There’s an easy way and a hard way to enjoy the panoramic views from the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  The popular vista point can be reached from above with a short hike from Del Cerro Park, as described here.  But hikers looking for a little bit more of a challenge might want to try approaching it from below, staring at the Forrestal Reserve.  The lower region of the Portuguese Bend Reserve has a wide variety of trails, and the loop described here uses fourteen–count ‘em, fourteen–of them.  Of course, one doesn’t have to follow it exactly, but the trails that make this loop make for one of the more vigorous, and scenic, hikes on the peninsula.  While the flowers in the spring are particularly beautiful here, this hike’s coastal locale makes it a good option for any time of year.  Keep in mind however that there is virtually no shade on the trail, so plan accordingly, especially during the summer.

To get to the Portuguese Bend Reserve from Forrestal, take the Purple Sage trail (1) to the Conqueror Trail (2), which descends steeply into Klondike Canyon. Once you cross the bottom of the canyon, you are in the Portuguese Bend Reserve. Take a hard right on the Klondike Canyon Trail (3), which makes a steep ascent – the first of several you will encounter on this route. Turn left on the Barn Owl trail (4), which quickly becomes the Panorama Trail (5). This route earns its name with nice views of the ocean, the bluffs and the canyon. It descends slightly to a junction with your return route, the short but uber-steep Sandbox Trail. Stay straight and hook up with the Burma Road Trail (6), the main artery through the reserve.

Head left on Burma, and in about 0.3 miles, turn right on the Ishabashi Trail (7). This trail climbs steeply for a little while before mellowing out. Ignore two false trails that lead to the left and stay on the Ishabashi Trail, which eventually reconnects with Burma at a four-way junction. Take a left on the Burma Trail, which takes in great views of the ocean as it heads toward the vista point.

A short climb on the Eagle Nest trail (8) takes you to the pine-shaded vista point, where you can relax and enjoy some great views before heading down. Continue past the vista point on the Eagle Nest trail, which switchbacks down the side of the hill to reconnect with Burma. Head right for a few yards on Burma and pick up the Vanderlip Trail (9), which heads downhill, past some cliffs. Head left on the Kubota Trail (10), which soon meets a steep fire road, the Water Tank Trail (11).  Head downhill for a brief stretch, and just before reaching the titular water tank, head left on the Garden Trail (12), one of the more interesting sections of the hike. The Garden Trail dips into a wooded area, and follows precariously close to the edge of a cliff before coming to a three-way split. Take a hard right on the Pepper Tree trail (13) and head downhill. At the bottom of the hill, take a left on the last trail of the loop, the steep Sandbox Trail (14). Washed out and loose in some places, the Sandbox climbs over 200 feet in less than a quarter mile. Once you reach the Panorama Trail, head right and retrace your steps to the Forrestal Reserve.

The loop is outlined on the map below, which can also be used to pick alternative routes, in case you’re worried about your head spinning from all the different trail names.  While the route might sound like a navigational nightmare, most of the trails are well signed and easy to follow, and no matter what your exact path is, you’re sure to enjoy the ocean, geology and botanical scenery here.