Clocked Out: Let's take a hike
Psst, that wicked heat is gone and we only have a few days left of summer. Let's enjoy them on the dusty trail.
I don't know about you, but during that heat dome earlier this month, I spent a week bed-rotting, loitering in heavily air-conditioned cafes and otherwise only leaving my apartment at night. Unless you have central A/C, maybe you can relate. Record-breaking heat waves are not for the faint of heart (or the poor).
Ahem, anyway, weeks of extreme heat are past us now (hopefully) and we're just a few days away from the Autumnal Equinox on Sept. 22. What better way to celebrate the last weekend of summer than to get into nature and hit a dusty trail?
While we don't have a ton of hiking options here in Long Beach, there are many trails just a 20- to 45-minute drive away. Here's where I've been lately, starting with the local trails.
El Dorado Nature Center - Long Beach
We'll begin with an obvious one. Although, I'm pretty embarrassed to admit that I lived in Long Beach for an amount of years that shall not be named before I realized we had such a well-kept network of tree-covered trails.
Unlike many other nature areas around Southern California, this 105-acre sanctuary is enclosed (and protected) by gates. It's only open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Mondays. For some of us weirdos who love sunset hikes and sunrise forest bathing, this is a bummer. But the upside is that it keeps us (messy humans) out, allowing for a litter-free experience on three different trails.
Strict rules and frequent partial trail closures also help the center's staff do things like help relocate a great horned owlet that had fallen out of its mother's nest and hopped into a park restroom in July. That being said, if you stumble upon such a creature or any other creature on your hike, for that matter, leave it be. Staff and volunteers work hard to maintain a habitat that doesn't exist anywhere else in Long Beach.
Unless you walk or take the bus here, you'll need to pay $6 on weekdays to park, $7 on Fridays and $8 on weekends. Dogs, sadly, are not allowed. Find more information here.
Colorado Lagoon - Long Beach
This one isn't actually a hike but it is a lovely 1-mile trail around a saltwater tidal lagoon, which also serves as a refuge for wildlife. You'll begin your short but sweet adventure at 4900 Appian Way, where you'll find the Lagoon Crossway — a dock that will have you cross over a popular swimming area.
Then make your way over to the Nieto Avenue portion of the trail, which will lead to a grassy area off of Sixth Street that is shaded by a few large trees. This is one of my favorite places to sit down solo with a book or a few friends for a picnic.
This tiny loop is also a great option for children, older adults and dogs.
Hacienda Hills Trailhead - Hacienda Heights
Now that you're warmed up, let's drive out of Long Beach and over to some trails with a bit of incline.
Set your GPS to 14600 Orange Grove Ave. in Hacienda Heights and you'll find a parking lot adjacent to the trailhead, which will lead to five different trails. If you're willing to tackle a 5-mile loop, you'll cross three of them. Although some of this trail is shaded, make sure you check the weather beforehand and bring plenty of water regardless.
You'll begin on the Ahwingna Trail, a 1.3-mile path with a 660-foot elevation gain. If you so choose (and I highly recommend it), you can keep going as it connects to the Native Oak Trail, which is 2.1 miles with a 540-foot elevation gain. Then, you'll swing onto the Schabarum "Skyline" Trail, which has a 0.56-mile segment lush with wildflowers between the Coyote Trail and Native Oak Trail. The last leg will have you connect to the Coyote Trail, which is 1.35 miles back down to Ahwingna, where you'll run right back into the parking lot.
Dogs are allowed here. Find a full map of the trails here.
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve - Huntington Beach
Most people in Long Beach are well aware of this popular hiking and running network of trails in Huntington Beach, but if you haven't gone yet, do yourself a favor. Just a 20 to 30-minute drive away is the largest saltwater marsh in California.
There are about 5 miles of trails snaking around it that are available for walking, running, biking, birding, what have you. But be warned, do not try to sneak your doggo onto this trail, the volunteers will immediately find you.
Find a map of the trails here.
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