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Tucked away in the Angeles National Forest, Josephine Peak is one of L.A.’s best-kept hiking secrets. This 5,500-foot summit offers a perfect blend of adventure and chill vibes — think wide fire roads, steady climbs, and jaw-dropping views of the San Gabriels, Downtown LA, and even Catalina on a clear day. Whether you’re hiking, biking, or just out for some fresh mountain air, Josephine Peak gives you that “on top of the world” feeling without the overcrowded trails. Bonus points: you’ll pass by the quirky ruins of an old fire lookout near the summit — a perfect spot for a snack break and some Insta-worthy photos.
PACKING LIST:
Sturdy pair of hiking shoes
2L of water
Waivers
Sunscreen
Hat
PROFESSOR: Erika Wright
DEPARTMENT: Narrative Medicine
RATE MY PROFESSOR: "Favorite professor!! She gives you clear feedback and aims to improve your reading and writing, and I walked away from the class feeling like I genuinely learned something.”
Dr. Erika Wright, PhD, is where literature and medicine collide (in the best way). A proud USC English PhD, she now teaches British lit, sci-fi, and women’s writing — when she’s not at the Keck School of Medicine helping future doctors learn to really listen to their patients’ stories. She’s the Associate Director of USC’s HEAL and Narrative Medicine programs and author of Reading for Health, which explores how Austen, Dickens, and Gaskell basically invented wellness culture.
PEAK: Josephine Peak
DIFFICULTY: 4/5
SCENERY: Sweeping mountain views, pine-dotted ridges, and that “wow, LA really is surrounded by mountains” moment. On a clear day you can see Downtown, the Pacific, and maybe even Catalina — basically, a whole geography lesson in one hike.
FUN FACT: Josephine Peak used to have a fire lookout on top — now it’s just you, the wind, and the occasional mountain biker feeling extremely victorious at the summit.
TRIP LEAD: Elaine Huang
Ask her about Clover, her newly adopted 8-month-old kitten!
Contact Elaine: elainejh@usc.edu
Read Elaine’s bio here.