Join Professor, artist, road-tripper and nature enthusiast Eric Junker on a hike through the rich canyon, Malibu Creek State Park! Just a drive from the urban landscape of LA, this scenic park preserves some beautiful views in the Santa Monica Mountains. On our 4.5 mile hike, we will see water features such as rock pools and Century Lake, perfect places to learn how Professor Junker channels his creative energy into art and design!

Following the Woolsey fire in 2018, parts of the park burned but it has since largely recovered. Now, the color contrast of charred earth and luscious greenery shows the resilience of nature.

Join Dr. Concannon and his two adorable daughters on a nice Sunday stroll through Angeles National Forest. We will be doing a 4.5 mile reverse hike, hiking down into a canyon before stopping halfway for lunch with a view of a beautiful cascading waterfall, then ascending back uphill to work off our lunch.

Get pumped for this all day trip to Santa Cruz Island! We will take an early ferry out to this isolated island to see all sorts of Pacific Rim plants and Wildlife. Expect beautiful ocean views and a full day away from the fast-paced SoCal life!

Want a break from midterm studying at Leavey or just a little adventure off campus? Come cool off with a quick hike in the lower San Gabriels! This hike features lots of shade, a sweet waterfall, and some cool convos with Professor Michael Petitti.

Join us for a poetically beautiful journey through Angeles National Forest!

This trail will give us the LA experience we came here for, leading us through Griffith park to the famous Bronson Caves, which have been used as a set by numerous movies, especially sci fis and westerns and was the site of the Batcave in the 1960 Batman movie! We will hike to get a good view of the Hollywood sign and the LA basin— perfect for the #insta #pics. It’s a 6.6 mile loop with about 1000 feet in elevation, mostly gradual.

Professor Ruth Chung is a psychologist who teaches in the master's program in marriage and family therapy at USC. She and her husband, Prof. David Yoo, a historian at UCLA, will be joining us on a hike in the beautiful foothills of Claremont near Mt. Baldy about 35 miles east of downtown LA. They were residents of Claremont for over 20 years and both taught previously at the Claremont Colleges. They will be the guides taking us on their favorite hike followed by a tour of downtown Claremont Village which is like a quaint old-fashioned Eastcoast college-town. We’ll check out the Sunday farmers market along with excellent cafes, bakeries, and eating options for lunch as well as bookstores and small shops. 

Feeling tide down? Not shore if you can make it another weekend without some great sea-nery? Well then look no further! We'll be bringing you sweet views of the southern California coastline!

Join Professor Kristen Zaleski on one of her 6 peaks challenge as she trains to take on Machu Picchu this spring! Our 7.5 mile hike through the grand Strawberry Peak, just 10 miles from Pasadena, will feature the mountain faces of Mt. Wilson, Josephine Peak, and Mt. Lawlor. Starting from the Red Box Picnic Area, we will embark on a mountain of 6,164 ft tall and an elevation change of 1,510 ft, so be ready for a work outwork and some amazing views!

Come join us on a beautiful hike to the tallest point in the Santa Monica Mountains, Sandstone Peak! This 5.6 mile hike is filled with gorgeous views of the Malibu Hills and Pacific Ocean and some amazing sandstone rock formations. You’re sure to be inspired by the inspring view from Inspiration Point!

Join School of Architecture professor James Diewald on a 7-mile coastal hike to the Parker Mesa overlook via the Los Liones Trail! We’ll begin with a steep incline through a winding, narrow canyon until we enter a wider, sunny fire road, finishing at the Mesa lookout. This lush out-and-back trail features a variety of terrains and spectacular views of Santa Monica Bay.

Join us for a 7 mile hike in the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains! Along the way, we will be treated to views of other peaks like Mt. Waterman, Mt. Baldy, and Mt. Josephine. At the top, we will be able to observe the whole LA basin!

Join Dr. Andrew Simpson on an exciting adventure through the San Gabriel mountains! As he puts it, “This is a real wilderness hike, about 8 hours, most of which time you don't see anyone else. It's along a creek, often with little path in sight, a lot of boulder-hopping or wading through the river if the water is high. The group needs to be a little hard-core for this, as it's a tough hike, but really special.”