Three Great Hikes for Novices

Scott Regberg

Mirror Contributing Writer

   The question is often asked: Where's an easy beginner's hike? In fact, I remember some years ago asking one of our hiking leaders for more "canopy covered nature walks with streambeds and endless level trails.".

   I learned the hard way that the local Santa Monica Mountains are mountains. You have to go up before you go down and long stretches of idyllic level trails are precious few.

   However, for the faint of heart, here are three hikes one notch tougher than walking down the grass strip of San Vincente Boulevard:

   Capri: take Sunset Boulevard into the Palisades and go north on Capri to the very top. You'll wind around a little bit but eventually reach a T-shaped dead-end. Park and start walking west or to the left side of the "T". The gentle, partially paved road will take you past several houses and then along the ridge of Will Roger's Rustic Canyon Trail. When you are ready, there are several interesting paths down and a variety of trails, but for now just follow friendly Capri and then head back. There are grand views to the southwest and of canyons, but very little canopy coverage.

   Kenter Canyon: like Capri, this is a fire road, which means a wide open trail following the ridge line. You'll experience great views and minimal gain. You'll see lots of brush and canyon foliage from a distance, but this is no walk in the woods. Set your own pace and enjoy the exercise. It's a slow and steady uphill trek eventually reaching Mountain Gate homes.

   Also Like Capri, there are several ridge routes and side trails that can help make the hike more interesting -- there is even a secret cross-over to Tigertail Road.

   The Santa Ynez Waterfall Trail: although easy, this is a legitimate hike that will really give the feeling of being out of the city. Unlike Capri and Kenter, this is a walk along a canyon floor, rather than a ridge top fire road. The path is irregular and meanders across streambeds, through wildflowers and a wide variety of trees, reeds, and poison oak.

   From the Coast Highway take Sunset Boulevard to Palisades Drive, up to the first left and go down the hill to the end. The gated entry will be to your right. Just follow the path -- there are some choices to be made but the signposts are fairly clear. If you can't figure out which way to go, remember that you're heading upstream to the waterfall. This is really a beautiful hike with a great diversity of scenery. Parts of the trail are moist and reedy, some stretches are denser forest and finally, the waterfall area is like Utah or Colorado with large smooth rocks. You'll definitely have fun crossing the streams and rock-hopping your way to the falls.

   Depending on the season the Waterfall itself can be anticlimactic, but the journey there is the e-ticket for beginner hikes.

   For more experienced hikers, the Santa Ynez is the starting point to an array of adventurous trails, including the Wind Caves, Crack, Quarry Trail, and the seldom-seen Marty Falls, impossibly hidden above the long forgotten quarry works.

   Readers interested in joining Monday and Wednesday night hikes please call Scott Regberg at (310) 475-5735.