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HIKE 11

Will Rogers Park

Location: Santa Monica Mountains (Pacific Palisades)

Highlights: City, ocean, and mountain views in a single stance

Distance: 2.0 miles (loop)

Total Elevation Gain/Loss: 350'/350'

Hiking Time: 1 hour

Optional Maps: Trails Illustrated Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area or USGS 7.5-minute Topanga

Best Times: All year

Agency: WRSHP

Difficulty: Easy

Trail Use: Suitable for mountain biking, dogs allowed, good for kids

Drive up a short mile from the speedway known as Sunset Boulevard toward Will Rogers State Historic Park, and you’ll instantly leave the rat race behind. Especially on weekdays or early on weekend mornings, this quiet spot is perfect for getting some exercise and taking advantage of multimillion-dollar views of Santa Monica, West L.A., and downtown L.A.

Newspaperman, radio commentator, movie star, and pop-philosopher Will Rogers purchased this 182-acre property in 1922 and lived with his family here from 1928 until his death in 1935. Historic only by Southern California standards, his 31-room mansion is nevertheless interesting to tour. Your main goal, however, is to reach Inspiration Point, a flat-topped bump on a ridge overlooking the entire spread.

To Reach the Trailhead: Drive 1.5 miles east on Sunset Boulevard from the commercial district of Pacific Palisades (Sunset Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road) to reach the Will Rogers Park entrance road. Or take Sunset Boulevard 4 miles west from I-405 to reach the same entrance. The park is open daily, except certain holidays, 8 a.m.–sunset and charges a parking fee.

Santa Monica Bay

Description: You may want to obtain a copy of the detailed hikers’ map, available at the gift shop in a wing of the home. Printed on the map is one of Will’s memorable (if not apropos) aphorisms, “If your time is worth anything, travel by air. If not, you might just as well walk.” To reach Inspiration Point, follow the main, wide, riding and hiking trail that makes a 2-mile loop, starting at the north end of the big lawn adjoining the Rogers home. Or use any of several shorter, more direct paths (mountain bikes and leashed pets are only allowed on the main, looping trail).

Relaxing on the benches at the top on a clear day, you can admire true-as-advertised, inspiring vistas stretching east to the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains and southeast to the Santa Ana Mountains. South past the swelling Palos Verdes Peninsula you can sometimes spot Santa Catalina Island, rising in ethereal majesty from the shining surface of the sea.

Will Rogers Park serves as the east terminus of the Backbone Trail, which skims some 65 miles along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains. Its west end lies in Point Mugu State Park (described in Hike 3).