Trailhead: Friendship County Regional Park and Nature Center, San Pedro, CA
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation: 1300 feet.
View: Excellent view of the Port of Los Angeles and the South Shore of PVP. (You might want to bring your binoculars and/or camera if it is a clear day).
Directions: Go to the southern end of Harbor Fwy (110) to Gaffey Street, San Pedro exit, South (left) on Gaffey to 9th Street West, (right) on 9th Street to Western Avenue (1.4 mile), Cross Western and turn left in half a block onto Friendship Park Drive. Enter park and park in a lot on the first right turn.
The Nature Center opens at 9 AM. Restrooms are available inside the Nature Center and also there is a handicap port-o-potty at the far end of the parking lot.
The hike begins at the Friendship Park Nature Center. The trail leads up the hill and then down to Palos Verdes Drive South. We cross PV Dr. South and down into “Palos Verdes Shoreline Park”. We hike to a viewpoint and then up the “Sagebrush Trail” to the “Catalina View Trail”. When we arrive at the 3rd “Beach Access Trail” (BAT), which is near the flagpole and sand traps we descend to the beach, walk west along the shoreline and return up the next “BAT” to “Founder’s Park” picnic area for lunch (For those wishing to make it a longer hike you could continue on to “Portuguese Bend Club” and back, approx 1 mile RT).
After lunch we head back along the “Catalina View Trail” to the “Gnat Catcher Trail” then up and out of “Shoreline Park”. (For those not wishing to hike back up the hill from this point I’ll have our van available for a shuttle back to the Nature Center). We cross PV Dr. So. returning up the hill back to Friendship Park for our after hike party.
Google Earth Photo - Friendship Park to the Beach
GPS Data:
RT = 5.8 mi.
Trailhead = 275 ft.
Max Elevation Change = 510 ft.
