Rolling Hills: Equestrian Heritage and Rural Character

The identity and history of Rolling Hills are rooted in its sparsely populated, rural character and the city’s equestrian heritage. This profile is reflected in its riding trails and equestrian facilities. Nearly 30 miles of designated riding trails are part of the city. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, consider whether the rural, equestrian atmosphere should be the focus of your trip. From there, you can also decide whether to include destinations in the surrounding area in your plans.

Riding Trails with Clear Usage Rules

The riding trails are open to riders with a trail pass issued by the Rolling Hills Community Association, as well as pedestrians accompanied by a resident. Bicycles and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trails. They may also be used only during daylight hours and close at sunset. Keep these conditions in mind when planning an outing: anyone wishing to walk needs to be accompanied by a resident, while riders need a trail pass. The daylight limit also places an additional time constraint on both groups. When choosing your activities, you can take into account which access requirements apply to you.

Equestrian Facilities and Specific Locations

The Caballeros Ring is one of two equestrian facilities in Rolling Hills. Use of the equestrian facilities is reserved exclusively for residents and their guests. They are therefore not generally accessible visitor destinations; plan a visit only in accordance with this usage rule. Hesse's Gap has hitching posts and a picnic area. Together with the extensive trail network, these named locations offer concrete points of reference for the city’s equestrian character. If you’re interested in this aspect, you can keep in mind the differences between the trails, equestrian facilities, and the amenities at Hesse's Gap when planning your day.

Rural Character and Mobility

Since the 1930s, the internal road network has been designed to create a rural, equestrian character. Rolling Hills has no public transit. Mobility is therefore an important part of choosing a location for a vacation rental: don’t count on public transportation for getting around the city. You should also be aware of the access rules. Because of the community’s equestrian character, visitors and workers are not allowed to enter on motorcycles or bicycles for safety reasons. This rule applies to entry into Rolling Hills; separate usage conditions also apply on the riding trails.

Natural Destinations in the Surrounding Area

The public use plan adopted in 2013 listed 23 trails totaling 9.87 miles in Portuguese Bend Reserve, in the surrounding area. The nearly 30 miles, by contrast, refers to the designated riding trails in Rolling Hills. The comparison highlights two distinct planning options: the riding trail network in the city and the trails listed in the plan for the Reserve.

The use plan also locates an access point to the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve at the Rolling Hills city boundary, on the lower southern section of the Burma Road Trail. The plan lists Rolling Hills residents and visitors with a city-issued access permit as users. If you plan to use this access point, confirm the permit requirements before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Lawndale, Norwalk, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, West Covina, South Pasadena, La Mirada, Del Aire

For the broader travel overview: Los Angeles.