Baldwin Hill Scenic Overlook – Culver City, California

It’s like leg day but with views of the ocean, mountains, and downtown Los Angeles! Even if the leg workout doesn’t appeal to you, you need to check out Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook! Keep reading to find out why.

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A Summary of Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

This excursion to Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook had been on my list of places to visit for some time.  Driving there was not as bad as I thought it would be on a Saturday afternoon.  There was some traffic (Let’s be honest, when isn’t there traffic in LA?) We found some street parking, but I wanted to check out the parking lot at the top of the hill near the Nature Center.  The winding road that takes you to the top is one of the main routes for hikers, so drive slowly and share the road. (There are signs that tell pedestrians to stay off the road, but there are still people that like to walk in the middle of the road)

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At the top of the hill

We continued driving up the road where it ended at the parking lot.  There were plenty of available spaces to park, but doing so came with a small fee. (pricing in the details below) There are a few trails that lead out from the parking lot and thankfully there was a trail map posted next to the parking kiosk. I recommend taking a photo of it, so you have it for reference.

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Visitor Center and Restrooms

The first thing we did was look for restrooms.  If you have kids, then you know this is an important first step before any activity.  Thankfully there were clean restrooms available next to the Visitor Center, which is the building located beyond the trail map.  The Center itself was closed and hours were not posted, but a number to call to ask for this information was provided. (310.558.5566)

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Trails and Stairs

One trail started at the end of the Visitor Center.  This dirt path led to a few vista points, the first with views of the Pacific Ocean.  The path forks further up, but both lead to the same area; a large vista point overlooking all of downtown Los Angeles.  If you haven’t realized how massive downtown Los Angeles is, then viewing it from this point is incredible! This is the perfect opportunity to get a panoramic photo.

From here there is a 282-step staircase that leads all the way down to the street.  The kids and I decided to tackle the stairs to see how far we could go.   The steps are somewhat steep, and some are taller than others which can be a little more challenging for little legs.  There are handrails along the length of the staircase which I had my kids hold onto for balance. We made it down to the last platform before climbing back up the stairs.

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Back at the top

Once we were back at the top of the plateau, we explored some more.  If you take the path to the East, there is another trail that leads off towards a lower viewing area with a small amphitheater.  Take the same trail you used to walk in to go back out to the parking lot.  From here there are two more trials to choose from. One trail at the very end of the parking lot leads to the Stoneview Nature Center.  The last trail takes you to the Culver City Park that you can either drive or walk to.  There are parking areas located around this park for easy access.  There are restrooms, picnic tables, and water fountains as well.  This trail is called the Culver City Nature Trail and offers more great views of the Pacific Ocean.

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Final Thoughts

We did not get a chance to hike to the Stoneview Nature Center but walking the staircase and seeing the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles was one for the books.  I liked that there were clean bathrooms available, and the grounds were well kept.  We will be back again for sure!

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Details to plan this adventure:

• Address: 6300 Hetzler Rd. Culver City, Ca 90232
• Parking fee: Free Street parking. Parking in the upper parking lot is $2 an hour or $6 for the day. *Kiosk accepts cash or card, and you are also able to pay online using your phone.
• Hours: 8:00 am to Sunset daily.
• Restrooms: There are restrooms next to the Visitor Center located at the top of the hill.
• Accessibility: The trail that leads to the main overlook area is wide enough and not too rough, so a stroller would be able to go through. I would not recommend using a stroller on the trail that leads to the Stoneview Nature Center, since this trail is narrower and becomes steep. The Culver City Nature Trail is wheelchair, stroller, and blind friendly.
• Shade: There is shade around the Visitor Center, but the rest of the trails are not shaded, so go prepared with hats and sunscreen.
• Trails/Miles: All trails are under a mile. There is not much of a trek to the main overlook and the trail that leads to the Stoneview Nature Center is the longest one at a little under a mile.
• Difficulty: Easy (if you stay on the trails.) Moderate to Difficult (if you decide to walk the staircase. Feel the burn, love the burn)
• Pet Friendly: Not on the overlook, but dogs are allowed on the Culver City Nature Trail
• Picnic Area: There were no picnic tables at the top of the hill, but there are some at the Culver City Park/Nature Trail. There were some giant steps on the side of the Visitor Center that would be great for having a picnic. *Please make sure you do not leave any trash behind and clean up after yourself.
• Food/Water: One water fountain next to the restrooms.
• Visitor Center Hours: For the most up-to-date hours, please call the Visitor Center at: 310.558.5566.

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Recommended Items:

• Water
• Hats/Sunscreen
• Camera

Other Areas of Interest Nearby:

• Stoneview Nature Center – 5950 Stoneview Dr, Culver City, CA 90232
• Culver City Park and Nature Trail – 9910 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, Ca 90232

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What are you waiting for? Go Explore!