HomeCaliforniaRancho Palos Verdes › Palos Verdes Nature Preserve

Palos Verdes Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 212 Google reviews · Running trail in Rancho Palos Verdes, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Palos Verdes Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicTrailhead parking

Park featuring well-maintained hiking trails with scenic views of the ocean.

What runners say about Palos Verdes Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (212 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 17 mentions

“The trails are gorgeous and the sight lines at sunset are gorgeous especially if there’s a little fog.”

Great place for hiking. nice trail. starts out easy for a good warm up with growing intensity towards the top. Boulder navigating and great views make this a very versatile trail.

★★★★★ — Lana , Jan 2020

If I were a religious person, I’d say this place is Heaven on Earth. The trails are gorgeous and the sight lines at sunset are gorgeous especially if there’s a little fog. The sun breaks through the the sky like daggers of light. A gorgeous little spot in RPV.

★★★★★ — Tatiana , Jul 2022

Beautiful! Breathtaking views! This spring time with all the flowers blooming is amazing to see and feel! Great walking trail! Well maintained! 👍👍👍👍👍👍

★★★★★ — Vijaya , Apr 2019

Breathtaking trail with scenic view. Best time visit is during the morning and evening.

★★★★★ — Gathsayuri , Jun 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 212 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 31 mentions

“The trails are gorgeous and the sight lines at sunset are gorgeous especially if there’s a little fog.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Palos Verdes Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websiterpvca.gov

Hours

Monday 5:40 AM–7:50 PM
Tuesday 5:40 AM–7:50 PM
Wednesday 5:40 AM–7:50 PM
Thursday 5:40 AM–7:50 PM
Friday 5:40 AM–7:50 PM
Saturday 5:40 AM–7:50 PM
Sunday 5:40 AM–7:50 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Palos Verdes Nature Preserve

30940 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Get directions

Running trails near Rancho Palos Verdes

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Point Vicente Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 81 reviews

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

under a mile away

Alta Vicente Reserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 42 reviews

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Scenic

Nature preserve offering kid-friendly hiking trails.

under a mile away

Pelican Cove Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 661 reviews

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

LitScenicDog-friendly

Ocean-adjacent public park offers views of Santa Catalina Island & a walking trail to beach access.

under a mile away

Terranea Beach Trail Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 56 reviews

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Scenic

under a mile away

Terranea Bluff Top Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 226 reviews

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Scenic

Panoramic ocean views, bluffs and gentle hiking trails are the hallmarks of this rocky, family-friendly park.

under a mile away

Vicente Bluffs Reserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 873 reviews

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

Wildlife-filled reserve with ocean views, multi-use trails, lookout points & unique rock formations.

under a mile away

All running trails in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.