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, October 19.
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.
Want to play with snow? Conclude your winter with a lovely 4.9 mile hike (1400ft elevation) at the Cedar Glen Camp Trail on Mt. Baldy. This snowy hike will offer beautiful mountain views and flowing streams. This is a perfect hike if you are down for breathtaking views and an escape into the Cucamonga Wilderness. We also may get to see deer if we’re lucky…
Are you already in need of an adventure even though the semester just started? Look no further! Join us for a hike to a waterfall in the beautiful Angeles National Forest! This 4.6-mile trail will be the perfect start to your Sunday and end to your weekend. Prepare to get a little wet on the trail’s river crossings!
Join Lily and Andy for a 5.6 mile hike to Dawn Mine, located deep in Millard Canyon. We’ll cross some streams and go through the forest in search of an old mine and water pump. Will we find it? You’ll have to join us to find out!
Sign up to hike Cherry Canyon with not one, not two, not even three, but five real estate development faculty members from the Price School of Public Policy!
Join us for a beautiful hike in the Santa Monica Mountains with Environmental Studies Professor Jill Sohm! Sweat off the Sunday scaries with this 5 mile trek with moderate elevation gain. We’ll get to see the gorgeous views of one of SoCal’s most beautiful mountain ranges, and we might even get to enjoy tasting some of the lovely flora along the trail!
Join Professor Egan for his first ever PEAKS HIKE! This is gonna be a moderate 4 and a half mile hike, so make sure to pack lots of water! Hopefully, it’ll be foggy like in the photos… Apparently we should also expect “a nice breeze from the Pacific Ocean” on our way down. Regardless of whether conditions, expect awesome vibes and lots of fun!
SEVENTH SEMESTER IN A ROW… LET’S SEND IT! Join psychology professor Bryan Shilowich and special guest Leslie Berntsen as we climb Point Dume and enjoy some well-needed beach time before finals. When it comes to activities (besides climbing), the sky’s the limit—possible moves include body surfing, scavenging for some sick shells, throwing frisbees, playing Go Fish, and making new friends.
Join us for a proper Ojai retreat! Our trip will feature Professor Jim Burklo, USC’s dean of spirituality. We will meet at USC Village at 7:30 then manke the 1.5 hour drive to Ojai. Once there, we will do our hike at Sisar Canyon, a moderatly chalenging hike with gorgeous views. After that, Professor Burklo has invited us around to his lovely Ojai home for snacks, a swim in his pool, and introductions to his two donkeys. Return back to campus may vary depending on how long the group chooses to stay.
Join us for a trip to Inspiration Point and Mt. Lowe with avid hiker and Astronomy Professor Kris Pardo! We will explore the scenic Mt. Lowe Trail to Mt. Lowe Peak & Inspiration Point. This 5.4 mile loop trail will be a fantastic way to end your weekend!
Join the amazing Professor (and former astronaut!) Reisman for a spooky overnight Halloween trip to the abandoned mining town of Cerro Gordo! We will be driving early Saturday morning to the ghost town to camp, hike the nearby hills, and explore the local silver mines and buildings of the town. On Saturday night, we will enjoy the moonless sky to bask in the Milky Way, use a telescope to observe Jupiter and Saturn, and take a star tour through the visible constellations (do your weather dance for no clouds!). On Sunday we will continue to explore the town, do some more hikes, and head back to campus by that night!
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!!
Come spend your Sunday morning hiking through the Angeles National Forest with geology expert and iconic Peaks Professor Vicky Petryshyn. This 8.5 mile hike will take you through Brown Mountain and will finish at a waterfall.
Join us for a 6.8 mile (1,145 ft elevation gain) in the Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park to the Parker Mesa overlook with Professor Victoria Chonn-Ching! We will meander through a vital lovely oak grove with luscious green grass, and at the vista we will witness the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, Catalina Island to the south, and the crescent shaped coastline of Santa Monica to the west to rise above the October depression pummeling towards us.
Join us for a 9.5 mile hike (1250ft elevation gain) out-and-back in the San Gabriel Mountains with Professor Ronald Osborn. We will traverse several stream crossings, go through scrub bush, and end at a mysterious bridge. This is a perfect hike to start your semester on, enjoy breathtaking river views, and hear about the many places and wonderful work Professor Osborn has done around the world.
![[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)
