There are so many parts of L.A. that we never get to see because we’re all stuck in our cars. So let’s shake things up a bit. LAist is launching a new series — LAist City Treks — and it’s all about exploring L.A.'s hidden gems on easy hikes and walks.
Why it matters: Remember during the pandemic when we were all itching to get back outside? Well, this new series channels that energy into checking out easy walks and hikes. This series will take you to the unexpected parts of L.A. that you typically just drive on by, or might otherwise miss in sprawling SoCal. Expect a bit of history, a bit of culture, and a whole lot of fun. And did we mention these walks are aimed at beginners (although you can always add on time and distance if you want more).
Why now: The first trek takes us across the structure dubbed the Park To Playa Bridge. This bridge was the last missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle to connect enough parkland and trails so that ambitious hikers — like you — could one day trek all the way from the Crenshaw area down to the Pacific Ocean. The bridge opened during the pandemic, without much fanfare. So this is your invitation to check it out as we explore a small, 3-mile section of the overall trail. You'll be rewarded with sweeping views at the top. And, if it's a clear day, you can see the Hollywood sign.
The guide: If you love walking, and you live in L.A., then you probably have a copy of the popular walking bible known as 10,000 Steps A Day In LA. The author, Paul Haddad, is now taking LAist readers on a new adventure with city treks around L.A. and SoCal.
Welcome to LAist City Treks, a series of easy hikes and walks that will helps you explore the parts of Los Angeles and SoCal that we rarely get to see — or only see through the car window. Expect to get about 5K steps, and plenty of photos for your social media channels. Keep scrolling, because you'll also find three recommendations for grabbing a quick bite to eat once you're finished.
Where are we headed?
We're heading to spectacular city views as we walk across the Park to Playa Bridge and make our way to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. If it's a clear day, you can even take in the Hollywood sign. And if you're feeling up to the challenge, check out as many of the Culver City Stairs — 282 steps in all — as you dare. Tag us on social media @LAistOfficial and #LAistTreks
Why now?
You can't get lost on this trail because it's all fenced in. But you'll still feel like you're getting away from it all in the middle of the city.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
This hike explores a scenic, three-mile stretch of the Park to Playa Trail. The full Park to Playa Trail spans over 10 miles, from the Baldwin Hills Parklands down to the Pacific Ocean. The trail was years in making, as cities and communities pieced the necessary land together like a jigsaw puzzle. The big missing piece was a bridge spanning busy La Cienega Boulevard. The bridge finally opened during the pandemic, but it remains unfamiliar to many.
So go now, before the summer heat becomes an issue, and check it out. The Park to Playa trail has six segments: You could also plan do do little pieces of it over several weekends, and then you'll have Park To Playa bragging rights.
Quickly, what can I expect?
Route conditions: Rolling terrain, mix of pavement and dirt trails
Difficulty: 3 out of 5, with 5 being the hardest (most of the route is easy, but there is one brief, challenging stretch
Distance: About 3 miles, with the option to add on distance (and stairs!) at the top
Dog friendly: Kinda — leashed dogs are allowed on the trail, but technically not the overlook. However, leashed dogs can be seen everywhere
Costs/Parking: Parking is free during the week, $7 per car on weekends. There is also a 25-cent shuttle service option on weekends
Trailhead bathroom: Yes. There are also bathrooms at the Stoneview Nature Center (closed Mondays) and at the turn around point.
Map it!
Want to take this map with you?
Click here and then select "Send directions to your phone." NOTE: The Google Maps directions send you up a steep hill to get to the bridge. We'd rather avoid that. So we recommend you park at the Doris Japanese Garden entrance and then follow our directions outlined here to get to the lower parking lot. It's a much friendlier path. Once you are at the bridge, the Google Maps directions will work just fine.
OK, let's get started...
Entrance to the Doris Japanese Garden at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
On either side of the entrance, you'll find ornate carved lions... or is that a dragon? Either way, pay your respects.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
The fenced in koi pond is a bit weathered. But still pretty to look at.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
The turtles seem to hid in plain sight here.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
Choose the center path as you walk into the Japanese garden. You want to walk so that the koi pond is on your immediate left. (If you choose the wrong path, you could be in for a very steep hill.)
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
If you stick to the center path, and keep the koi pond on your immediate left, this trail should soon come into view. See that yellow metal pole up ahead? That's your sign you're on the correct path.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
A few more steps, and look to your left: You'll see the lower parking lot, and the bridge that we're about to walk over. You might be wondering — couldn't I have just parked here? But this parking lot is not always open. In the future, though, look for its entrance immediately to the left as you are entering the park. It's a narrow, one-way road. And if the gate is open, you are free to head on in, according to park officials.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
Enter the Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area entrance at 4100 S. La Cienega Boulevard in Baldwin Hills and make your first left into a parking lot. From there, you'll travel back through two parking lots — almost as if you are heading back to La Cienega — until you hit a cul-de-sac and see the distinctive red entrance to the Doris Japanese Garden. You'll park here, and then venture through the gate, stopping to say hello to the ornate carved lions on either side. The garden here is a little weathered and worn, but you can still enjoy the koi, the turtles, squirrels, ducks and other wildlife that make their homes here.
Upon entering, choose the center path so that you keep the koi pond on your immediate left as you walk on by it. Keep on this path, and, as you can see in the photos above, you'll see a yellow metal pole up ahead — that means you're in the right place. A few more steps and the lower parking lot, and the bridge, will soon come into view on your left. (This path is all so new that you won't even find it yet on the park's own maps! And if you don't stick to the right path, you could end up on a nearby trail that has a grueling 12% grade.) Continue on the path as bends and curves down into the lower parking lot, and the eastern end of the bridge.
Here, the hike begins in earnest.
What's with that name?
This covered bridge honors the person who helped create it.
(
Paul Haddad
/
LAist
)
This isn't just for looks. It's a critical crossway for critters dodging cars.
(
Paul Haddad
/
LAist
)
This is probably where you'll do a doubletake: The optics of a convicted felon’s name engraved into the steel truss of this bridge may seem surprising, but there’s no denying that Mark Ridley-Thomas helped create more open space in South L.A. as a member of the county board of supervisors.
As you walk over the bridge, the beds of native landscaping to your right aren’t just for show; they offer safe passage for the park’s critters to cross over bustling La Cienega Boulevard. After you step off the bridge, you'll follow the fenced trail as it begins to gently zig and zag its way up the hillside.
Watch out for art work
This is L.A., and so you're never too far from creativity, even on the trails. About 500 feet past the bridge you’ll find one of a half-dozen “Citizen Seeds” sculptures created by artist Kim Abeles. The installation calls attention to the area’s biodiversity and history.
Keep walking, enjoying the twists and turns of the road as you continue a gradual climb.
Detour at the Stoneview Nature Center
A few more hundred feet on your right is the Stoneview Nature Center. Completed in 2017, the county-run complex is a model of adaptive land use, sitting as it does on an abandoned oil mine. Amble along a well-curated trail that takes you past meditative gardens, compost stations, a labyrinth, even a “bee hotel.” There are many classes held here, such as cooking and art creation for kids, yoga in the shade for adults. (You can also drive directly to the center.)
The entrance to the Stoneview Nature Center, which is definitely worth exploring.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
Raised garden beds are just once place where visitors here can learn about raising their own food and native plants.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
Shhhh! It's yoga time on the weekends under the trees here. Extra umbrellas also provide some shade.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
Cooking and arts classes are held here, too.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
There are many places to have a picnic in this area.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
If you like to garden, you'll find plenty of resources here.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
On a breezy day, you can hear the gentle sounds of the wind chimes here, made from kitchen and gardening tools.
(
Paul Haddad
/
LAist
)
Plan ahead, and find your secret spot to break out a picnic. If the breeze is just right, you just might be serenaded by the soothing sound of metal music. I’m talking, of course, about the two unique wind chimes in the nature center's avocado and orange groves. Designed by the art collective Fallen Fruit, the chimes are made up of discarded kitchen utensils and cookware donated by neighbors.
What's this mural in the middle?
The Lavendar Chiveevi mural. It is a dedication to the land, and its people.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
Exit Stoneview and make a right, continuing on your walk. You'll soon come up on Lavender Chiveeví, a Los Angeles County commissioned mural that honors the biodiversity of the plants found in the area, the surrounding community and roads, and the indigenous people who once called the area home.
Active oil pumpjacks can be seen in the distance, part of the Inglewood Oil Field. The trail will dip once more before it begins a climb of 200 feet over the next half-mile.
Don’t worry, you got this! Just take your time.
Along the way, take an opportunity to pause and turn. At several points, you can enjoy the blissful feeling of seeing nature all around, and barely any signs of "civilization" beyond a glimpse of some power lines and the whirring of traffic in the distance.
Final push to the top
Make your way to the top, and you'll find it's always busy with people getting in a workout or just enjoying the sweeping views. When it's a clear day, you can make out the Hollywood sign.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
The trail will lead you to the edge of the parking lot at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Outlook. Walk all the way through the parking lot, and just before you hit the street on the other side — Hetzler Road — take a right and walk into the outlook area. This spot is almost always busy with people walking dogs, working out and chatting with friends.
Walk past the bathrooms and events area and begin making your way to the left, along a new series of fenced trails, and head to the outer edge and outlook. You'll know you're going in right direction when you hear lots of voices. Follow the voices.
You'll then walk out into an opening and all your hard work will be rewarded with sweeping cities views.
The turnaround point
The famed Culver City Stairs are no joke. There are 282 steps in all.
(
Rene Lynch
/
LAist
)
Now, you have a decision to make: Turn back, or explore the Culver City Stairs and the trail that zig zags around it. Just remember, what goes down, must come up, and these stairs are no joke. Also fun: Just watching others navigating the stairs while you enjoy the vistas before you including the Hollywood sign, DTLA, and more.
When you're ready, make your way back the way you came, back down the trail, across the bridge, and back up past the koi pond to your parking spot.
No one gives you side eye for ordering a taco on a fresh flour tortilla (instead of corn) at Loqui. There are also plenty of bowls with the protein of your choice served with rice, beans and man options for vegetarians. They also have extra sides of protein (shrimp, chicken, etc.) for those watching the carbs. And chips and quac for those who are not.
Step back into the year 1958, slide into a red booth, admire the Googie architecture and enjoy some classic diner fare at Pann's, such as eggs and buttermilk biscuits, hot cakes, and country fried steaks, milkshakes, burgers and more.
Location: 6710 LaTijera Blvd., Los Angeles Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If it's a Saturday or Sunday, and you're not too grimy from the hike, head to Post & Beam for their weekend brunch. They're known for Southern food with a California twist, such as shrimp and grits and fried chicken and waffles and pecan pie French toast. Plant based and gluten free options, too.
Location: 7367 Santa Rosalia Drive, Los Angeles Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where to next?
Any suggestions for great hikes in and around L.A.? Don't keep it to yourself! Let us know, and we might check them out for a future story.
A view of the harbor on Catalina Island in Avalon on April 18, 2020.
(
Chris Carlson, File
/
AP Photo
)
Topline:
A medical helicopter transporting a patient crashed off Catalina Island, killing two people and leaving two hospitalized, authorities said Thursday.
What caused the crash? The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Crecy said the helicopter went down shortly after takeoff and hit the water a short distance from the island.
More details: First responders were called to the crash shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday and pulled four people from the water. Two were pronounced dead at the scene and two were brought in stable condition to hospitals on the mainland, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.null
Read on... for more on the helicopter crash.
A medical helicopter transporting a patient crashed off Catalina Island, killing two people and leaving two hospitalized, authorities said Thursday.
Rescuers continued searching Thursday for a fifth person who was aboard the aircraft and went missing after the Wednesday night crash.
The Coast Guard, area firefighters and divers with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were among emergency personnel who worked through the night, Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy said at a news conference.
“We’re still doing an active search for the person who’s missing and then in addition to that, the divers and the remote operated vehicle are going to get a look at more of the wreckage and hopefully if there’s a sunken fuselage … we’re hoping to get a better picture of that this morning,” Crecy said.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Crecy said the helicopter went down shortly after takeoff and hit the water a short distance from the island.
Authorities were working on identifying the victims, she said.
“We believe that the medical aircraft was transporting a person off the island for additional medical care on the mainland,” Crecy said, adding she did not have more information on the transport or the patient.
First responders were called to the crash shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday and pulled four people from the water. Two were pronounced dead at the scene and two were brought in stable condition to hospitals on the mainland, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
Firefighters on the island were able to get to the scene quickly by boat, Crecy said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating and identified the helicopter as a Eurocopter EC-135-P2.
Authorities said the helicopter was submerged in 240 feet (73 meters) of water off Catalina, which is located about 22 miles (35 kilometers) off the mainland of Los Angeles County.
The helicopter was believed to be operated by REACH Air Medical Services of Sacramento, California, KTLA-TV reported. A spokesperson for its parent company, Global Medical Response, told the station that it was aware of the accident and was gathering information.
Global Medical Response did not immediately return a message seeking comment Thursday morning.
From left, gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton, during CNN’s California Gubernatorial Debate at CNN’s studio in Burbank on Sept. 30, 2026. The debate was moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
(
Grace Widyatmadja
/
CNN
)
Topline:
Trump was the central topic in the only scheduled debate between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, candidates for governor of California.
Trump was the main character: Becerra repeatedly tied Hilton to Trump’s policies on immigration, taxes, housing, the environment and Big Tech. Hilton also tried to tie Becerra to outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Democrats at large, whom Hilton blames for business and housing regulations that contribute to high costs. Becerra mentioned the president, who is widely unpopular in California, more than a dozen times during the hourlong debate on CNN.
Wide range of issues: During the hour-long debate, AI data centers, oil drilling in California, homelessness, and immigration were some of the topics touched upon by the candidates. They found common ground on how to keep the film industry in California amid competition from other states and countries.
Californians watching Wednesday night’s gubernatorial debate would be forgiven for thinking the candidates for governor are President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party.
Trump was the central topic in the debate between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, with Becerra repeatedly tying Hilton to Trump’s policies on immigration, taxes, housing, the environment and Big Tech. Hilton also tried to tie Becerra to outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Democrats at large, whom Hilton blames for business and housing regulations that contribute to high costs.
Becerra mentioned the president, who is widely unpopular in California, more than a dozen times during the hourlong debate on CNN.
“You’re going to end up with Trump results if you follow Steve Hilton’s plans,” Becerra said when asked about Hilton’s proposal to eliminate income taxes for middle-class Californians. He pointed out that Hilton’s plan to drop income taxes on the first $150,000 in earnings also includes a tax cut for the state’s wealthiest earners, comparing it to federal tax cuts enacted by Trump.
Similarly, when Hilton said he would wait to assess whether California needs to more aggressively regulate artificial intelligence companies, Becerra linked his response to Trump’s inaction, saying “if you listen closely, you can hear Donald Trump in that response.”
Becerra also said he would impose limits on AI data centers in communities that oppose them. Hilton noted that Becerra’s campaign has received donations from the biggest artificial intelligence companies, Anthropic and OpenAI.
Trump endorsed Hilton during the contested primary election, but the former Fox News host has since tried to distance himself from both the president and the Republican Party, running ads telling voters they can dislike Trump and still support him. Last week, in an acknowledgement that opposition to Trump is dragging down Republicans’ approval rating, Hilton's campaign released a poll claiming he was “unscathed from (the) Republican collapse.”
On Hilton’s proposal to expand oil drilling in California, Becerra brought up Trump’s effort to expand drilling off the state’s coast.
On homelessness, Hilton noted Becerra once graded Newsom an “A for effort” on the issue despite homelessness increasing during his terms, while Becerra countered that Trump has blocked federal funding for local homelessness agencies.
It’s a predictable strategy for Becerra, who enjoys a double-digit lead over Hilton in the heavily Democratic-leaning state where voters also disapprove of Trump by wide margins. The Democratic candidate and former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary has laid low since getting the most votes in the crowded all-party primary election in June, making few public appearances and agreeing only to one debate. Hilton criticized Becerra for repeatedly mentioning national politics, arguing the Democrat isn’t offering Californians any concrete solutions to the nation-topping cost of living.
“All you ever say is ‘Trump, Trump, Trump,’” Hilton said. “And that’s nothing but an insult to every Californian who is desperate for something to change in this state.”
The candidates traded insults throughout the night. Hilton cited reports that Becerra’s colleagues in President Joe Biden’s cabinet had “described (Becerra) as an idiot.”
Then, in several testy exchanges over immigration, Becerra, the son of Mexican immigrants, tied Hilton to Trump’s aggressive nationwide immigration raids and mass deportation campaign.
“You seem to welcome immigrants who look like you, but deport immigrants who look like me,” Becerra said. Hilton, a British immigrant and former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, bristled at the comment, calling it “disgraceful.”
Hilton praised the deportation campaign last January as “perfect” during an appearance on Fox News. He has previously described himself as “pro-immigration.” On Wednesday night, he dodged questions on whether he would undo the state’s sanctuary law limiting police cooperation with immigration agents and direct California officers to assist in Trump’s campaign.
Instead, he said, he would prefer to “turn down the temperature” on that debate.
The candidates argued over the best way to increase housing construction.
Hilton wants to build 10 new cities and allow more new construction on undeveloped land to avoid battles between the state and residents and local governments that are resistant to new development.
“We have got so much space that we could be building in,” he said.
Becerra said to address the housing crisis, he would reduce administrative and bureaucratic hurdles to getting construction permits, boost down payment assistance programs and stop Wall Street investors from competing with would-be homeowners. He pointed to the lawsuit he filed as state attorney general against the city of Huntington Beach to force it to approve new housing.
“No locality should have the right to try to stop all of our people in California from having the housing they need,” Becerra said.
They found common ground on how to keep the film industry in California amid competition from other states and countries. Los Angeles County has lost about 50,000 film and TV jobs since 2022. But while both candidates support expanding the state’s film tax credit to lower the cost of producing in California, they still each got in a dig over who to blame.
“Who’s been in charge when all those jobs have gone?” Hilton said.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
Jill Replogle
covers public corruption, debates over our voting system, culture war battles — and more.
Published October 1, 2026 7:49 AM
Griffin Colapinto, an Olympic surfer and San Clemente native, signs autographs after his event at the World Surf League's 2026 Lexus Trestles Pro competition in September.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Recent storm damage along the Southern California coast has raised a disquieting question, especially with more hurricanes and a “Super El Niño” on the way: will there even be a beach at a legendary surfing venue for the 2028 Olympics?
The location: Trestles Beach’s isolation — there is no paved public road leading to the beach, much less a beachfront parking lot — bodes well for the area’s resilience to extreme weather. At the same time, it presents some conundrums for staging a major international sporting event.
The challenge: Much is still unknown about the planning efforts for the Olympic surfing event in 2028. How many tickets will be sold? How will spectators get to the beach? What about the many journalists who will want to cover the event, and all of their equipment?
Read on… to learn how pro surfers, park officials and Olympics organizers are planning for a changing coastline.
Recent storms have brought an epic run of big, surfable waves to Southern California. But they’ve also wreaked havoc on beaches, surfside homes and coastal infrastructure.
The prospect of El Niño bringing even more volatile weather raises a serious question about the chosen venue for surfing at the 2028 Olympics: Will there still be a beach at Lower Trestles when the Games roll around?
The World Surf League held its annual competition this month at Trestles, a beach south of San Clemente that straddles Orange and San Diego Counties. The competition took place a few days after Hurricane Marie’s remnants hit the Southern California coast.
High tides and big surf shut down coastal rail tracks just north of Trestles. Waves pummeled beachfront homes in nearby Dana Point, rendering at least 10 of them uninhabitable.
At Lower Trestles, the surf break where the competition took place, seawater flooded the narrow beach, washed out the access road and pooled around several of the temporary structures.
Compared with other parts of the coast, the damage was minimal. But as sea levels continue to rise, organizers of the 2028 Olympics will need to address some tough questions, especially with more hurricanes and what forecasters are calling a “Super El Niño” on the way: Where will ticket holders watch the event? How much infrastructure can the beach hold? And how will organizers get equipment there?
Getting to Trestles Beach generally requires a long walk or bike ride from the nearest parking lot. Its lack of development helps keep the area resilient to extreme weather.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
What makes Trestles a world-class surf beach
SoCal Olympic surfing hopefuls were stoked when LA28 organizers announced the surfing event would take place at Lower Trestles.
“It’s a dream,” said local pro Griffin Colapinto, who was surrounded by autograph-seeking kids as he exited the water during the Trestles competition earlier this month. Colapinto, who’s from San Clemente, competed for the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Games.
“Focus on getting there, and then go for gold,” he told LAist of his dreams for LA28.
The potential hometown advantage excites surfers like Colapinto. So does Trestles’ reputation for delivering consistently good waves. People familiar with surf competitions say that dependability is clutch for international sporting events that depend heavily on environmental conditions.
The relatively pristine San Mateo Creek watershed is the secret to Trestles' world-class waves.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
The spot’s consistency stems from its location at the mouth of San Mateo Creek, within San Onofre State Beach. When flowing creeks and rivers meet a slower-moving body of water — in this case, the ocean — they drop heavy materials like rocks and boulders, which eventually form a cobblestone reef.
This is a defining feature of prized surf spots along the California coast, said Chad Nelson, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, a coastal conservation group.
“That's true at Rincon, at Cardiff, at Malibu,” he said. “All these iconic places are these cobble river mouths.” That underwater topography makes for amazing waves, Nelson said.
Also key to the excellent waves at Trestles is the lack of development upstream along San Mateo Creek. Nelson called it “one of the last natural surf spots in urbanized Southern California.”
Its isolation — there is no paved public road leading to the beach, much less a beachfront parking lot — bodes well for the area’s resilience to extreme weather. At the same time, it presents some conundrums for staging a major international sporting event.
‘We’ve had way worse’
Matt Riggs has helped set up the beachside infrastructure for many surf competitions at Trestles. He said the damage from Hurricane Marie in 2020 was "way worse" than this year's hurricane of the same name.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
The beach at Lower Trestles is a narrow strip of sand, about 30 to 40 feet wide, backed by protected wetlands. The coastal railroad runs through the wetlands behind the beach.
On each of the four days before the World Surf League’s competition began earlier this month, the tide at south Orange County beaches was high enough to flood part of the beachside competition area.
On one of those mornings, Matt Riggs, a contractor for the event, was out at the beach early with a small tractor, hauling sand and dirt to rebuild the beachfront access road the surf had washed away.
“I'll probably have to do [it] again tomorrow morning since there's another high tide and another swell,” he told LAist. Riggs and other workers also had to resecure some of the elevated structures used for watching and judging the competition.
But he said the damage wasn’t bad compared to flooding at the competition a few years back. “We’ve had way worse,” he said.
“These stairs here,” Riggs said, pulling up a photo of a previous year's damage on his phone, “they fell into the ocean.” (edited)
Planning around unpredictable weather
Much is still unknown about the planning efforts for the Olympic surfing event in 2028. How many tickets will be sold? How will spectators get to the beach? What about the many journalists who will want to cover the event, and all of their equipment?
LA28 declined an interview request for this story. But spokesperson Jacie Prieto Lopez emailed a statement saying, in part, “We are actively monitoring developments. … With less than two years until the Games, we remain focused on our shared planning efforts to ensure the safe and successful delivery of the 2028 surfing competitions."
One of LA28’s closest planning partners is California State Parks, which leases the land that includes Trestles from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Scott Kibbey, State Parks superintendent for the Orange Coast District, noted that surf competitions have taken place at the spot for decades. They’ve had to adjust, he said, as the coastal environment shifts.
“This is a dynamic area,” Kibbey said. “Right now we're looking at a beach that is much narrower than it has been in recent years, and we're letting nature kind of dictate how we plan for future events.”
The last few years have been busy for Kibbey and his staff, as storms and rising seas have posed increasingly thorny challenges. In June, heavy surf and high tides caused a lifeguard stand to collapse at Crystal Cove State Park. One of the park’s historic beachfront cabins was also damaged, and the public access trail flooded.
“Old Man’s,” a beloved surf spot at San Onofre State Beach south of Trestles, has suffered severe erosion in recent years, forcing officials to rethink public access to the beach.
At the same time, record-high temperatures, fueled in part by El Niño, sent visitors flocking to state beaches this summer, straining staff and infrastructure.
“Our state park resources, our staff have been hit incredibly hard,” Kibbey said.
High winds and rough surf didn't deter beachgoers in Malibu this summer.
(
Courtesy Rhea Presiado
)
Environmental concerns
Kibbey said sustainability is at the forefront of planning for the Olympic surfing event. Surfers and others who cherish the spot will be watching closely, given past environmental activism at Trestles, plus concerns that erupted over the previous Olympic surfing event at the Paris 2024 Games, which took place in Tahiti.
“It was an epic fight,” said Nelson from Surfrider. Given that history, Nelson said his group met the news that Trestles would host Olympic surfing with a mix of excitement “and a little bit of trepidation.”
Nelson noted that surf competitions at the famed big wave spot Mavericks in northern California have brought problems in the past. In 2006, hundreds of spectators walked out onto the reef and scaled coastal bluffs to watch the contest, trampling the delicate ecosystem.
“That was definitely a cautionary tale,” Nelson said. Still, he added, “I'm pretty confident that we're going to be able to find a solution down here that's well managed and takes this special place into consideration.”
Erosion has also shut down train traffic through San Clemente State Beach numerous times in recent years.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
El Niño ‘not all bad’ for coastlines
After Hurricane Marie, the cities of Laguna Beach, San Clemente and Dana Point declared states of emergency to address coastal damage. Orange County and Gov. Gavin Newsom followed with their own emergency declarations, in part to prepare for potentially worse damage from even stronger El Niño effects in the coming months.
The Orange County Transportation Agency recently announced plans to place 690,000 cubic yards of sand on beaches just north of Trestles in hopes of protecting the coastal rail corridor.
Kibbey, the State Parks superintendent, said the expected heavy precipitation from El Niño could also bring some benefits. If San Mateo Creek flows strong enough to reach the ocean, he said, “it would bring a bunch of sand here naturally.”
Its beach may be narrowing, but Trestles has actually fared much better than its neighbors, thanks largely to its natural state, Nelson from Surfrider said.
“Usually the problem isn't coastal erosion,” he said. “It's when coastal erosion meets human infrastructure.”
No matter what Trestles looks like in 2028, Nelson thinks the Olympic spotlight will bring more benefits than drawbacks.
Surfing is one of the only Olympic sports “completely reliant on the health of the coastal ecosystem,” he said. “If a million people learn the lesson that we need to protect our coasts and protect our ocean, or millions, then I think that's probably ultimately to our advantage.”
How to reach me
If you have a tip, you can reach me on Signal. My username is @jillrep.79.
For instructions on getting started with Signal, see the app's support page. Once you're on, you can type my username in the search bar after starting a new chat.
And if you're comfortable just reaching out by email I'm at jreplogle@scpr.org
Construction of a ramp for California's high-speed rail project in Fresno on Sept. 12, 2025
(
Larry Valenzuela
/
CalMatters/CatchLight Local
)
Topline:
California’s High-Speed Rail Authority failed this year to push through most of the state legislation it deemed necessary to keep construction of the 171-mile rail line connecting Merced and Bakersfield on its current schedule.
Why it matters: In August 2025, authority Chief Executive Ian Choudri urged state leaders to commit stable state funding and cut red tape that he said had long stalled the project. He pitched several legislative ideas that would allow the agency to tap into local tax revenues and fast-track court disputes, environmental reviews and negotiations with utility companies in the rail line’s way. But only one of Choudri’s essential policy proposals became law. Senate Bill 1425, by Senate Transportation Committee Chair Dave Cortese, a San Jose Democrat, allows the authority to grant permits to outside entities such as utilities, local governments and private developers that want to build on authority-controlled land. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law Sunday.
The backstory: The high-speed rail project is already long delayed: In 2008, voters approved a $10 billion bond to build a high-speed rail line from San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2020 for an estimated $45 billion. The project is now estimated to cost between $126 billion and $231 billion, with a full buildout expected by 2040, according to the authority’s latest business plan. Current plans call for building a first leg linking Merced to Bakersfield.
What's next: The project is set to receive $1 billion each year from the state’s carbon market auction proceeds until 2045, a deal Newsom championed last year. But the funding could be in jeopardy under new climate rules from the Newsom administration, which threaten to cut carbon market revenue by half.
California’s High-Speed Rail Authority failed this year to push through most of the state legislation it deemed necessary to keep construction of the 171-mile rail line connecting Merced and Bakersfield on its current schedule.
In August 2025, authority Chief Executive Ian Choudri urged state leaders to commit stable state funding and cut red tape that he said had long stalled the project. He pitched several legislative ideas that would allow the agency to tap into local tax revenues and fast-track court disputes, environmental reviews and negotiations with utility companies in the rail line’s way.
“State action is critically needed to maintain the cost & timelines of the program,” he wrote in a January presentation to authority board members.
But only one of Choudri’s essential policy proposals became law. Senate Bill 1425, by Senate Transportation Committee Chair Dave Cortese, a San Jose Democrat, allows the authority to grant permits to outside entities such as utilities, local governments and private developers that want to build on authority-controlled land. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law Sunday.
Most of Choudri’s other pitches remained “concept-level ideas” that the high-speed rail authority never developed into written proposals, said authority spokesperson Micah Flores. When asked why, Flores told CalMatters that the agency is not tasked with writing laws.
“Legislators who learn about the concepts may choose or author legislation independently to help the project,” he said.
Many of those ideas faced fierce opposition from local governments. One proposal — vaguely mentioned in Choudri’s August 2025 report — would have allowed the authority to collect sales and property tax revenues within a half-mile of the rail line, alarming local officials who say it would divert essential funding local governments rely on for social services and road repairs.
“This proposal … is fiscally reckless, legally vulnerable, and fundamentally unfair to the communities expected to host High-Speed Rail facilities,” 11 mayors in the Central Valley and Southern California wrote in a June opposition letter. “Simply put: the state cannot solve a state funding problem by raiding local tax bases.”
After this story was published, Flores told CalMatters that the agency is still talking with local governments and is not proposing any policy, “particularly not one that would override local land-use or tax authority.”
The high-speed rail project is already long delayed: In 2008, voters approved a $10 billion bond to build a high-speed rail line from San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2020 for an estimated $45 billion. The project is now estimated to cost between $126 billion and $231 billion, with a full buildout expected by 2040, according to the authority’s latest business plan. Current plans call for building a first leg linking Merced to Bakersfield.
The project is set to receive $1 billion each year from the state’s carbon market auction proceeds until 2045, a deal Newsom championed last year. But the funding could be in jeopardy under new climate rules from the Newsom administration, which threaten to cut carbon market revenue by half.
The authority’s legislative losses this year could further stall the project, but it’s unclear by how much.
The agency’s business plan calls for the authority to complete the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment by 2033. But that timeline largely relies on the “overly optimistic” assumption that state lawmakers will approve the agency’s legislative priorities into law “almost immediately,” according to a review of the plan issued in July by the Office of Inspector General that oversees the authority.
The authority declined CalMatters’ multiple requests for interviews with Choudri or the chair of its board of directors, Steve Kawa. In a statement, Flores said the agency plans to push for similar legislative concepts next year and provide project cost and schedule updates in March.
It’s unclear what the next governor makes of the high-speed rail project. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra said in May he would “scrap the current configuration” but provided few details, whereas Republican Steve Hilton would cancel the entire project.
Other proposals died
Sen. Henry Stern, a Sherman Oaks Democrat, authored the only other proposal related to high-speed rail this year. His Senate Bill 1411, which had bipartisan support, would have allowed the rail authority to spend more state funds outside the Central Valley segment of the rail line, but the legislation was shelved in May during a process known as the “suspense file” hearing, where lawmakers rapidly kill or approve proposals without explanation.
Under current law, the authority can only spend up to $500 million from its share of the state climate fund on high-speed rail projects outside the Merced-to-Bakersfield portion. Stern’s measure would have lifted that cap and allowed the authority to use the money for early designs, engineering and land acquisition elsewhere along the planned rail route from the Bay Area to Southern California.
Stern said the flexibility would help the authority build “bookend” rail line projects across the state and attract investors from private companies while still building in the Central Valley.
“If you are not unlocking private dollars in those demand centers … you are then leaving money on the table that could otherwise accelerate the entire project. It can lift those boats in the valley,” he said.
But doing so would divert dollars from the Merced-to-Bakersfield project and contradict state lawmakers’ intent just four years ago to keep the funds in the Central Valley, legislative staffers warned in a May analysis of the measure, shortly before it died.
A top priority for the authority this year was to speed up the relocation of overhead power lines, water pipes and other infrastructure that is in the rail line’s construction path, Choudri said at an August board meeting. Utility companies have no incentive to move their lines and the agency does not have authority to compel them or bind them to a deadline, Choudri said.
“We are talking about utilities that were identified in 2017 that are still there in the way,” he said at the meeting. “Minus the legislative action, I just don’t know how else we can solve this.”
Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, authored Senate Bill 445 last year to address the issue. But the measure went through several last-minute overhauls amid opposition from local governments and utilities and also died in the suspense file.
Other priorities Choudri identified included:
Expedite environmental review for facilities that will provide renewable energy for the rail line;
Speed up resolution of court disputes over property acquisition, and
Exempt the authority from paying sales tax on construction materials.
Cortese, a champion of high-speed rail, told CalMatters the rail authority is partly to blame for the legislative losses.
“The governor’s office and the high-speed rail [authority] haven’t asked us to write any bills,” he said. “Have they contributed to these bills not getting passed by simply not providing enough help? Sure, absolutely.”
Still, he said his fellow lawmakers also need to better advocate for the project.
“We can’t have bills like Stern’s bill and Sen. Wiener’s bill just completely stalled out,” he said. “That’s not on the authors as much as it’s on the legislative process that those bills can disappear without a debate.”
