Not sure what the categories mean? We break down our difficulty ratings for you here.
Unsure about the different registration options? We explain what driving for our trips actually involves here.
Sign ups are first come first serve! Links will be live at 9PM sharp on Sunday, April 13.
It’s the last tuesday of Spring 2025! Who cares if you’re tired for classes today, you’re probably tired by now anyway? Come join Dr. Broyer and I on an awesome (hopefully beautiful — weather permitting) Los Angeles sunrise hike to Griffith Observatory :)
Have you ever thought to yourself: Wow, I am free on May 3 from 8AM to 3PM and would LOVE to hike 5.7 miles with 459ft of elevation gain along Point Vicente? Well, do I have some news for you. Expect Gorgeous views, Lovely wildlife, and Amazing conversation with new friends, featuring USC’s very own Dr. Kayla Reardon!
Need a study break before finals? Join us on an easy 2.6 mile hike around the Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area. We’ll see great views, a lake, and a Japanese garden. Then, to rest after that exhausting journey, we’ll end with a snack/lunch in the park’s picnic area!
Venture into the vast and beautiful Los Padres for a night under the stars. Joined by Astronomy professor, Kris Pardo, and two young, fresh-faced trip leads, experience the lesser travelled, but wildly underrated Sespe Wilderness. With only 700 feet of elevation gain over 8.8 miles, this calm overnighter will be more of an adventurous hot girl walk through the woods than a serious trek. With chances to meander through lush forests, rock scramble over ancient rock formations, take a cold plunge in Bear Creek, or a warm dip in the hot springs, this quick, one night, out and back backpacking trip will be one to remember!
Come escape the Sunday scaries with us! Together we will enjoy the sites of the Hollywood Reservoir and put off our work for just another half day. Or maybe everyone around you is celebrating Easter today and you need something to do! Hey, if we weren’t in an egg-cession maybe I would’ve hid some eggs along the way (jk.) :-)
Come join Ulu, who just recently successfully defended his PhD, in the beautiful oases of Palm Springs! Expect amazing palm trees, a picnic under the shade, and excellent vibes. Rumor has it that Ulu is also bringing a small “secret gift” to give to everyone…
Join us for a lovely 5.1-mile (1,259 elevation gain) hike around Griffith Park on Saturday, Feb 17! Views of LA and the San Gabriel Mountains are in store, and we promise it’ll be a great way to spend your Saturday. We’ll also be joined by Popular Music and Studio Guitar Professor (and Peaks legend in the making) Tim Kobza!
Looking for some sick views of the city? Big fan of peaks? We’ll be heading out to Cahuenga Peak via the 3 mile Burbank Trail hoping to catch some nice views on a sunny day! Come out and chat with us as we explore one of the best spots to see Los Angeles from a distance.
¿Quisieras mejorar su español? ¿Buscando para oportunidades de salir a los senderos? ¿Has querido caminar por el letrero de Hollywood? Acompaña Peaks y SUSA (Spanish Undergraduate Student Association) para una caminata de colaboración especial con el profesor David Zaraza para practicar sus habilidades conversacionales y “pensar afuera!” Vamos al letrero de Hollywood por el camino Canyon Drive. Es una caminata intermedio que dura 6 millas y pasa por las colinas de Hollywood y al final uno de los lugares mas famosos de Los Angeles!
Nota: No hay una requisito de idioma - todos son bienvenidos sin importar el nivel de su español. Pero debería estar preparado para una caminata completamente en español.
Come unwind on this beautiful day trip to Cooper Canyon Falls. This scenic 5.2-mile hike offers great views and a peaceful escape into nature, ending at a picturesque waterfall.
Come unwind on this beautiful camping trip to Santa Paula! Get ready for a weekend full of swimming holes, rock-hopping, and gourmet camping food. When we arrive on Saturday, we will venture out on an 8-mile hike to the Punch Bowls, where we will swim, splash around, and eat lunch before returning to our picturesque campsite to hang out and eat dinner.
Doing nothing Friday thru Sunday and want to go outdoors, see some beautiful trees, hang out by a lake, go on a hike, camp, and enjoy some quality time? Then this trip is perfect for you. We will go to Sequoia National Forest Friday midday, cook some dinner and then have a Saturday full of small hikes and hanging out and enjoying the beautiful national forest and a chill Sunday before going home. Hopefully we also see some bears.
Come KAYAKING and (maybe) SNORKELING on the beautiful Catalina Island with Professor David Hutchins! We’ll be going on a guided kayak tour at the Wrigley Institute, with possible opportunity for snorkeling in the nearby bay. Then, we’ll eat lunch and walk through the Wrigley Marine Institute on the island for a guided tour of the lab! We’ll also be taking the exclusive SC boat over!
Do you enjoy beautiful views and a refreshing ocean breeze? Join us for a sunset stroll along the Palos Verdes coastline with Professor Egan! Bring a little snack to enjoy with the scenery and, if we’re lucky, some ocean wildlife!
Join Professor Matthew Manos for a sunny Sunday on the beach! With an easy 2 mile out-and-back hike along the Malibu coast, this trip will be one you won’t want to miss. And once we get to the beach… we’re gonna have a beach picnic so be sure to bring a lunch or snacks.. and maybe some to share too :) We’ll take in the scenery, hang out by the water, and have some good convos!
Do you enjoy contemplating the nuances of religion and intentional design? Do you like scenic hikes and connecting with nature and like-minded individuals? Do you simply want to escape USC’s city-locked campus? Yes? Then join us for a lovely 7-mile hike to Strawberry Peak with Professor Matthew Peterson! With 1,771 feet of elevation gain, some light rock scrambling, and a short meditation led by Professor Peterson, you will end this trip feeling accomplished, refreshed, and ready to continue thinking outside.
Whether you’re interested in theology or simply want to broaden your intellectual horizons, this is a great opportunity to explore religious thought with a master of the subject… all while enjoying the wonderful natural beauty of Southern California.
If you are looking for a pleasant stroll and outdoor escape right in the heart of LA, this is the hike for you! Featuring beautiful trails, a lake, and a Japanese garden—this hike is perfect for those of you looking to relax before your upcoming OChem (scary!) exam. Pull up for this fun and casual 2.8 mile adventure!
Looking for a nice hike right outside of LA? Or curious to see a Catalina Marisa lily? Maybe even hoping for a way to unwind from a (biology) midterm? Join us on April 12 from 8:00AM to 2:00PM for an exciting 5 mile hike through Turnbull Canyon with the one and only Dr. Rita Barakat! Enjoy some stunning views alongside riveting conversations about biology, life, and everyone in between.
Happy Earth Month y’all! Come celebrate with a stunning Malibu beach hike with the USC Office of Sustainability’s own Chief Sustainability Officer—Mick Dalrymple! This mild 2.7 mile hike features expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and rolling hills covered in the greenery of California native plants. Let’s chat about how to protect our ocean while looking at it!
Join Professor Uzquiano for a hike unlike any other—where the conversation is as mind-expanding as the views! A world-renowned expert in metaphysics and philosophical logic, he’s taught at Oxford, St Andrews, and MIT, tackling deep questions about existence, paradoxes, and the limits of thought. Ever wondered if something can be in two places at once? Or how to solve the hardest logic puzzle ever in just two questions? Here’s your chance to get outside and get thinking!
Whether you're into philosophy or just love a good thought experiment, this is a rare opportunity to walk and talk with one of USC’s most fascinating thinkers.
Ok ok ok, who doesn’t want to go to a National Park?! Professor Ronney is so excited to show USC students one of his favorite hikes—Keane Wonder Mill, which besides being a gorgeous hike, contains so much rich history! Check something off your bucket list and sign up!
Do you have the Sunday Scaries? If so, take a break and join us on an amazing hike with Professor Calabrese. Join us on this 6.1 mile loop hike along the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula where we will hike alongside the majestic Pacific Ocean and cool lighthouses. (and maybe WWII bunkers??)
Feeling like your week could use a refresh? Craving some nature, ocean breeze, and wagging tails? Come join the one and only Professor Charlie Hannigan (and his adorable dog Smiley!) for a laid-back, soul-filling hike to the waterfall in Placerita Canyon — a scenic trail that winds through oak woodlands and chaparral-covered slopes, culminating at a charming 15-foot seasonal cascade.
Welcome in Spring with a Saturday morning paddleboarding sesh in Alamitos Bay! Join us in basking in the water and getting our pull day—courtesy of 90 minutes of paddle boarding. IMPORTANT - You must be a strong swimmer to participate in this trip, if you are not completely comfortable in the water our other phenomenal trips are a better fit for you!
Sign up for this awesome day hike to learn some cool history from Professor Lerner while exploring Malibu State Park. Be there or be ⬛
Brain still on break mode? Feeling slightly unproductive? Need an awesome getaway from campus? Reward yourself with this fun, super easy 4.5-mile hike to THE Rock Pool of Malibu Creek State Park — joined by THE one and only Business Economics professor, Matthew Hill! Enjoy your afternoon adventure by lounging by THE Rock Pool, climbing on volcanic rock, and simply chatting up a storm with THE Matthew Hill (and some new friends)!
Get ready to explore these two BEAUTIFUL National Parks with Conor and Maia! Join us for 3 days of hiking, exploring, learning, cooking, meditating, and adventuring. We’ll be disperse camping for two nights in the Hume Lake district, going on scenic hikes in the surrounding area and enjoying cozy nights by the campfire.
Come voyage with us across the high seas to the far-away lands of Channel Islands National Park! We’ll hike along cliffs overlooking the ocean, hang out on da beach, sleep on the dirt for two nights, and attempt to stop our fox neighbors from breaking into our tents.
We’ll take the ferry from Ventura Friday morning and sail back home on Sunday afternoon!
Join Lily and Professor Alexandra Brewer for a 4.6-mile hike in the Angeles National Forest. We’ll hike through the forest: crossing streaming, petting moss, observing lichen, and enjoying the sun. After climbing down a rope, we’ll arrive at a beautiful waterfall! If you so choose, you can take a dip in the water :)
Looking for a great way to fight the Sunday scaries? Join geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn to hike in Malibu Creek State Park on the Malibu Lake Trail. This 6.4 mile hike will be a great way to get outside and explore a well loved filming location.
Join us on an overnight trip with Prof Larry Harris! We will be leaving early Saturday morning and heading straight to the Afton Canyon campground to set up. After that, we will do the Spooky Canyon hike and then return back to camp for cooking and lovely times! The next morning we will hit a few stops on the way back, including the Alvord Mine. We will aim to be back on campus before 7pm.
Want to play with snow? Conclude your winter with a lovely 4.9 mile hike (1400ft elevation) at the Cedar Glen Camp Trail on Mt. Baldy. This snowy hike will offer beautiful mountain views and flowing streams. This is a perfect hike if you are down for breathtaking views and an escape into the Cucamonga Wilderness. We also may get to see deer if we’re lucky…
Need to escape for a day? Join us on a 9.2 mile trek in Point Mugu State Park where we will escape from USC’s hectic campus and become one with the lovely Santa Monica Mountains.
Join USC’s Society of Women Engineers’ (SWE) graduate community on this short hike in the Kenneth Hahn recreation area. Escape the hustle and bustle of USC while we get a weekend reset before midterms fly in.
![[SUSA x PEAKS] Hollywood Sign via Canyon Trail Drive w/ David Zarazua {Spanish}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1744391060897-QRN6KQ0XKLU6ZPY1TDY0/Screenshot+2025-04-11+100117.png)
![[SWE] Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area w/ Saty Raghavachary {Computer Science}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1738784059542-R8O083VA0LYU27F56I88/kenneth+hahn+2.jpg)