Address: 15601 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades
Phone: (310) 454-1395
Park features: Restrooms, Dogs On Leash, Easy Hiking, City Views, Picnic Tables, Parking Lot, Filming Location, Drinking Water, ADA Accessible, Event Facilities, Wedding Venue, Historical Sites
Located in Pacific Palisades, Temescal Gateway Park is one of the most popular parks in the Santa Monica Mountains. The park encompasses 141 acres of oak and sycamore canyons, ridgetop views, and access to miles of trails in Topanga State Park, Will Rogers State Historic Park, and the 20,000-acre “Big Wild.” Park amenities include easy to moderate trails, picnic tables and grassy areas, restrooms, meeting rooms, an auditorium, and classrooms. Many educational and outreach programs are held at Temescal for children throughout the City. The Temescal Canyon Conference and Retreat Center provides overnight accommodations for up to 100 people, and the architecturally distinctive Temescal Dining Hall serves as a beautiful location for events of all kinds. For information about hosting a special event at Temescal Gateway Park click here . The Reverend Dr. Charles Holmes Scott developed what is now Temescal Gateway Park for the Methodist Church in 1922 as a West Coast center for the Chautauqua movement. Originated in 1874 on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in Southwestern New York State, Chautauqua assemblies were aimed at challenging the minds and spirits of its participants by offering families seasonal programs of lectures, music, elocution, and open discussion of public issues, literature, and science. The Presbyterian Synod purchased the property in 1943 and used it as a private retreat center until the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy purchased the property in 1994. Temescal Outdoor Education Program The Temescal Outdoor Education Program is dedicated to bringing enriching, hands-on outdoor experiences to Los Angeles’ under-served, urban youth. Many of the students who attend our program have never had the opportunity to smell the scent of a blooming wildflower, to watch a deer jump gracefully through a meadow, to gaze up at a star-filled sky, or to roast a marshmallow over an open campfire. Experiences like these expand students’ perspectives of the world and can profoundly impact the course of their lives. Our committed and professional naturalists lead students on a three-day/two-night hands-on science program that aligns with the California State Science Content Standards. Customized day and overnight programs are also available. For more information contact the MRCA Outdoor Education Program or call (818) 878-0866, ext. 228 Outdoor Education Flyer Directions: Temescal Gateway Park is located in Pacific Palisades, one mile north of Pacific Coast Highway at the intersection of Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard. From Los Angeles, take the Santa Monica Freeway (10) West until it becomes Pacific Coast Highway(PCH). Continue West on PCH. Turn right (North) on Temescal Canyon Road and continue for 1 mile. You enter the park immediately after crossing Sunset Boulevard. From the San Fernando Valley, take Topanga Canyon Boulevard South to Pacific Coast highway(PCH). Turn left (East) on PCH. Go Left (North) on Temescal Canyon Road and continue for 1 mile. Parking: Ample parking is available at the park entrance for $10.00 per day. One can also purchase an annual parking pass
Trails & hiking
Featured route: Temescal Canyon Trail (trail details & live conditions on AllTrails)
- Distance: 3.0 mi (4.8 km) — Loop
- Elevation gain: 830 ft (253 m), high point 1187 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Typical time: 1.5–2 hr
- Rating: 4.7/5 (12,492 AllTrails reviews)
- Good for: Hiking, Trail running
- On the trail: No dogs, Kid-friendly, Forests, Rivers, Views, Waterfalls, Wildflowers, Wildlife
Conditions vary by season. Check live weather and air quality on the AllTrails trail page before heading out.
Location
15601 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades
Approximate coordinates: 34.0464, -118.5267
View on OpenStreetMap
Photos
Photo credits: Karin Mueller (1-4)
Related documents
Nearby parks
Park description restored from the 2017 lamountains.com archive (Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy). Trail statistics courtesy of AllTrails. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
