California’s amazing weather – and, of course, all of that famous nourishing, tan-enhancing sunshine – make it perfect for exploring the great outdoors and trying new outdoor sports, regardless of the time of year. With 80-degree days on an almost temperate basis and miles of picturesque coastline, Los Angelinos can enjoy a day at the beach from January to December, but there’s so much more to being physical in the Golden State than just frolicking on the shore.

We’ve concocted a list of our very favorite outdoor sports to try near Woodland Hills, from surfing at Topanga Beach to hiking at Corbin Canyon Park, but be sure to check with each of the venues offering these activities because they may have instituted social distancing restrictions and changed operating hours.

Surfing at Topanga Beach

With over a mile of ocean frontage and 21.5 acres of property, Topanga Beach (18700 Pacific Coast Highway) is often referred to as “the first real beach in Malibu.” This is one of the most popular surfing spots in the area, where the waves break over cobblestones and reef, with many folks coming to enjoy scuba diving, fishing and sunbathing. Topanga, being the closest “point break” to the city of Los Angeles, is loved by many, but it is also nice for the average surfer because it is not a super-competitive location.

Mountain Biking at the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve 

The more than 5,600-acre Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve in the Simi Hills at the western edge of the San Fernando Valley is part of a critical ecological linkage and wildlife corridor between the Santa Monica Mountains and the ranges to the north. Hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians enjoy miles of trails through rolling hills studded with valley oaks, sycamore-lined canyon bottoms and vistas of unspoiled California landscapes – if you’re just starting out, try the five-mile cruise that serious mountain bikers call a “middle-chainring ride,” which means no extremes and nothing technical as you make the gentle climb into the Simi Hills and down through an oak-studded descent. The Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve is located at the western end of Victory Boulevard.

Horseback Riding at Los Angeles Horseback Riding

Established in 1996, the Los Angeles Horseback Riding ranch (2623 Old Topanga Canyon Road in Topanga) is beautifully situated at the top ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains, which connects Topanga and Malibu, offering breathtaking 80-mile views in every direction from the top of the trails. Here, you will always ride in small groups of six to eight people max so that your experience will be a personal one; further, private rides are available for anniversaries, birthday parties and other celebrations. The beautiful horses of Los Angeles Horseback Riding are much loved, well-groomed and professionally cared for, with the trails they follow part of the Santa Monica Mountains Backbone Trail.

Hiking at Corbin Canyon Park

Corbin Canyon Park, its trailhead situated at 4000 Corbin Avenue in Tarzana, is a less-visited pocket of Topanga State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains, the 328-acre parcel stretching into the mountains from neighborhoods in Tarzana and Woodland Hills. This presents a small offering of trails that are isolated from longer routes through the Santa Monica Mountains, these trails making for a pleasant and manageable 2.05-mile partial loop with 150 feet of elevation change during which you can explore the myriad of grasses and oaks along the bottom of the canyon. Corbin Canyon Park can be accessed from trailheads at the ends of Corbin Avenue and Queen Victoria Road, two neighboring streets in Tarzana and Woodland Hills, with the aforementioned loop beginning at Corbin Avenue – but you can just as easily start at Queen Victoria Road.

With L.A.’s gorgeous weather, there’s no need to stay inside – spend a day in the California sunshine with one of these outdoor sports to try near Woodland Hills.