The best places to hike in west covina

Hiking is one of the many things you can do if you live in Southern California. Whether you want to stroll through beautiful wildlife or take your dog on a hike, you can find a trail that fits your interests. Visit the various trails, parks, and falls around West Covina to find out which nature spot is the right one for you. 

Galster Wilderness Park

Galster Wilderness Park is in San Jose hills near Azusa Avenue and Aroma Drive. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Home to one of the last native communities of Southern California black walnut trees, this park has four trails ideal for families and beginners. Each trail is no more than 0.6 miles long, but you can link them together for a longer hike. The trails are mostly paved and take about an hour altogether. 

Before or after your hike, you can visit the Galster Wilderness Park Nature Center, located near one of the trailheads. The nature center focuses on educating visitors on the environment. 

Hacienda Hills Trail

Hacienda Hills Trail is in the Puente-Chino Hills section of Los Angeles County. The public can access the Hacienda Hills Trail during all times of the year. It’s open from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. from October 1 to May 31 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 1 to September 30. 

It takes about 2.5 hours to complete this 4.7-mile hike. You can reach an elevation as high as 655 feet during your hike to catch beautiful views of the San Gabriel Mountains. There is parking available right at the beginning of the trail. You can use the restroom and fill up your water at the water fountain before you begin your hike. This trail is also popular with mountain bikers in the area. 

When you’re hiking on the trail, expect to see sages, poppies, and goldfields. There’s plenty of shade from sycamores and oaks, making this a manageable hike year-round. To prevent runoff, this trail closes for two days after rainfall, so check the weather before you go. 

Azusa River Wilderness Park 

Azusa Wilderness River Park is just 3.6 miles off of I-210. The park is open to guests from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. The Encanto Trail within the park is 2-miles long, and it takes about an hour to complete. With the park’s flat terrain, it’s a great place to take the kids or your dog. You can bike on dedicated bike trails, eat breakfast or lunch at the all-day picnic center, or pitch a tent overnight in the camping area. 

The trail starts scenic view of a waterfall before heading north, then you’ll get a rural view of Highway 39 while walking over the high bridge. You’ll finish your hike down near the river with oak trees providing your shade to cool down. Water levels may rise during the rainy season, so keep the weather in mind before you embark on a hike in this location. 

Marshall Canyon Trail

Marshall Canyon Trail 7.8-mile-long trail in Los Angeles County in the town of La Verne. The trail is in the Marshall Canyon Regional Park, which is open from sunrise to sunset. The park offers amenities such as campsites, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The trail is free to hike, and you can bring your dog if it’s on a leash. 

The full trail takes about four or five hours to complete. You ascend over 1,300 feet and reach the trail’s peak high at 2,424 feet, which is almost 2 miles above sea level. When you’re hiking the trail, watch out for deer and other forms of wildlife drinking from the river.

At moderate difficulty, this is a popular trail for all hikers. The ascent to the top of the canyon offers beautiful views throughout the entire trek. Since it’s a well-traversed trail, the dirt path is easy to navigate, and there are many benches and tables where you can rest and take in the scenery. 

Sturtevant Falls

A hike to Sturtevant Falls is one of the most scenic waterfall hikes you can take in Los Angeles County. The waterfall is in Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel and the Sierra Pelona Mountains.

To begin this hike, begin at the Chantry Flats trailhead, which is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day but Wednesdays when it opens at 6:30 a.m. It’s free to hike the trail, but parking at the trailhead costs $5 per day. The hike lasts 3.4 miles, and you can finish the hike in less than two hours. There are restrooms at the trailhead and picnic tables along the trail.

Proceed with caution when hiking this trail because you may encounter steep drop-offs due to changes in elevation. You may see abandoned cabins where you can have a picnic and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. The 60-foot waterfall is a sight to see, and you can find many hikers swimming in the water to cool off in the summer. 

Ben Overturff Trail

Located in Monrovia Canyon Park, this 6.5-mile trail is perfect for novice hikers. The park is open from sunrise to 9 p.m. seven days a week for pedestrians. Vehicle access is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all weekdays but Tuesdays (closed for cars) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends. This steep trail takes about 4 to 5 hours, so it’s a good idea to start early. 

This mostly dirt trail features plenty of shade from oak trees and beautiful gooseberries and monkeyflowers. You can stop midway through your hike at the remains of an old lodge built by Ben Overturff in the 1900s. There are also restrooms available at the trailhead.

Do you live in or have recently visited West Covina and have a recommendation that isn’t on this list? Feel free to contact us and we’ll consider adding to a post in the future.