Join Peaks and Professor Robert Waller on a sunrise hike through the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains! We will leave campus around 5:15 before starting on our 5 mile trek. At USC, Professor Waller developed a special WRIT 340 class that aims to help performing and visual arts students articulate their own aesthetics, and through this process expand their understanding both of writing and the meanings and purposes driving their work. Expect panoramic views of Altadena, gorgeous wildflowers, and thought provoking conversations on artistry and creativity. You won’t want to miss this one!

Join us for an trip to Malibu Creek State Park to hike the Backbone Trail:) This is a 7.7-mile hiking loop with 2,017 feet of elevation gain. We are in for a little bit of a challenge, but it will be worth of it get outside and for the views! We will meet and leave EARLY in the AM to be able to get to the trail and meet our professor by 8. The hike is estimated to take 4.5-5 hours. Afterwards, we should get back to USC by mid-afternoon!

Join us for a nice long hike with Amy Braden in the Angeles National Forest! On this 8-mile (nearly 2000 ft. of elevation gain) out and back we will enjoy beautiful views, great convos, and some snow near the peak. If you’re looking to get a workout in over the weekend with some lovely people this is the trip for you!

Join us for a 10-mile hike, with 1300 ft of elevation gain, through the San Gabriel Forest and Sheep Mountain Wilderness to the “Bridge to Nowhere”. We’ll cross through the San Gabriel River at least 6-8 times so be prepared to get wet! The highlight of the hike is the mysterious bridge built over the east fork in 1936. In the 1930's a road did lead to it, but was swept away by floods in 1938.

Let’s play in the snow! Join us on this 5.8-mile, 1335 elevation gain hike in Angeles National Forest with Professor Larry Harris (and his two poodles)! NOTE: Depending on weather conditions, we might not make it to the peak but we’ll go as far as possible. Warm clothes and hiking boots / waterproof shoes (not tennis shoes) are a must for this hike (see packing list below).

Looking for something to do the day after we beat the Bruins?? Come hike Mt. Baldy with us!! WARNING: This is a very difficult hike!! Please do not sign up unless you are prepared for a 14-mile, 4300ft elevation gain hike. It will potentially be pretty cold as well. But we will see some spectacular views at every step!!

Join ITP Professor Kristof Aldenderfer for a strenuous 7 mile, 1800ft elevation gain hike up to Strawberry Peak. We’ll get great workout and 360 views of the San Gabriel Mountains!!

Join geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn to hike one of the best trails in the San Gabriel Mountains to the Bridge to Nowhere. This 10 mile rocky trail will take you through scrub bush, along and across the San Gabriel River, before ending at a mysterious bridge.

Join geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn to hike one of the best trails in the San Gabriel Mountains to the Bridge to Nowhere. This 10 mile rocky trail will take you through scrub bush, along and across the San Gabriel River, before ending at a mysterious bridge.

River crossings! Rock scrambling! Come along for a good ole fashioned adventure down 9.5 miles of the San Gabriel River! This hike will take us to the Bridge to Nowhere, a mysterious bridge that was abandoned after a flood in the 1930’s.

Join us for a trip into the beautiful Angeles National Forest with avid hiker and PhD student Rachel Newman! Together we will hike the 10 mile Inspiration Point loop while enjoying the amazing views of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Join Dr. Andrew Simpson on an exciting adventure through the San Gabriel mountains! We’ll be hiking 7 miles down a river from Switzer Falls to JPL. When I say down a river, I mean it!

Join geology expert Vicky Petryshyn on an 11 mile, 4000 ft elevation hike up one of southern California’s most iconic peaks, Mt. Baldy.

Join math professor Neel on our trip to Ice House! He might be in the realm of mathematics at USC, but away from the concrete landscape, Neel has a knack for hikes and conversing with students! This more challenging day hike is just under 8 miles long as it loops near Mt. Baldy. At the top of this peak, we’ll reach a total of 2,637 ft in elevation so be sure to wear good shoes and hydrate before hand. The trek gives a beautiful look at the Cucamonga Wilderness as we learn more about this admired professor!

Join geologist Vicky Petryshyn on a 14.5 mile loop hike from Chantry Flats to Mt. Wilson. This hike offers great views of the San Gabriels as well as a stop at the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory, which at one point was home to the largest telescope in the world.

Get pumped for this all day trip to Santa Cruz Island! We will take an early ferry out to this isolated island to see all sorts of Pacific Rim plants and Wildlife. Expect beautiful ocean views and a full day away from the fast-paced SoCal life!

Join us for a poetically beautiful journey through Angeles National Forest!

Join Dr. Andrew Simpson on an exciting adventure through the San Gabriel mountains! As he puts it, “This is a real wilderness hike, about 8 hours, most of which time you don't see anyone else. It's along a creek, often with little path in sight, a lot of boulder-hopping or wading through the river if the water is high. The group needs to be a little hard-core for this, as it's a tough hike, but really special.”

Between Baldy Notch and Icehouse Saddle, at the head of the great horseshoe ridge that encircles upper San Antonio Canyon, are three summits rising over 8000'—Thunder Mountain (8587'), Telegraph Peak (8985') and Timber Mountain (8303'). Mountaineers know these forested knobs as "The 3 T's." This trip traverses over these three summits.

Come join your favorite Peaks People and hike to the highest point in LA! This hike is very challenging, but your hard work will pay off with some stunning views of the San Gabriel Mountains. Get ready for a long day of adventure, good vibes, and even better people!

Join us for an early morning climb in the Santa Monica mountains! We will be joining surfing professor and SoCal nature expert Ian Culbertson for hours of ocean views. This trail starts in a valley near Malibu and climbs all the way up to the top of Saddle Peak, so be ready for a workout. We’ll leave campus early to beat the heat and try to be back to campus for lunchtime!

This 11-miler is not for the faint of heart. We’ll conquer this mountain via the Ski Hut trail, in which a ski hut is, in fact, visible in the distance! After basking in our glory at the summit, we’ll descend through a section of the trail called the Devil’s Backbone that lives up to its name. The trail climbs about 3800 feet, so mountain goats are invited (and encouraged) to come. Pros: epic views, bragging rights, impeccable vibes. Cons: No actual baldness (Only 5% of Peaks & Professors participants are bald, so statistically speaking, it’s highly unlikely we’ll see a bald head out here.)

Need a break from studying for finals? Graduating and want to leave USC with a final Peaks huzzah? Join us as we take on one of the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks, and you’ll get to take a tour of the observatory at the top!

Hike Mt. Baldy with Professor Kammas!