PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

Located in the Pacific Palisades, Temescal Gateway Park covers over 140-acres of terrain and is one of the most popular of the Santa Monica Mountain parks. The park offers ample opportunities for picnicking, panoramic views of the coastline, large grassy areas, and access several hiking trails that range from easy to moderate difficulty. You can also access additional hiking trails into Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park.

Parking is available at the park entrance for $5 per day. The parking lot is a haven for parking enforcement so make sure that you follow all the rules. Also, make sure to watch your speed and come to a complete stop when necessary; the forest rangers are always on the prowl and they won’t hesitate to give you a citation. By the way, failure to come to a “complete” stop will run you about $100 (this comes from experience).

Alternatively, you can skip the parking fee and park along Temescal Canyon Rd or Sunset Blvd for free; just make sure to read the signs before heading up to the park. Also, if you’re coming here for the hike, make sure that you bring plenty of water along with you…there are no water fountains along the trails.

Getting Here

Getting to Temescal Gateway Park is really simple. If you’re taking PCH, turn onto Temescal Canyon Rd and head up about 1 mile until you reach Sunset Blvd…the park will be directly in front of you. If you’re taking the streets and are headed westbound along Sunset Blvd, you’ll make a right turn into the park at Temescal Canyon Rd.