How to Hike Will Rogers Park in Los Angeles

On 186 acres, Will Rogers State Historic Park is nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains just above Sunset Blvd. The former ranch of the iconic humorist who famously never met a man he didn't like, the grounds include his rambling 31-room ranch house (open for public tours), the city's only remaining polo field plus hiking trails that offer panoramic views from the Pacific Ocean to Downtown. This moderate, 3-mile, round-trip hike will take you up to Inspiration Point, where the unobstructed vista will make you feel like you're standing on top of the world.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• A hat
• Sunscreen
• A bottle of water

1. Will Rogers State Historic Park is located at 1501 Will Rogers Park Road in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. If you're driving west on Sunset Boulevard, turn right on Will Rogers Park Road and follow it to where it dead ends at the park entrance. There is a $7.00 fee to park your car.
2. The huge polo field flanked by the ranch house greets your entry. A celebrity haunt during Hollywood's golden age where the likes of Spencer Tracy, David Niven and Walt Disney would join Rogers for polo games on weekday mornings, the property became a public park in 1944, donated by Rogers' widow to memorialize him after he was killed in a plane crash. The polo field is still used by the Will Rogers Polo Club which sponsors polo tournaments every weekend from April to October.
3. The ranch house is maintained as it was when Rogers was alive in the 1930's. At the time of his death, he was the highest paid entertainer in the country and the home has a relaxed, country style elegance, befitting his status as a mover and a shaker. The home is open for docent-led public tours Tuesday through Sunday at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
4. The hike to Inspiration Point begins at the stables behind the ranch house. The trail is wide with a mellow grade upwards and winds through a beautiful environment of scrub and chaparral. The trail is a loop so when you get to Inspiration Point at the top just continue forward on the trail and it will wind you back down. The views in every direction as you hike along will take your breath away.
5. Adventurous hikers and mountain bikers can tackle the Backbone Trail into the Santa Monica Mountains, which can take you all the way to Point Mugu. The park also welcomes equestrians to bring their horses for day-use of the roping arena and riding trails.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Wear a hat.
• Apply sunscreen.
• Bring a bottle of water.
• Don't hike in the middle of the day in summer. Temperatures can be scorching.
• Watch out for rattlesnakes. They're few and far between but not unheard of.