Past Month
+ 38
Ocean Trails Reserve
Trail Running Route
Easy
3.14 mi
467 ft
Dramatic views and quality trails atop bluffs overlooking the ocean.
Ocean Trails Reserve is one of the most scenic places to trail run on the coast near LA. Its location in between Long Beach and Redondo Beach is convenient for afternoon exercise, and the natural scenery is hard to beat anywhere else in this area. The reserve is an expanse of green hills atop golden bluffs overlooking the ocean. The vegetation is sparse and desert-like, leaving wide-open views of the sky and sea. Trails weave along the top of the cliffs and also switchback down to the beach. The loop mapped here stays high on packed dirt trails that are ideal for running, but you can choose to descend to the beach if you want more difficult hills or terrain training on the sand and rocks.
The reserve borders a golf course, and the main trailhead is near the clubhouse and restaurant on Ocean Trails Drive, where parking is free (an alternate trailhead is located on La Rotunda Drive, and is also free). You’ll begin by running paved paths next to the course and through a small public park, but the watered lawns and the pavement soon end, and a much more rugged landscape takes over. Trails through the reserve are easy to follow, and you must stay on them to protect the fragile environment.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
Ocean Trails Reserve is one of the most scenic places to trail run on the coast near LA. Its location in between Long Beach and Redondo Beach is convenient for afternoon exercise, and the natural scenery is hard to beat anywhere else in this area. The reserve is an expanse of green hills atop golden bluffs overlooking the ocean. The vegetation is sparse and desert-like, leaving wide-open views of the sky and sea. Trails weave along the top of the cliffs and also switchback down to the beach. The loop mapped here stays high on packed dirt trails that are ideal for running, but you can choose to descend to the beach if you want more difficult hills or terrain training on the sand and rocks.
The reserve borders a golf course, and the main trailhead is near the clubhouse and restaurant on Ocean Trails Drive, where parking is free (an alternate trailhead is located on La Rotunda Drive, and is also free). You’ll begin by running paved paths next to the course and through a small public park, but the watered lawns and the pavement soon end, and a much more rugged landscape takes over. Trails through the reserve are easy to follow, and you must stay on them to protect the fragile environment.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump's Backyard | 0.44 mi | 66 ft | 1.0% |
| The Prickly Plunge | 0.10 mi | -157 ft | -29.1% |
| Ocean Trails Climb | 0.29 mi | 180 ft | 11.4% |
| Palos Verdes Drive East Climb | 0.38 mi | 151 ft | 7.4% |
| Breathless | 0.69 mi | -141 ft | -3.8% |