Portuguese Bend - the backward trail | Palos Verdes ⋆ Explore California with kids

Don’t hike Portuguese Bend Reserve

Unlike all the hikes described in our California blog this time you will be descending first, and then walking back up the hills, so you’ll have to pace yourself accordingly. Furthermore, keep in mind that there are no lavatories available on the entire route, and it’s an open view hike.

Now that we have pleasantries out of the way, let take a peek into what to expect from this park. Casey Schreiner, in his blog Modern Hiker goes into extravagantly descriptive painting of the landscape and nature at the Rancho Palos Verdes. Despite his colorful comparison to Big Sur, this dry and desolate dirt path to the ocean is nothing like you might have envisioned.

Girl hiking Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes in California — Alisa is looking at the Pacific ocean over the rails at Palos Verdes

Do not waste time on Portuguese Bend hike

In fact, I’d recommend not hiking this place at all if you have time; instead check out the hikes around Point Vicente at Palos Verdes for better views and pleasant experience. Many blogs place colorful pics and videos, and always say how awesome the experience was hiking this or that place. Well, Portuguese Bend Nature reserve should be stricken out of that list.

Biking at Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes — Man shredding it on the mountain bike on the hiking trail at Portuguese Bend, California

In case you decide to hike the preserve, preserve your energy for the ascent on your return. There aren’t too many great view that open up from the top. Seriously, this is one of Los Angele’s over marketed locations and I’d rather hike any other place than this park.

View Sacred Cove from Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes — View of the Abalone Cove from the hill at Portuguese Bend

The paths on this hike are really great for working out and building your legs. There aren’t that many people here either. This hike could be a gateway to Abalone Cove beach or the Sacred Cove that we’ll get to explore in the future.

Hiking Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes — California Perspective at Palos Verdes, Catalina Island in the Background

Here are a couple of resources to check out if you need more info on Portuguese Bend Reserve trail

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=611037

http://nobodyhikesinla.com/tag/portuguese-bend-reserve/

Portuguese Bend with kids.
As mentioned earlier, this is not a very picturesque or scenic spot. Frequented mostly by locals it’s not ideal to hike with kids due to tortuous nature of the trail. Even if you have the kid in the backpack your experience will not be as satisfying as expected.

Hike to the beach from Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes — Alisa kicking off the hike on the way to Klondike Canyon

Fascinating historic reference from wiki

The peninsula, which was an island with the Palos Verdes Hills in recent geological time, has close floral and faunal similarities to the Channel Islands. This feature makes the Portuguese Bend Landslide area a natural research laboratory for the study of island biogeography and evolutionary ecology.