Los Serenos Docent Guided Nature Walk at Alta Vicente Reserve

Today’s walk, with its stunning coastal views, offers a glimpse into the Peninsula’s historical role in post-WWI LA Harbor coastal defense systems. We will see remnants of U.S. Army armaments and fortifications that came under the command of Fort MacArthur and also one of the best-preserved Cold War-era Nike missile launch sites (LA-55) in the country.

The Prickly Pear Trail will take us through Hatano Farm (1953-2022), the last vestige of a rich Japanese American agricultural legacy on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. This 5.5 acre site was recently designated as a California Point of Historical Interest for its association with (1) the settlement of Japanese American farmers in the area, which had a profound influence on the cultural history of the local area, and (2) as the only remaining Japanese American flower farm on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

NOTE: This is one of the prospective sites under consideration for the future home of the Wayfarer’s Chapel.

Difficulty: Moderate; approx.1.7 miles

Parking: RPV City Hall (free)

Amenities: Rest rooms, drinking fountain, picnic benches