Skip the $10 entry fee and park on the side of the road. Watch out for those damn motorcycles. Hike over a ridge and down into the park. Pass all those families dragging coolers and screaming kids making their way down to the toxic chemical sludge of a pool at the end of the trail.

To your right, the Apes Wall, where scenes from "Planet of the Apes" were filmed. This is a good wall for beginners, nothing too scary, and the holds are bomber. And, sometimes you get applauded by onlookers when you finish a climb.

Walk in the stream bed and traverse the wall at the toxic pool. A little rockhoppping and you're at a moderate area; more rockhopping and another traverse (a little sketchy; watch people fall in!) and you're at the Ghetto Wall. It's mostly overhanging, lots of holes for hands, but kind of sharp. Climb. Recommend Johnny Can't Lead, which, in addition to being a bit overhanging, also leans right!

Pack up when your fingers are shredded and backtrack to your car. Don't forget to stop and admire the view once in a while. You'd never believe you're still in L.A.

› Apes and the Ghetto slideshow