Where to Hike and Get Space in Los Angeles During Coronavirus Quarantine – Legally

If you are looking to get out and get some space someplace more exciting than the block surrounding your home during the coronavirus quarantine, you may feel you have no options. The newspapers have done an excellent job of telling us about closed beaches, closed parks, closed hiking trails and more during the COVID-19 quarantine.  Heck, they have even told us about a surfer that got arrested for being out in the ocean near the Malibu Pier.

Fortunately, you don’t have to limit your walks to traveling between the kitchen and your living room!  Here are some beautiful places I’ve found where you can still get out and stretch your legs “legally.”

Burton Chace Park

Burton Chace Park is still open during the coronavirus quarantine. Unlike other places that have done “soft closings” they haven’t even closed their parking lot. Better yet, parking is free in their lot Monday – Friday until 6:00 PM but do check the signs.

The 10 acre park is surrounded by the water of beautiful Marina del Rey on three sides.  Enjoy the views and the healthy ocean air and sunshine while you stroll the perimeter of the park and be sure to spend some time watching the resident seals.

The people I saw in the park are doing a good job of social distancing so you should be safe enough. Tables and various facilities are taped off with caution tape but the park itself is open. 

Burton Chace Park is located at 13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey

If you haven’t been to the park, check out our video on Marina del Rey to see why you want to go!

Hilltop Park

Hilltop Park in Signal Hill is open and offers breathtaking views across Los Angeles and the Port of Los Angeles.  There is plenty of room to walk around and the views give you a sense of space that goes far beyond the four walls of the room you have been confined to for so long!

Bring a good camera.  Due to most people being at home, the sky is unusually clear and you can get breathtaking photos.

The parking lot is closed.  The facilities and picnic tables are all taped off with caution tape, but you are free to enjoy the park.  I didn’t observe any problems with people not observing social distancing rules there.

Hilltop Park is located at 2351 Dawson Ave in Signal Hill.

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

If you’re a hiker and frustrated that all of the hiking trails have been closed due to the COVID-19 quarantine, then head on over to Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area.  Again you will find taped off picnic tables etc, but the parking lots and trails are open.

This is an expansive park adjacent to the Inglewood Oil Field.  As you enter there is a grassy area with a stream, waterfall and lake.  It’s a great place to walk and relax.

Follow the road farther up the hilll and you’ll come to another small parking lot.  Park and hike on up the trail for some of the most fantastic view of Los Angeles to be found and the coolest “Hummingbird Park” you can imagine!  It’s so fun to watch them!

There is plenty of space to spread out and keep your social distancing in.  Be sure to bring a good camera.  With the clear skies, you will never get photos of downtown LA from a distance with such clear skies again!

The entrance to the park is off of LaCienaga Blvd with clearly marked exit signs either direction you are taking.  The address is 4100 South La Cienega Boulevard (Los Angeles, CA 90056) in Baldwin Hills.

 

Point Fermin Park

Point Fermin Park is open, however the Point Fermin Lighthouse & Museum is closed.  Again expect taped-off amenities, but the parking lot is open. 

This is a beautiful park down in the San Pedro area where the land rises sharply from the ocean at the water’s edge.  The breathtaking views over the ocean and LA Harbor will cure your cabin fever while you exercise your legs in the expansive park!

Point Fermin Park and Lighthouse is located at 807 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731

Malibu Pier and Malibu Lagoon

The Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach are now open and are at their most beautiful!  We cover it more fully in this post on Malibu California.  I’m a little uncertain on the status of the Malibu Lagoon State Beach.  They aren’t doing too well at updating their website page.  It appears at the worst that it is open, but that the parking lot may be closed to help prevent overcrowding.

Of course, since this is a post about getting out and stretching your legs a bit, walking west from the pier along Surfrider Beach to the path that circles Malibu Lagoon is a beautiful way to spend your day.  It’s easy walking distance.

See our video on the beauty of Malibu below.  We have a video on the Malibu Lagoon here.

LA County Beaches

All Los Angeles County beaches are closed.  However you can find areas near some of the beaches where you can stretch your legs.  For example, at Venice Beach, the beach is clearly marked closed, but it seems to be okay to stroll on the boardwalk.  Of course nothing is open along it so there won’t be the usual excitement, but the idea is go get some exercise so that shouldn’t matter. Edit: As of July 6, 2020 most all Southern California Beaches, Piers and Trails are now open with some restrictions at some of them.

What’s open and what’s closed changes on a daily basis so it is a good idea to google the area before heading out.  Most have notices regarding their COVID-19 status on their home pages.

Note that any of the parks that are open ask that you follow social distancing guidelines.  Please do so.  Whether or not you are that concerned about catching coronavirus, all it takes is one picture of people standing close together in one of these spots posted to social media to get it shut down!

More photos after the break…

 

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