and-back hike along the Malibu coast, this trip will be one you won’t want to miss. And once we get to the beach… we’re gonna have a beach picnic so be sure to bring a lunch or snacks.. and maybe some to share too :) We’ll take in the scenery, hang out by the water, and have some good convos!
Do you enjoy beautiful views and a refreshing ocean breeze? Join us for a sunset stroll along the Palos Verdes coastline with Professor Egan! Bring a little snack to enjoy with the scenery and, if we’re lucky, some ocean wildlife!
Come KAYAKING and (maybe) SNORKELING on the beautiful Catalina Island with Professor David Hutchins! We’ll be going on a guided kayak tour at the Wrigley Institute, with possible opportunity for snorkeling in the nearby bay. Then, we’ll eat lunch and walk through the Wrigley Marine Institute on the island for a guided tour of the lab! We’ll also be taking the exclusive SC boat over!
Come unwind on this beautiful camping trip to Santa Paula! Get ready for a weekend full of swimming holes, rock-hopping, and gourmet camping food. When we arrive on Saturday, we will venture out on an 8-mile hike to the Punch Bowls, where we will swim, splash around, and eat lunch before returning to our picturesque campsite to hang out and eat dinner.
Come unwind on this beautiful day trip to Cooper Canyon Falls. This scenic 5.2-mile hike offers great views and a peaceful escape into nature, ending at a picturesque waterfall.
Do you have the Sunday Scaries? If so, take a break and join us on an amazing hike with Professor Calabrese. Join us on this 6.1 mile loop hike along the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula where we will hike alongside the majestic Pacific Ocean and cool lighthouses. (and maybe WWII bunkers??)
Feeling like your week could use a refresh? Craving some nature, ocean breeze, and wagging tails? Come join the one and only Professor Charlie Hannigan (and his adorable dog Smiley!) for a laid-back, soul-filling hike to the waterfall in Placerita Canyon — a scenic trail that winds through oak woodlands and chaparral-covered slopes, culminating at a charming 15-foot seasonal cascade.
Welcome in Spring with a Saturday morning paddleboarding sesh in Alamitos Bay! Join us in basking in the water and getting our pull day—courtesy of 90 minutes of paddle boarding. IMPORTANT - You must be a strong swimmer to participate in this trip, if you are not completely comfortable in the water our other phenomenal trips are a better fit for you!
Have you ever thought to yourself: Wow, I am free on April 5 from 8AM to 3PM and would LOVE to hike 5.7 miles with 459ft of elevation gain along Point Vicente? Well, do I have some news for you. Expect Gorgeous views, Lovely wildlife, and Amazing conversation with new friends, featuring USC’s very own Dr. Kayla Reardon!
Sign up for this awesome day hike to learn some cool history from Professor Lerner while exploring Malibu State Park. Be there or be ⬛
Brain still on break mode? Feeling slightly unproductive? Need an awesome getaway from campus? Reward yourself with this fun, super easy 4.5-mile hike to THE Rock Pool of Malibu Creek State Park — joined by THE one and only Business Economics professor, Matthew Hill! Enjoy your afternoon adventure by lounging by THE Rock Pool, climbing on volcanic rock, and simply chatting up a storm with THE Matthew Hill (and some new friends)!
Get ready to explore these two BEAUTIFUL National Parks with Conor and Maia! Join us for 3 days of hiking, exploring, learning, cooking, meditating, and adventuring. We’ll be disperse camping for two nights in the Hume Lake district, going on scenic hikes in the surrounding area and enjoying cozy nights by the campfire.
Come voyage with us across the high seas to the far-away lands of Channel Islands National Park! We’ll hike along cliffs overlooking the ocean, hang out on da beach, sleep on the dirt for two nights, and attempt to stop our fox neighbors from breaking into our tents.
We’ll take the ferry from Ventura Friday morning and sail back home on Sunday afternoon!
Join Lily and Professor Alexandra Brewer for a 4.6-mile hike in the Angeles National Forest. We’ll hike through the forest: crossing streaming, petting moss, observing lichen, and enjoying the sun. After climbing down a rope, we’ll arrive at a beautiful waterfall! If you so choose, you can take a dip in the water :)
Looking for a great way to fight the Sunday scaries? Join geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn to hike in Malibu Creek State Park on the Malibu Lake Trail. This 6.4 mile hike will be a great way to get outside and explore a well loved filming location.
Join us on an overnight trip with Prof Larry Harris! We will be leaving early Saturday morning and heading straight to the Afton Canyon campground to set up. After that, we will do the Spooky Canyon hike and then return back to camp for cooking and lovely times! The next morning we will hit a few stops on the way back, including the Alvord Mine. We will aim to be back on campus before 7pm.
Want to play with snow? Conclude your winter with a lovely 4.9 mile hike (1400ft elevation) at the Cedar Glen Camp Trail on Mt. Baldy. This snowy hike will offer beautiful mountain views and flowing streams. This is a perfect hike if you are down for breathtaking views and an escape into the Cucamonga Wilderness. We also may get to see deer if we’re lucky…
Need to escape for a day? Join us on a 9.2 mile trek in Point Mugu State Park where we will escape from USC’s hectic campus and become one with the lovely Santa Monica Mountains.
Join USC’s Society of Women Engineers’ (SWE) graduate community on this short hike in the Kenneth Hahn recreation area. Escape the hustle and bustle of USC while we get a weekend reset before midterms fly in.
Join the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and some of USC’s most distinguished engineering faculty on a lovely wander of the beautiful Trail Canyon Falls! This scenic hike is the perfect Sunday breather from the study-filled life of a Viterbi student.
If you’re looking to start your Saturday morning off with a relaxing stroll around a large(ish) body of water then join us for a 3.3 mile, 150-foot elevation gain hike around the Hollywood Reservoir with professors Maria Mercedes Fages Agudo and Leah Kemp from the Spanish Department (no Spanish knowledge necessary to have a good time)! Enjoy greenery after the recent rains and a great view of the Hollywood sign!
Are you already in need of an adventure even though the semester just started? Look no further! Join us for a hike to a waterfall in the beautiful Angeles National Forest! This 4.6-mile trail will be the perfect start to your Sunday and end to your weekend. Prepare to get a little wet on the trail’s river crossings!
The EXL lab is excited to announce The World Beneath Our Feet, a new urban hiking series that explores the layers of history that live under the concrete landscapes of Greater Los Angeles! For our first journey, we will take the Old Salt Road from USC to the Village of Yaanga. We’ll stop for lunch and local history near el Pueblo, and end at the Buena Vista Viewpoint, which sits atop the terraced hillside known by the Kizh-Gabrieleño as Mowanga, offering an excellent view of the LA River looking north.
Take a break from studying and come meditate with Mindful USC at Santa Monica Pier! We will be meeting bright and early to head to the beach, where we will enjoy the sun and the waves and wrap up the fall semester in the best way possible.
Join Lily and Andy for a 5.6 mile hike to Dawn Mine, located deep in Millard Canyon. We’ll cross some streams and go through the forest in search of an old mine and water pump. Will we find it? You’ll have to join us to find out!
Join us (myself and Professor Pizzati AND Economics Association) for an easy 3-mile loop the Sunday before Thanksgiving break! We’ll be hiking Temescal Canyon Trail, a Pacific Palisades hike offering '“the best of both ocean and canyon views.” If we get lucky we might pass by a (small) waterfall, and with/without luck we’ll get to see the awesome Skull Rock! Please join us, very easy, very fun!
Need weekend-before-Thanksgiving plans? 🦃 Come join da Peaks + Broyer fam for a fun camping trip up in Malibu Creek State Park! We’ll splash around in some Rock Pools, explore some little lakes, dip our toes in some ocean water nearby, and touch some grass (hike) before enjoying some good ol’ car camping grub around the fire. I’ll try to make it Thanksgiving-y but no promises! 🍂
End (or start — we can discuss whether Sunday is really the beginning of a week) your week the right way with this short 2 mile, 340 elevation-gain hike in Coldwater Canyon Park! We’ll be with Miki Turner, the goddess of the camera and her dog Rosa (yes, named after Rosa Parks). You won’t want to miss this one :)
Sign up to hike Cherry Canyon with not one, not two, not even three, but five real estate development faculty members from the Price School of Public Policy!
Join myself and the wonderful Professor Petitti for a refreshing Sunday morning hike at the beautiful Topanga State Park! We’ll be taking a pretty cool looped 4.6-mile trail all the way up to Eagle Rock, where we will appreciate the spectacular views and rock scramble! What a stunning way to end your weekend!
Join us for a beautiful hike in the Santa Monica Mountains with Environmental Studies Professor Jill Sohm! Sweat off the Sunday scaries with this 5 mile trek with moderate elevation gain. We’ll get to see the gorgeous views of one of SoCal’s most beautiful mountain ranges, and we might even get to enjoy tasting some of the lovely flora along the trail!
Join Professor Egan for his first ever PEAKS HIKE! This is gonna be a moderate 4 and a half mile hike, so make sure to pack lots of water! Hopefully, it’ll be foggy like in the photos… Apparently we should also expect “a nice breeze from the Pacific Ocean” on our way down. Regardless of whether conditions, expect awesome vibes and lots of fun!
Start your birding career!
SEVENTH SEMESTER IN A ROW… LET’S SEND IT! Join psychology professor Bryan Shilowich and special guest Leslie Berntsen as we climb Point Dume and enjoy some well-needed beach time before finals. When it comes to activities (besides climbing), the sky’s the limit—possible moves include body surfing, scavenging for some sick shells, throwing frisbees, playing Go Fish, and making new friends.
Join us for a proper Ojai retreat! Our trip will feature Professor Jim Burklo, USC’s dean of spirituality. We will meet at USC Village at 7:30 then manke the 1.5 hour drive to Ojai. Once there, we will do our hike at Sisar Canyon, a moderatly chalenging hike with gorgeous views. After that, Professor Burklo has invited us around to his lovely Ojai home for snacks, a swim in his pool, and introductions to his two donkeys. Return back to campus may vary depending on how long the group chooses to stay.
![[SWE] Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area w/ Saty Raghavachary {Computer Science}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1738784059542-R8O083VA0LYU27F56I88/kenneth+hahn+2.jpg)
![[SHPE x Peaks] Trail Canyon Falls w/ Paul Plucinsky {Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering} and Adam Smith {Civil and Enviromental Engineering}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1738950458383-VLOBLUQ6JPEQKNHHTSVS/IMG_4095.jpg)
![[Mindful USC x Peaks] Santa Monica Beach Meditation with Allyson Pimentel and Gauri Kolhatkar {Mindful USC}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1730411661030-1KRCVM756G07QNN0U5JD/1.jpg)
![[EA x Peaks] Temescal Canyon Trail w/ Lodovico Pizzati {Economics}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1730261248755-3EWR2UMCHKFG036K4CEU/IMG_8192-5.jpg)
