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!

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!

Midterms got you down? Missing the wind on your face and sand in your toes? Reef Point and Crystal Cove is the perfect getaway for you! On this easy 5.2 mile hike, we will spend most of our time walking along the picturesque beachfront of Crystal Cove State Park.

Come out and chat with the Vice-Dean of Thornton, Sean Holt! Stroll down the ruins of the old Griffith Park Zoo, the original location of the LA Zoo! Come explore the old exhibits and chat with one of the most insightful professors at USC!

Do you identify as neurodivergent*? Want to hangout in the Expo Park Rose Garden with a Psychology professor who studies neurodiversity? Join Dr. Sneha Mathur and trip lead Lily Morse for an hour-long discussion and hangout in the Expo Park Rose Garden! Dr. Sneha will be bringing some crayons and coloring pages :)

This event is FREE and is just a 2-minute walk from campus. Look out for an email from Lily on the exact meetup point.

*Neurodivergent means that your brain works differently from what society has defined as the “typical” brain! Anyone who identifies with that statement is more than welcome to join; you don’t need any sort of formal diagnosis.

If you’re looking to start your Saturday morning off with a relaxing stroll around a large(ish) body of water then join us for a 3.3 mile, 150-foot elevation gain hike around the Hollywood Reservoir with professors Maria Mercedes Fages Agudo and Leah Kemp from the Spanish Department (no Spanish knowledge necessary to have a good time)! Enjoy greenery after the recent rains and a great view of the Hollywood sign!

Wow! This is so cool!! Amazing!! These are all phrases YOU, yes YOU! will be saying on this gorgeous 2.5-mile hike in Palos Verdes with Physical Education Professor Diana Ordorica!!! With minimal elevation gain, fantastic views, and a finish line at the beach, this hike is quite literally calling your name!! You will even get to meet 6 or 7 new friends. So hit that sign up button!!!!!

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!

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 :)

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…

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!

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!

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!

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)!

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.

Join the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and some of USC’s most distinguished engineering faculty on a lovely wander of the beautiful Trail Canyon Falls! This scenic hike is the perfect Sunday breather from the study-filled life of a Viterbi student.

If you’re looking to start your Saturday morning off with a relaxing stroll around a large(ish) body of water then join us for a 3.3 mile, 150-foot elevation gain hike around the Hollywood Reservoir with professors Maria Mercedes Fages Agudo and Leah Kemp from the Spanish Department (no Spanish knowledge necessary to have a good time)! Enjoy greenery after the recent rains and a great view of the Hollywood sign!

The EXL lab is excited to announce The World Beneath Our Feet, a new urban hiking series that explores the layers of history that live under the concrete landscapes of Greater Los Angeles! For our first journey, we will take the Old Salt Road from USC to the Village of Yaanga. We’ll stop for lunch and local history near el Pueblo, and end at the Buena Vista Viewpoint, which sits atop the terraced hillside known by the Kizh-Gabrieleño as Mowanga, offering an excellent view of the LA River looking north.

Take a break from studying and come meditate with Mindful USC at Santa Monica Pier! We will be meeting bright and early to head to the beach, where we will enjoy the sun and the waves and wrap up the fall semester in the best way possible.

Join us (myself and Professor Pizzati AND Economics Association) for an easy 3-mile loop the Sunday before Thanksgiving break! We’ll be hiking Temescal Canyon Trail, a Pacific Palisades hike offering '“the best of both ocean and canyon views.” If we get lucky we might pass by a (small) waterfall, and with/without luck we’ll get to see the awesome Skull Rock! Please join us, very easy, very fun!

End (or start — we can discuss whether Sunday is really the beginning of a week) your week the right way with this short 2 mile, 340 elevation-gain hike in Coldwater Canyon Park! We’ll be with Miki Turner, the goddess of the camera and her dog Rosa (yes, named after Rosa Parks). You won’t want to miss this one :)

Start your birding career!

Join us for a very chill 3 mile hike in the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park with Professor Alvarez. This site is full of large, unique rick formations that have been featured in many different TV shows. We will also be doing rock scrambling! This is a perfect hike to end your midterm season on, enjoy breathtaking rock views, and hear about all the dance shows Professor Alvarez has been on.