Sullivan Canyon, located in the Santa Monica Mountains east of Will Rogers State Park, offers an 8.5-mile round trip hike that delivers real solitude without feeling remote. You’ll start from a residential street a couple of miles north of Sunset Boulevard, which means easy access but without the parking hassles of more famous trailheads.

The trail itself is wide and well-maintained, which matters when you’re managing a dog. It winds through a sycamore-filled canyon that’s genuinely beautiful—the shade from those big trees is substantial, and the canopy creates a much cooler experience than many LA hikes offer. The path stays relatively moderate in difficulty, so it works well for dogs that are reasonably fit but not necessarily trail-hardened athletes.

What makes Sullivan Canyon different from other nearby options is how quiet it stays. You won’t encounter the crowds here that you’d find at some of the more publicized Santa Monica Mountain routes. Your dog gets to move at a natural pace without constantly yielding to other hikers, and you can actually hear the canyon around you. The wide trail also means there’s room to navigate around other people when you do cross paths, which is appreciated when you’ve got a dog on leash.

The whole 8.5-mile round trip is doable in a few hours, depending on how many times you stop to let your dog catch their breath or investigate the scenery. It’s also easy enough that you won’t need to bring specialized gear—just water for both of you and a comfortable walking pace.

Getting there from Sunset Boulevard means you’re close to numerous neighborhoods if you need to grab food or supplies before heading out, but once you’re on the trail itself, you feel completely disconnected from the urban side of Los Angeles. Dogs are welcome throughout, and the management information is available through hikespeak.com/trails/sullivan-canyon/.