Finals coming up? Hit pause and trade your study spot for sunshine, salt air, and island views. We’re heading to Catalina Island for a full day of exploring, recharging, and soaking up the best of the California coast.

COME WITH US TO CONQUER EAGLE ROCK! This landscape is absolutely incredible (especially after recent rainfall) and will leave you feeling completely refreshed before finals week. It’s a 5-mile loop trail with 1000 ft of elevation gain, estimated to take around 3 hours total. We’ll stop for lunch at Eagle Rock and get back to campus around 4 PM. This is a moderately difficult trail, so come if you’re experienced!

Looking for a reset before finals? Join us for a 2.2 mile hike along the Inspiration Point Loop in Will Rogers State Historic Park. We’ll pair the hike with a short mindfulness activity to help you unplug, clear your head, and be present for a bit. Expect great views, good conversation, and a chance to step away from the stress before heading back into the final stretch.

Join Peaks and Dr. Merrick Anderson for a trip through Topanga State Park to gaze upon the majestic Eagle Rock! Enjoy the sunshine and get away from the monotony of daily life with a beautiful hike through a gem of a state park located in USC’s backyard. Spending time in the outdoors has created some of the great philosophies of the past. Who knows, maybe you’ll create one of your own on trail!

HIKING THE MOST POPULAR OF THE “LA 5 PEAKS” CHALLENGE!!! Come with us to Strawberry Peak, a 7-mile hike with 1700ft of elevation gain if you want to get some nice nature in before your finals!! We’ll start the day at 8 AM, aim to get to the trail at 9, eat lunch (provided by Peaks) at the summit around 11:00, hike back, and return to campus around 3:00 PM. This is a difficult trail, so only come if you’re experienced and ready to sweat! The mountains are GORGEOUS right now after so much rain in the last couple of months, so it’ll seem like we’re in the middle of a lush mountain on middle earth. Can’t wait to have everyone!

HIKING TO A BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL!!! Come with us to Switzer Falls, a 3.6-mile hike with 600ft of elevation gain to slow-max with the coolest professor at SC! We’ll start the day at 9 AM, aim to get to the trail at 10, eat lunch (provided by Peaks) on the trail around 11:30, hike back, and return to campus around 2:00 PM. This is a moderate trail, so come if you’re experienced! We’ll have a lot of time to relax by the rushing water and learn from Professor Pardo, so it should be a very chill hike!

DISCLAIMER: Professor Pardo will be bringing his dog on the trip!! Keep this in mind and bring allergy medicine if necessary!

Join Peaks and Andrew Chater to explore this iconic SoCal trail! This hike is a beautiful 9.5 mile trek in the San Gabriel Mountains to the mysterious Bridge to Nowhere, an isolated bridge over the San Gabriel River. There are multiple river crossings on this hike, so prepare to get your shoes wet. After hiking to the bridge, we’ll be able to eat lunch and swim in the river!

NOTE: Given the mileage and challenging river crossings, THIS HIKE IS NOT BEGINNER-FRIENDLY

Come join us on this relaxing Saturday sunset hike! We’ll get to chat with one of the most fun and caring professors at USC while looking at the stunning ocean views on the Santa Monica Mountains.

Come unwind on the Ocean & Canyon View Trail with Professor Holschneider. This 4.2-mile out-and-back moves from a shaded canyon of rocky cascades and seasonal waterfalls up to a ridge with sweeping ocean views. Expect a lively, scenic day hike that blends canyon scenery with coastal panoramas.

Spend your Saturday on a lovely 4 mile hike in Malibu with neuroscience researcher and T.A. Isaac Cohen! We will hike past the beautiful wildflowers and enjoy amazing Malibu Lake views.

Join Peaks and Dr. Merrick Anderson for a trip through Topanga State Park to gaze upon the majestic Eagle Rock! Enjoy the sunshine and get away from the monotony of daily life with a beautiful hike through a gem of a state park located in USC’s backyard. Spending time in the outdoors has created some of the great philosophies of the past. Who knows, maybe you’ll create one of your own on trail!

While this hike is only 5 miles long, it takes you to one of Los Angeles’ most iconic destinations, the Hollywood Sign. You can’t go to school in LA and not experience this landmark. Join us this Sunday for a hike filled with incredible views of downtown LA, and hear all about Dr. Gibson’s extensive knowledge on global climate regimes and climate conferences.

This 3.3-mile hike in the hills of Sierra Madre leads to a glorious waterfall — the perfect outing for a sunny day. A quick 45 min drive away, Sturtevant Falls consists of a few steep inclines, with a max elevation gain of 600 ft. The waterfall has a gorgeous pool to cool off in during the halfway point of the hike, and the whole trail is surrounded by the vibrantly green San Gabriel Mountains.

Spend your Saturday on a lovely 4 mile hike in Malibu with Writing professor Cory Nelson! We will hike past the beautiful wildflowers and enjoy amazing Malibu Lake views.

Come join the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and Peaks on a four-mile hike in the Santa Monica Mountains! We will have lovely ocean views, and AEE faculty advisor Dr. Kelly Sanders will be joining us. Come prepared for some great conversations with fellow students interested in sustainable energy infrastructure!

Spend April 5th outdoors on a scenic Eagle Rock Trail hike in Topanga State Park with Professor Christian Straka, a possible Easter Bunny sightings, and maybe some mindfulness along the way!!

Come with Peaks to Mandeville Canyon! Get ready for a lovely hike in the Santa Monica mountains with views of the greater LA area and the beautiful coastline!

Join Peaks and Rev. Jim Burklo on a scenic hike through the mountains of Ojai! There will be good views, good vibes, and maybe even a visit to Rev. Burklo’s house at the end for snacks :)

Join USC’s Society of Women Engineers’ (SWE) for some much needed reconnecting with nature after midterms! This beautiful urban oasis includes views of downtown LA, a serene pond, and maybe even turtles…. 🐢

Fancy an activity slightly more rewarding than paddleboarding? Then I can only suggest prone boarding. If you haven’t heard of it - no worries, many haven’t. Join Peaks and the wonderful Professor Rook Campbell as we adventure through the waters of Alamitos bay attempting this bewildering activity.

DISCLAIMER - YOU MUST BE A STRONG SWIMMER

Wanting a little taste of break during the peak of exams? Join Peaks & Professor Carl Collins on a relaxing hike through the Pacific Palisades on the Los Leones Trail! Here’s your chance to touch grass and smell the fresh salty air away from our cramped city bubble. To beat the fellow nature loving crowds, we’ll be leaving campus at 7:30 am to arrive right when the trail opens. Our easy 4 mile hiking adventure should take around 4 hours so please plan accordingly. Excited to see you all there!!

CALLING ALL ENGINEERS!! Come join Peaks and Viterbi Well for this incredible collaboration. Join us Saturday morning for a 4.3 mile hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. We will have the lovely Dan McCurry from the Environmental Engineering department joining us. Take the day to destress, enjoy nature, and have a great conversation about the importance of wellness in engineering!

Join Peaks & Sandra Kazarian for a refreshing hike along Fryman Canyon Trail in Studio City, tucked within the eastern Santa Monica Mountains. We will leave campus at 9:00 am and drive to the Wilacre Park trailhead. The hike is expected to take about an hour and a half, following wide dirt paths with steady but manageable elevation and scenic valley views, making it a perfect weekend reset.

About halfway through, near the TreePeople overlook, we will pause for a short writing retreat. Participants will reflect on the contrast between USC’s fast-paced campus environment and LA’s urban wilderness by writing a brief poem or free-form paragraph inspired by the trail.

Looking for an outdoorsy start to Women’s History Month? Join USC’s Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment on a beautiful, easy hike with Professor Julie Van Dam to the Elysian Park West Loop!

Join Peaks & Professor Michael Petitti on this quick hike through the Santa Monica Mountains! We will leave campus around 9:30 am, then drive to the trailhead in Topanga. After hiking about 45 minutes by the creek (with some crossings), we will arrive at the beautiful waterfall, where we can hang out and enjoy the view before heading back. Perfect way to cool off your weekend!

¿Ya quieres un escape de la escuela? ¡Vente a una caminata de 8 millas en el hermoso Bosque Nacional Angeles! Sí está un poco larga, pero no hay casi subidas, ¡está perfecto para todos! En el camino, cruzaremos arroyos con sombrita hasta que lleguemos a la cascada de la presa.

Need Sunday plans? Join us for a super chill hike with a super chill professor!

3 mile hike full of breathtaking views of Los Angeles!