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How to hike to these Oscar-winning movie and TV locations in Southern California

Although Southern California has played itself in such film classics as “Chinatown” and in this year’s Academy Award-nominated “Inherent Vice,” like a versatile character actor, the region’s diverse landscapes can assume endless identities.

From the earliest days of moviemaking, Hollywood directors have ventured to Southern California locations, from the desert to the Pacific, to film at spots that have doubled as everything from other planets to earthly paradise. Southern California didn’t figure prominently in this year’s Best Picture nominees, but “American Sniper” did shoot scenes at Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

If you’ve caught a bit of Oscar Fever (call it Seasonal Affleck Disorder), combine your hiking with some movie history at these famous Southern California filming locations.

Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Springs

Palm Springs’ long history as a movie location dates to the silent-film era, including such classics as Rudolph Valentino’s “The Sheik,” which shot scenes near town.

Just a five-minute drive from the heart of downtown, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians’ Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center is the starting point for hikes to one of Coachella Valley’s most fabled movie locations.

Not many places can double for paradise, but Tahquitz Canyon and its 60-foot waterfall played Shangri-La during a famous scene in Frank Capra’s “Lost Horizon” (1937), which was nominated for Best Picture and won two other Academy Awards. Ronald Colman and Jane Wyatt rapturously ride horses through a forest (not in the canyon) before reaching the waterfall. As Colman waves to her, Wyatt and her steed appear atop the falls, a shot that required the unfortunate horse to be hoisted up the cliff.

You can explore Tahquitz Canyon on a rocky unshaded loop trail from the visitor center and during 2 ½-hour ranger-led hikes that look at the canyon’s ecology and several thousand years of cultural history. Paralleling Tahquitz Creek, the route passes ancient village sites and some rock art on the way to the falls — a real-life desert oasis.

Distance: 2 miles.

Difficulty: Easy, with some unsteady footing and 350 feet of climbing. Hiking boots or sneakers are required.

Details: 500 W. Mesquite Ave., Palm Springs. Admission is $12.50, children 12 and younger $6; 760-416-7044; tahquitzcanyon.com.

‘M*A*S*H’ site hike, Malibu Creek State Park

Between 1946 and 1974, 20th Century Fox Studios operated today’s Malibu Creek State Park as a movie ranch, although the property was used for filming as early as 1919 and notably doubled for Wales in John Ford’s “How Green Was My Valley.” That 1941 film earned five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Starting from the main parking area, this well-signed hike travels through the heart of the park to the location used for both the movie (nominated for five Academy Awards and winner of the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar) and television show “M*A*S*H.”

Follow Crags Road, then veer right onto the High Road, which passes beneath majestic coast live oaks as it parallels the creek. At a junction, look for signs to the “M*A*S*H” site as the High Road rejoins Crags Road, which begins climbing toward Goat Buttes.

As you climb, an overlook on the left still has stone foundations from the lodge for the Crags Country Club, an early 20th century retreat for wealthy Angelenos. Then, just as the road levels off, look left for a short unmarked trail that leads to Century Dam, which was built in 1901 by the country club. The reservoir behind the dam, Century Lake, served as the main set location for the original version of “Planet of the Apes” in 1968. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards and its makeup artist John Chambers (later played by John Goodman in “Argo”) earned an honorary Academy Award for his work.

The main road descends before reaching a bridge above the creek. Along the bottomlands, past the bridge, the going can be rocky, and, after rains, muddy along the last 0.6-mile stretch to the “M*A*S*H” site. There you’ll find picnic tables and information panels that focus on the television show, as well as a reproduction of the famous sign showing distances from Korea to world locales, a period military ambulance, and the rusted hulks of vehicles used in the show. Check out the helipad, then return the same way.

Distance: 4.8 miles round-trip.

Difficulty: Easy, except for one climb each way.

Details: Malibu Creek State Park’s main entrance is at 1925 Las Virgenes Road, just south of Mulholland Highway. Parking is $12 (bring exact change for the iron ranger parking machine if no one is at the booth). 818-880-0367; www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614. For information about occasional docent-led hikes and park history, go to the Malibu Creek Docents website at www.malibucreekstatepark.org.

Lasky Mesa, Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve

“How Green Was My Valley” may have been filmed in Malibu Creek State Park, but even with below-average rains this year, it’s hard to believe there’s a greener spot than this preserve in the Simi Hills.

The 2,983-acre preserve has its own illustrious movie history. “Gone with the Wind’s” famous “I’ll never be hungry again” scene was shot one sunrise nearly 80 years ago on Lasky Mesa. The mesa is named for silent-movie director Jesse L. Lasky, who first filmed on this onetime ranch in 1914.

Epic scenes from such movies as “Duel in the Sun” and “They Died with Their Boots On” (starring Errol Flynn as George Armstrong Custer) also were shot here.

The hike begins at the parking lot at the end of Victory Boulevard. Walk down the main road and in a short distance look for a sharp left and the Joe Behar Trail. It quickly climbs to clear-day views over the San Fernando Valley. You’ll see valley oaks leafing out and there are also already patches of California poppies and scattered blue dicks blooming among the grasses.

At a prominent junction marked by some boulders and a garbage can, take the right fork for a section of the Mary Wiesbrock Loop. The trail is named for the founder of Save Open Space, a group instrumental in the 2003 acquisition of the preserve at a time when large sections were slated for development. The trail edges oak woodlands and offers sweeping views over the preserve.

Trail signage is in short supply, and after about two miles of hiking from the parking lot, you’ll reach another prominent junction, where there’s a small structure on the left and some culverts. Ignore the left branch. Then at a V just beyond it, skip the uphill route and go downhill and to the right. You’ll get great panoramas as you descend before the trail veers right along a creek and soon rejoins the main park road (marked by a trash can and a trail sign). Turn right and continue about 1.1 miles steadily uphill to the parking area to complete the loop.

Distance: 4-mile loop.

Difficulty: Easy with some climbing.

Details: The trailhead is at the end of Victory Boulevard, west of Valley Circle Boulevard. Parking is $3 (bring exact change for the iron ranger parking machine). There are kiosks with maps and information about the preserve. For more information, go to lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=28.

Award-winning writer Matt Jaffe writes about Southern California’s incredible hiking trails from Malibu to Mojave. Reach him at matt@mattjaffewriter.com or follow Matt on Twitter: @mattjaffewriter.