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, September 6.
Come join us for a morning of stunning ocean views in this 4.2 mile hike. We’ll be facing some steep climbs with a total elevation gain of 1000 feet, but we promise it’s worth it. This trail will take us up along the canyon to beautiful ocean lookouts.
Gorgeous views! Giant rock formations! A summit scramble! Join us for a 6.1-mile loop through the Santa Monica Mountains as we follow the Backbone and Mishe Mokwa Trails to Sandstone Peak. Along the way, we’ll pass the dramatic Echo Cliffs, stop at Inspiration Point, and take in the incredible views of the mountains and coastline. We’ll finish the climb with a short rock scramble to the summit before looping back to the trailhead. Come ready for a moderately challenging hike, beautiful scenery, and a fun day on the trail with Bart Skarzynski!
Take a break from campus and join us for a hike to Eagle Rock via East Topanga Fire Road in Topanga State Park for beautiful views and a chance to get outside with good company! This moderately difficult hike will take us up to Eagle Rock, where we’ll take a break and enjoy the scenery before heading back. We probably won’t stop for lunch, so eat a big breakfast beforehand! There’s not a lot of shade, so bring plenty of water.
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!
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.
Hiking? Caves? Swimming? Lakes? Camping? Scenic drives? Stars? Astronauts?? THIS TRIP HAS IT ALL!! Join Peaks and Prof. Reisman as we journey for overnight trip to Lake Isabella and the Kern River! We plan to hike up to a cave and explore the lake area, go white water rafting, and camp in this beautiful area just south of Sequoia National Park. The moon phase will be advantageous for star gazing, maybe Jaxson can be convinced to bring his telescope…
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!
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 :)
¿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.
Join us for a lovely Saturday in Ojai! We’ll start our morning by meeting up with beloved Peaks veteran Rev. Burklo at the trailhead, then hiking 4 miles through his home trails in the Los Padres National Forest. There will be lots of rolling hills and flowing water! After hiking, we’ll pop down to his house to enjoy a picnic with his DONKEYS before heading back to campus.
Join us for a lovely 4.9 mile hike (1400ft elevation) at the Cedar Glen Camp Trail on Mt. Baldy. If you are down for breathtaking views, flowing streams, and want to dive deeper into gender and sexuality topics with Dr. Blaine, come join us!!
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.
¿Estresado por los finales? ¿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.
Join us on Sunday, November 9 for a relaxing 4-mile out-and-back hike with Dr. Eden Goldman! Expect a fun morning hike with great views and some super interesting conversations about mindfulness, yoga, and everything in between!
Come on an overnight hiking trip with Peaks to the Angeles National Forest! We’ll be camping inside a giant red cedar grove, and checking out a few of the best hikes (waterfall!) and panoramic views in the area. BIG MOUNTAINS, BEST VIBES!
Come with Peaks to Mandeville Canyon! Get ready for Halloween with this hike in Santa Monica with views of the greater LA area and the beautiful coastline! Professor Avi Glick from SCA joins us for a hike full of good vibes and great vistas!
The early bird gets the worm! Come join us on a beautiful SUNRISE hike to the tallest point in the Santa Monica Mountains, Sandstone Peak! This 3 mile out-and-back hike is filled with some amazing sandstone rock formations and gorgeous views of the Malibu Hills and Pacific Ocean. You’ll be back right when everyone else wakes up (or not… it is a Sunday after all).
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
![[SPANISH-GUIDED HIKE] Brown Mountain Dam w/ David Zarazúa {Spanish}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/e384d3fc-fbad-4e21-aa78-b92c93c37238/Screenshot+2025-10-29+203200.png)
![[SPANISH-GUIDED HIKE] Brown Mountain Dam w/ David Zarazúa {Spanish}](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a42a629a8b2b05e5cf25608/1761347469800-6ZNE8MBLS5RWZJPIOOT3/bmd.webp)
![[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)
