S California Road Trip: LA & national parks

Question

Hi Lovely California Folks. Our summer vaca was in N California and now we are preparing for a S California trip in late Feb/early Mar. I could use some big picture help.

Here are my initial thoughts on our 2+ week trip, flying into LAX. We love hiking, nature, art, culture, gardens. We dislike crowds.

Day 1 and 2 Stay north of LA or north part of LA. Hiking - maybe Malibu? Other options? We love canyon hiking.

Day 3 Santa Clarita Stay night with relatives

Day 4 The Getty

Day 5 Open

Day 6 Head east to Palm Springs - spend night there

Days 7, 8, 9 Joshua Tree NP - stay in nearby town

Day 10 Mojave National Preserve (maybe just a leg stretcher? Good hiking?) then onto LV

Day 11 Valley of Fire SP with evening in LV,

Day 12, 13, 14, Death Valley NP

Day 15 Back to LA. Stay near LAX.

Day 17 Fly Home

Is this a reasonable loop?

I'd love to hear about other places I might be missing - given interests and time constraints. The NPs are non-negotiable but LA is still a work in progress. Thanks!

Answer

Your Southern California road trip plan for late February/early March looks very doable and well-structured, especially given your interests in hiking, nature, art, and gardens. Here’s a detailed analysis and some suggestions for optimizing your route and filling in open days:

General Overview:

The loop from LAX → Malibu/north LA → Santa Clarita → Getty → Palm Springs → Joshua Tree NP → Mojave National Preserve → Las Vegas → Valley of Fire → Death Valley → LAX is logical and maximizes your NP visits while minimizing backtracking. It balances urban exploration with desert and mountain hikes.

Day-by-Day Suggestions:

Days 1-2 (North of LA/Malibu): Great choice for canyon hiking. Consider Solstice Canyon, Escondido Falls, or Malibu Creek State Park for scenic, less-crowded trails. You could also explore Topanga State Park for beautiful canyon hikes closer to the city.
Day 3 (Santa Clarita): Overnight with relatives works well. If you have spare time, Vasquez Rocks is nearby for short scenic hikes and photography.
Day 4 (The Getty): The Getty is excellent for art and gardens. Consider reserving tickets in advance and combining with a walk around Santa Monica or Brentwood if time allows.
Day 5 (Open): Options include:

Hike in the Griffith Park area (Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Sign trail).
Explore LACMA + La Brea Tar Pits for art and culture.
Visit Descanso Gardens or Huntington Library for gardens.
Take a scenic coastal drive along PCH or Point Dume in Malibu.

Day 6 (Palm Springs): Good base for Joshua Tree. Consider visiting Moorten Botanical Garden or Palm Springs Aerial Tramway if you want desert flora or panoramic views.
Days 7-9 (Joshua Tree NP): Excellent choice for hiking and nature. Popular hikes: Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Cholla Cactus Garden. Stay in Joshua Tree town, Yucca Valley, or Twentynine Palms.
Day 10 (Mojave NP to Las Vegas): Mojave NP is less trafficked; a short leg-stretcher hike can be Kelso Dunes or Teutonia Peak. Driving through, you’ll enjoy scenic desert views.
Day 11 (Valley of Fire + LV evening): Valley of Fire is best early morning or late afternoon for light and fewer crowds. You can enter from I-15; popular stops: Fire Wave, Elephant Rock, Mouse’s Tank.
Days 12-14 (Death Valley NP): Excellent plan. Key hikes: Mosaic Canyon, Golden Canyon, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Consider Artist’s Drive & Palette for scenic driving. Winter temperatures are mild; ideal for hiking.
Day 15 (Back to LA near LAX): Useful buffer for flight preparation.

Additional Suggestions:

If you want fewer crowds near LA, focus on hikes in Malibu, Topanga, and Griffith Park early in the day.
Consider Salvation Mountain or Slab City as a quirky desert detour if you’re willing to explore offbeat art spots between Joshua Tree and Mojave NP.
For art and gardens, The Broad and Huntington Library are top options, though may require minor detours.

Overall, your itinerary is reasonable. The key is planning NP visits with flexibility for weather, allowing early starts for hiking, and reserving tickets for popular LA museums and gardens. This combination should satisfy your hiking, nature, art, and garden interests while minimizing exposure to large crowds.

S California Road Trip: LA & national parks

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