People don’t often think of mid-November as a month for spending lots of time outdoors. In many places, temperatures are falling, along with the first flurries of snow. The fall foliage might be dwindling, giving way to the skeletal branches of winter. We think of November as a time for curling up with a cozy blanket and a hot drink, not trekking into the nearest forest.

The truth is, though, that immersing yourself in nature is a great idea at any time of the year. And here in L.A., November happens to be the perfect time to go for a hike! After months of heat and dryness, we enjoy rains that cool the air and reinvigorate our unique plant life. Although each day is shorter than the last, the daylight we do have is crisp, golden, and perfect for taking in some of the ample nature around us.

That’s why residents of Los Angeles and other nearby cities are especially lucky that National Take a Hike Day happens to fall on November 17. This day is exactly what it sounds like: an opportunity to put on some comfortable shoes, grab your water bottle, and hit the trails. Hiking isn’t just a good form of physical exercise. Studies have shown that spending time in nature reduces stress, alleviates symptoms of depression, and even boosts your immune system.

But where to go? The L.A. area offers so many hiking options that it’s almost overwhelming. Here are a few ideas for day hikes or quick excursions, depending on where you live in the city. All of these hikes are teeming with native flora and fauna, so make sure to take some photos for iNaturalist!

If you’re on the west side, one of the easiest spots to visit is the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. If you’re looking for an intense workout, you can climb the formidable Culver City Stairs to the top of the hill. For a more gentle hike, you can take the winding trails. Another easy option is Coldwater Canyon Park, home of the nonprofit organization TreePeople. The park offers several trails that wind through and around the TreePeople campus. The Santa Monica Mountains are a treasure trove of hikes, although some areas, like Temescal Canyon Park, are still recovering from the Palisades Fire.

If you’re located in the Hollywood area or the Valley, Griffith Park offers a multitude of different hikes. The Ferndell Nature Trail is an easy start, offering a paved path with benches alongside a winding creek. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can continue on past Ferndell to Griffith Observatory, taking either the West Observatory Trail or the East Observatory Trail.

If you’re on the east side, you can take a day trip to one of the many hiking trails in the Angeles National Forest. The Switzer Falls Trail, for instance, offers a shaded walk through a canyon to a secluded waterfall, and the Burkhart Trail begins at the popular Buckhorn Campground. You might catch a glimpse of some of L.A.’s elusive bighorn sheep!

Finally, if you’re looking for something on the southern end of L.A., the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach is a hidden gem containing multiple trails, including a ¼ mile paved trail. You can also walk along the beach itself, or explore the tide pools in areas like White Point Beach in San Pedro.

But these are just a few ideas to get you started! The L.A. area offers many more hikes than one blog post can cover. If you want to learn more about hiking and nature, here are a few books on trails, wildlife, and other things that make hiking great. Happy reading, and happy hiking!

• Wild LA by Lila Higgins: This book offers lots of hikes and nature walks around L.A., along with profiles of plants and animals you might spot along the way.
• Day Hiking Los Angeles by Casey Schreiner: If you’re looking for day trips around L.A., this is the guide to get. Schreiner covers hikes from Malibu to the San Gabriel Mountains and everywhere in between.
• Secrets of the Oak Woodlands by Kate Marianchild: Oak trees are a keystone species, meaning they support tons of wildlife, and California is home to more than 20 species of oaks. This book is a celebration of all the plants and animals that thrive because of them.
• California Snakes and How to Find Them by Emily Taylor: California is home to some beautiful snakes, and herpetologist Emily Taylor shares her love of them in this breezy guide.
• Medicinal Herbs of California by Lanny Kaufer: This guide is a wonderful introduction to herbalism and California ethnobotany. You might recognize some medicinal herbs on your next hike (but if you want to use them, make sure to grow them yourself)!
• Field Guide to Birds of California by Alvaro Jaramillo: This book is a must for any birder in Los Angeles. After identifying a species, you can photocopy the checklist in the back and keep track of all the birds you spot!
• The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Western Washington and Oregon by Syren Nagakyrie: If you have a disability that makes unpaved hikes challenging, Syren Nagakyrie has compiled a helpful guide to accessible hikes. You’ll need to travel up north to go on the hikes in this book, but you can find a California trail guide at disabledhikers.com.
• Forest Walking by Peter Wohlleben: Peter Wohlleben is known for his lighthearted book on plant intelligence, The Hidden Life of Trees. In Forest Walking, he turns his attention to hikes in North America.
• Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li: This book lays out the art and science of forest bathing, a practice that uses immersion in nature to promote health and well-being.
• The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws: If you want to take your hiking hobby to the next level, why not try nature journaling? This guide lays out techniques and practices to turn any nature lover into a citizen scientist.