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 open at 9PM sharp on Sunday.
Scroll down past our closed trips to see our open trips this wave!
This 3-4 mile hike is pretty flat and relatively easy, with the highlight being the big picturesque rock pool shaded by sycamores and bays, with views of the Santa Monica mountains all around!
Join us for a morning hike to Los Leones. There will be no lions, but there will definitely be super cool views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Join us for a 4.5 mile, 2 and a half hour hike!
Come along on this quick hike near Griffith Park. We should see some beautiful views of the city, mountains, and the ocean. Speaking of the ocean, the professor joining us is Cameron Thrash, a professor in marine microbiology. Ask him about marine bacteria, waste-water treatment, and other microbes!
Er… there’s no better way to prep for finals than sleeping on the floor! Join us for a ~chill ~ 1 night beach camping trip at Leo Carrillo State Beach!
Come dissect your past relationships with the one and only Sociology of Love professor, Elisabeth Shimada! We will embark on a chill 2.5 hike in Malibu where we will see lovely ocean views and wildflowers, giving us a lovely environment to analyze USC’s dating scene. We will return early afternoon so y’all can get back to studying for finals !
SIXTH 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 watching Bryan juggle, body surfing, scavenging for some sick shells, throwing frisbees, playing Go Fish, and making new friends.
Unwind before finals with a quick morning jaunt through an urban “forest.” This 3 mile hike captures views of LA, a serene pond, and rumors have it there are turtles… 🐢
Join ITP Professor Kristof Aldenderfer for a moderately strenuous 8 mile, 1300ft elevation gain hike up to Sunset Peak. We’ll get a great workout and 360 views of the San Gabriel Mountains! Expect great views, great conversation, and maybe a stop for Kristof’s (and mine) favorite food, pho! on the way back.
Stunning ocean views, vibrant wildflowers, and a sneak peak of Catalina in the background? What better way to start off your weekend? Come join us with Professor Rita Barakat for a gorgeous 4.4-mile scenic hike!
Join Professor Ashley Uyeshiro Simon on a lovely Sunday morning hike in Malibu at Mugu Peak Trail! While this hike is only 3 miles, be prepared for a steep climb with lots of elevation gain (1,253 ft). As a reward, we will enjoy some of the best ocean and mountain views in the area.
Join us for a 9.5 mile hike (1250ft elevation gain) out-and-back in the San Gabriel Mountains with Professor Ronald Osborn. We will traverse several stream crossings, go through scrub bush, and end at a mysterious bridge. This is a perfect hike to conclude your semester on, enjoy breathtaking river views, and hear about the many places and wonderful work Professor Osborn has done around the world.
Join us on this 2.1-mile, 400 feet elevation gain hike with Communication professor Jillian Pierson! We’ll see some wildflowers and views of the San Gabriel Valley mountains along the way and be back just in time for the spring football game!
Join us for a lovely 4.9 mile hike at the Cedar Glen Camp Trail on Mt. Baldy with Dr. Diana Blaine. This hike will offer snowy paths and beautiful mountain views.
As we look to the end of this year, this may be the end of another year for school. But for us seniors, this is also the end of our school experience, or at least, our undergraduate experience, our school is for the journey experience. So, this hike is for us seniors to discuss with a winner of the USC Mentorship year to look into the future, intention set, and discuss our hopes, dreams, and worries. And most importantly, have fun and hike!
Join Peaks & Professor Tim Kobza on this quick hike through the Santa Monica Mountains! We will leave campus around 8am before driving to the trailhead in Topanga. After hiking about 45 minutes by the creek (with some crossings), we will arrive at the beautiful waterfall, where we can hang out and enjoy the view before heading back.
Join the amazing Professor Reisman + 3 other incredible Astronautical Engineering PhD students for an overnight trip to the tiny but mighty Pinnacles National Park! We will be driving early Saturday morning to Laguna Mountain to camp and act as home base to explore the nearby nature. On Saturday we will explore the caves and peaks of Pinnacles and return to the campsite that night for some full-moon stargazing and dinner on a campfire. On Sunday we will wake up bright and early to hike through another cave and another peak (and hopefully see some California Condors!) before returning back to campus Sunday night.
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.
The early bird gets the worm 🪱! Join us for a sunrise hike with (weather permitting) breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. This is a popular 5.3 mile out-and-back, so let’s beat the crowds together and get back just in time for your 9am 🙈.
An Architect on a Peaks Hike?! Sign up for an easy hike around Lake Hollywood and get a chance to talk to and learn from USC Architecture Professor Taka Tachibe!!
After all the rain in Southern California, how could we miss the greenery! Join us as we hike through the luscious Topanga Canyon on a 4.6mi loop with Professor Elizabeth Durst. Come frolic in the spring air and wildflowers as we get a break between midterms and finals.
Join us on a wonderful sunday stroll up and back trail near Topanga, California in Malibu Creek State Park! This hike is just moderately challenging, with the views of birds and greenery (particularly wild grown mushrooms) even more challenging to believe! The hike is 3.3 miles, but could be muddy so bring shoes you’re not terribly emotionally attached to at the moment. We are leaving at 8 am to get to the trail as the sun rises and enjoy the lovely UV, and to get back to qualm the Sunday carries.
Join us for a beautiful morning in Eaton Canyon with Professor Jennifer Lott! This is a moderately easy hike of 3.5 miles and about 500 ft in elevation. We will head out bright and early, cross some streams, and hike to a waterfall! (Be prepared to get wet and walk across some slippery rocks.) Professor Jennifer Lott will be joining us, along with her dog :)
Join Professor Tucker and Lily on a 5-mile hike to Dawn Mine. 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!
Start your birding career!
Join Peaks and Professor Robert Waller on a sunrise hike through the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains! We will leave campus around 5:15 before starting on our 5 mile trek. At USC, Professor Waller developed a special WRIT 340 class that aims to help performing and visual arts students articulate their own aesthetics, and through this process expand their understanding both of writing and the meanings and purposes driving their work. Expect panoramic views of Altadena, gorgeous wildflowers, and thought provoking conversations on artistry and creativity. You won’t want to miss this one!
Get excited for some backpacking right here in SoCal! We will be heading down to Crystal Cove State Park in OC for a night in nature with some costal views. After a 3 mile hike to the campground, we will explore the scenery of crystal cove, including beach views, rolling hills, and some sick native plants. See y’all out on the trails for this (beginner friendly) trip with Prof. Dan McCurry who can tell you anything you might want to know about water!
From tufa spires to volcanic rock, it’s time to explore all the unexpected but interesting things that the desert has to offer on this 2 night camping trip! We’ll be camping under the Milky Way in Trona Pinnacles and Fossil Falls, while stopping by Red Rock Canyon (no, not the one in Nevada, but the one in California - trust it’s just as beautiful), Vasquez Rocks, Burro Schmidt Tunnel, Johannesburg (no not the one in South Africa)/Randsburg, and more on the way. Joining us will be Peaks legend Dr. Larry Harris and his 2 Peaks legend pups Bootstrap and Musket!!!
Join us for a 2.5-mile nature walk in Elysian Park on March 30th, accompanied by three professors from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work (one of whom is bringing her dog).
Join us for an exciting day trip in the Santa Monica Mountains with Dr. Bita Minaravesh! We will be exploring the scenic Backbone Trail to Sandstone Peak & Mishe Mokwa Trail. This 6 mile loop should contain everything you want from a trip: great conversations, beautiful views, and lots of interesting natural rock formations!
Join us for a lovely 4.9 mile hike at the Cedar Glen Camp Trail on Mt. Baldy with Dr. Diana Blaine. This hike will offer snowy paths and beautiful mountain views.
Come along on this quick hike near Griffith Park. We should see some beautiful views of the city, mountains, and the ocean. Speaking of the ocean, the professor joining us is Cameron Thrash, a professor in marine microbiology. Ask him about marine bacteria, waste-water treatment, and other microbes!
Art hike with Professor Sweet to Point Dume Cliffs :)
Join us for a 3.7-mile hike to Switzer Falls in the Angeles National Forest. We’ll walk through the forest and some small streams to get to the waterfall! Have the chance to talk about environmental literature and more with Zak, a graduate student teaching in the Thematic Option Program.
Do you like rocks? Do you like the color red? Then join us on this trip to Red Rock Canyon in Topanga State Park with Academic Curator Kiel Shaub. We’ll be hiking a total of 6 miles (keep in mind there’s a steep uphill in the middle of the hike) with views of sandstone outcroppings of various colors.
Join geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn to hike among the Santa Monica mountains on the Zuma Ridge trail. This 5.5 mile hike will take you through the coastal landscape with great views of the Pacific Ocean.
Join us for a lovely 3 mile hike on the Temescal Canyon Trail to talk with two amazing professors about their experiences being women in engineering!
Join us for a weekend out in Chino Hills! Just a 1 hour drive away from campus, we’ll explore the hills of, well, Chino Hills, and camp for a night in the Rolling M. Ranch Campground. We’ll get around to a couple of hikes in the park on both Saturday and Sunday before heading back to campus.
Join us for a lovely 4.5 mile hike at the Malibu Creek State Park. This hike/walk offers picturesque lake views and a peaceful walk down an oak shaded lane. This is a perfect hike if you just came back to LA from spring break!
![[SWE x Peaks] Temescal Canyon w/ Amy Childress {Environmental Engineering} & Emma Singer {Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1710700965472-NVDQ90O48JNVDA04GRQF/TC1.jpg)
