As popular as it is, Black Star Canyon Falls has an air of mystery about it. Some describe it as a routine, moderately challenging hike; others tell horror stories of rampant poison oak in the canyon and violent drifters who prey on hikers. more ›

Things are getting rough for smokers in Hermosa Beach -- a new ordinance has banned them from sucking down their beloved carcinogens in any outdoor place that people congregate, according to the Daily Breeze. The new regulation, which was approved by the town's City Council in a 4-0 vote on Tuesday night, is expected to go into effect on March 1, 2012. more ›

This summer a portion of the L.A. River will be officially opened up for guided kayak tours for the first time. While kayaking tours have occurred in the past without legal permit, the current program, proposed by a coalition of groups is currently under an environmental review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. more ›

Nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and members of the recreation industry have partnered for National Get Outdoors Day, a new annual event aimed to encourage "healthy, active outdoor fun," with a variety of traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities. more ›

Residents of the Eastside now have more green space in which to frolic -- Elysian Park has been expanded by five acres, and the new area is now open to the public. In a statement, Councilman Eric Garcetti announced that the addition of landscaped acreage would include two game courts, a playground, lawn areas, picnic tables, a walking path, an outdoor classroom area, and parking spaces. more ›

By all accounts, Los Angeles experienced something amazing for five hours on Sunday. An estimated 100,000 people took to a stretch of 7.5 miles of streets closed off to cars and open to people. And those people responded with positive zeal. more ›

Now that the L.A. River is deemed navigable, meaning it is subject to the 1972 Clean Water Act, by the federal government, it should in theory be accessible by the public. But that's not exactly the case right now. Cautious government agencies are trying to figure it out and one Los Angeles city councilmember, Ed Reyes, is pushing for answers. And now the public is also speaking up. more ›

If the idea of getting out in nature is appealing, but the summer sun a deterrent, there's a walk in Griffith Park you might find a pleasant way to take a walk and escape the heat. more ›

There's a plethora of hiking trails surrounding Los Angeles, but not all of them allow dogs. For the most part, local state parks don't allow pooches while local city, federal and other quasi-government agencies do. Today, the LA Times launches an online interactive feature that shows off around 20 great hiking spots where dogs can tag along. It includes some of our favorites like Sandstone Peak and obvious local favorites like Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park. Have a good hike! more ›

There's a lot to be thankful for, whether here in Los Angeles or not. Here a just a few... of course, themed to Los Angeles. First of all, I'm ever so grateful for the LAist staff. The dirty little secret that's really not a secret is that, save for Co-Editor Lindsay William-Ross (who deserves a big thanks herself!) and myself, everyone volunteers at LAist. They write and share with all of you because they have a passion for it. They love exploring and getting to know this city and coming back and sharing it with you. LAist is what it is because of them--they are the heart and soul. more ›

It's no Mount Whitney, but hiking to the top of Sandstone Peak is truly satisfying. Your journey to the top, elevation 3,111 feet, has sights and sounds different than the Santa Monica Mountains we know closer to Los Angeles. Forget the city noise below Runyon Canyon or the families splashing about at Malibu Creek--the trails of Circle X Ranch on the western part of the range are mostly quiet with lone birds heard echoing through the canyons and the sights of sheer cliffs dropping off into deep canyons is exhilarating. more ›

One of the most eclectic and lively musical venues in Los Angeles is probably one of the least known. In the north-west corner of MacArthur Park is Levitt Pavilion, a band shell built at the bottom of what was 100 years ago a reservoir and now whose banks now form a natural amphitheater. Over the last three summers the Levitt Family Foundation has funded perhaps the most exciting and diverse musical programs at here. Every Wednesday through Sunday concerts of every imaginable type of music . more ›

When Casey Schreiner graduated from Boston University, the Connecticut native moved to Los Angeles, like many, with a dream of landing an entertainment industry job. "I flew out here with a duffel bag and an air mattress, hoping to land some sort of writing job," he explained. And a job he got--a fun one, too. The 28-year-old West Hollywood resident (just moved from the Miracle Mile) has been writing for G4’s “Attack of the Show” since its beginning days. "It’s a great place to get my hands the latest gadgets, technology, and web sites--and has been a good outlet for all of the jokes about Mac OS X and Star Trek fan-fic that I can’t make in mixed company." more ›

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget-saving threat to close 80% of state parks for two years has the federal government raising a red flag. Numerous parks, including a handful local to Los Angeles, are under stipulations to stay open to the public because the land was fully or partially federally funded or transferred to the state from federal ownership. more ›

As one of the advocacy tools to save most of state parks in California from being slashed from the budget is to have a weekend of support. Next weekend, the California State Parks Foundation is asking us all to camp, visit or otherwise bring attention to the state parks issue. While there, take a photo of you holding a sign and submit it so Sacramento can feel bad, or something. Meanwhile, the organization continues its 40 best state park trails podcast series. Recent episodes featuring Los Angeles area trails include Temescal Canyon, the river trail at Rio de Los Angeles State Park and La Jolla Canyon at Point Mugu State Park. You can listen to these three episodes below: more ›

There are lots of ways you can personally combat global warming and starting today, 60 of those ideas, each on one of 60 "Cool Globes", make their debut at Exposition Park. Each globe, decorated by an artist, conveys a message about what you can do, whether that be wearing a sweater instead of turning on the heat during cold months, keeping your car tires at the correct amount or voting. The temporary public art exhibit runs through July 23rd. more ›

Coachella-schmoachella*. Not everyone fled the City of Angels in favor of the music in the desert. Record-breaking temps made this one very hot and sunny spring weekend, and that sent folks out in droves to cool off by the shore, and kept the sun shining intensely over all sorts of events taking advantage of the great outdoors we enjoy here in Los Angeles. In the mix: Earth Day weekend events hopefully had lots of people thinking about this big blue marble we call home. Here are a sampling of shots from our LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr showcasing what some Angelenos did this weekend. So what did you do? more ›

There's something very different about hiking on the interior of Catalina Island, something you can't get on the plethora of trails immediately surrounding Los Angeles. It's the deafening sound of silence--that ever-present rumble of freeways we are so used to on the mainland is no where to be heard on Catalina, where this past weekend a new 37.2 mile cross-island trail opened to the public. more ›

The story could begin like this: "Once upon a time, some folks decided to plant a corn field on 32 acres of brownfield near Downtown Los Angeles." And maybe that's the story you know. But that's only one chapter of the space that is/was Not a Cornfield, because the story of the space began in the 1800s (and earlier, still) and is still being told. This is the Los Angeles State Historic Park, and its evolving landscape right now boasts some pretty stunning wildflowers most worthy of a springtime stroll around the premises. Learn more about the land's amazing and rich history first via their website, and then via a visit; the park is set up with informational markers throughout to enrich your understanding of this wonderful little place in the shadow of our skyscrapers and nestled against the Gold Line's tracks. more ›

With the rain, even how relatively little there has been this year, comes wildflowers around Southern California. "We are seeing a few flowers already, but the best of the bloom will most likely be from the last week of February through the first two weeks of March," reads the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park's website. more ›

Today, Pinnacles National Monument begins its second 100 years. It's not exactly local to Los Angeles, but it's one of the many California wonders run by the National Park Service and here at LAist, we always encourage the exploration of the region and state. more ›

A motion to limit some outdoor smoking that was submitted last fall has took a big step yesterday when a city council committee approved it, passing it on to the full City Council for consideration. If passed a new law this summer would prohibit smoking on restaurant patios or within 10 feet of any outdoor establishment that serves food or beverages with the exception of bars with outdoor areas and other over-18 venues, according to the LA Times. Some restaurant and cigar groups were concerned at first but are now more at ease with the move to exclude bars and over-18 venues. Still, the ban on smoking is always a contentious one that gets people all riled up. more ›

National Forests began in 1891 at the hands of Congress as a way to protect the land from cut-and-run logging. Today the system covers 190 million acres in 155 National Forests, but surveys are finding a decline in visits and use. more ›

Just as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated all the funding--$1 million--for beach water quality monitoring in the state budget, Heal the Bay comes out with their annual Beach Report Card showing a near-record water quality statewide. With over 500 beaches listed, 92% of them earned an A or B, something the group claims is a success of the water quality monitoring program that was just cut. more ›

Environmental and neighborhood groups are organizing to save Griffith Park from the possibility of development. Last month, Col. Griffith J. Griffith's grandson and the Griffith J. Griffith Charitable Trust put in an application to formally preserve the park by getting it designated as a historic landmark. more ›

As mentioned yesterday via blogdowntown, the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee is exploring two smoking related motions today. The suggested actions will not completely ban smoking like it practically is in Calabasas, but they do further the limiting of your rights or the protection of your health, depending on how you see it. more ›

There are two identical bills floating around the U.S Senate and House this month that would protect federally owned land from any development, vehicles, permanent structures, mining or basically anything else that would alter the environment. The land would go under The Wilderness Act, signed into law by President Johnson and says defines land as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, hunting and fishing are allowed, according to the Sacramento Bee. more ›

Though it may not have the scenic majesty of Morro Bay or the woodsy seclusion of Big Sur, San Simeon State Park is one of the quiet wonders of the California seaside. Located just a few miles south of fabled Hearst Castle, San Simeon offers two campground sites (San Simeon or Washburn) where you can set up home base for a long weekend. It's a short walk to cool, lightly populated beaches where you might stumble across an entire pack of elephant seals stretching out in the sun. You can also hike several miles of trails, some of which descend into seasonal wetlands, and others that plateau on top of vast seaside vistas. more ›

Yesterday afternoon was day one of George Wolfe's LA River expedition where he and a group of twelve kayakers intended to prove that the LA River is a river that is navigable, something that is contrary to what the Army Corps of Engineers concluded last month. more ›