Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Perched in the Baldwin Hills, this underrated urban park gives you sweeping, elevated views of Los Angeles that rival any rooftop or hillside in the city. The real prize is the ridgeline trail system, where you can frame Downtown LA's skyline against the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, or swing west to capture the Santa Monica Mountains with the city sprawling in between. Sunrise is exceptional here, with golden light hitting the downtown towers before haze builds up, and clear winter mornings after rain offer the sharpest air quality you will find all year. A wide-angle lens works well for the full panoramic sweep, while a telephoto lets you compress the skyline against the mountains for dramatic cityscape shots. The trails are well maintained and parking is available at the main lot off La Cienega Boulevard. Arrive early to beat both the crowds and the midday smog. (Los Angeles, California, United States)
