By My sister and I try to get together at least once a month. We only live 27 miles from each other but our lives get in the way and it’s not always easy to meet up. So we make a point to put a sisterly ‘date’ on the calendar every month. When we get together, it usually involves an outdoor activity like running or hiking (so happy we have similar hobbies!) …and food.
I prefer running on a road but every runner knows that the hard surface is bad for your joints. My first visit to Sullivan Canyon Trail in Pacific Palisades was to hike. It’s an out and back trail with a gradual incline. I finished the whole thing, 4 miles in and 4 miles out through the woods. It has a lot of greenery and wildflowers. With so many tall trees surrounding the trail, you get plenty of shade even during summer. Even so, I found the trail not interesting enough for me to hike again but I thought it would be a good trail to run on. Since then, this trail became our go-to trail for us. I love running with my sister. She is like the Energizer bunny! She motivates me to push myself to go a little farther and gives me a high five with a cheer when we arrive at the finish line. To be honest, she usually waits for me. 😉 A girl can’t ask for a better running partner!
Supposedly, mountain lions were spotted here. I ran into a carcass of a deer (maybe) on the side of the trail last year. Eek! I recommend you don’t hike by yourself during non-busy hours unless mountain lions don’t scare you. As for me, I choose to use the trail when other hikers and mountain bikers are around. I found that most of the bikers were friendly and shared the trail politely with the hikers but sometimes I did run into inconsiderate bikers who zoomed by without a warning. So be mindful.
Some people had their dogs leashed and some people didn’t. All dogs we ran into behaved well whether they were on a leash or not. For everyone’s safety including your pooch, your dog should be always under your control.
Good to Know:
- Distance: 8 miles RT
- Elevation Gain: 1,410 ft
- Difficulty Rating: Challenging
- Trailhead: Enter “Sullivan Canyon Trailhead” to Google Map
- This trail is popular with the mountain bikers
- No toilet
Get Our Latest Comprehensive Dog-friendly Trail List Here. Enjoy!
Happy Hiking!
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Hiking Girl with Dog 