Mount Baldy
Best visited on a day-long excursion, Mount Baldy (officially known as Mount San Antonio) is the highest mountain in LA and certainly one of the most difficult hikes in the city. One favourite route for scaling this peak winds up the Baldy Bowl Ski Hut Trail - many hikers bring ski gear to bolt down after the hike in the wintertime - and continues along the Devil's Backbone Trail. To make the absolute most of this path, get going first thing in the morning to beat the crowds and plan to head out on a clear day - that's your best chance for views stretching all the way out to the Mojave Desert.