Let’s be honest, serene national parks are hardly the first thing most people think about when they picture the sunny metropolis of Hollywood and incredible taco trucks? Yes. Natural wonders? No.
Yet one of the coolest features of this enormous California city is how easy it is to escape its sprawl and strike out for several show-stopping pieces of public land. As a 19-year resident of LA who loves to hike and camp, I’ve spent dozens of weekends doing just that. I hope that this guide to the best national parks near Los Angeles helps you get the R&R you’re craving, whether it be in the sandy desert or among towering, snow-capped mountains.