Lofty Peeks

They rise above the urban sprawl, inviting us to seek them out, and to linger once we get there, taking in their unique views.

Lookout points. Whether natural or man-made, they give us a chance to soak in the landscape, to ponder our place in it, and to savor a sense of freedom and possibility.

Southern California has loads of lookouts, from tall buildings to soaring hilltops and dramatic coastal bluffs. They’re great places to spend part of a day or evening, at least when skies are clear.

Here are 10 Southern California lookout spots, from Santa Barbara to San Diego, worth a visit.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

The clock tower standing watch over this historic courthouse is known as El Mirador--Spanish for “lookout point.” The tower rises high above downtown Santa Barbara and offers a perfect place to take in the city’s stunning scenery.

Take the elevator to the fourth floor and walk the small staircase to the tower’s deck, which sits 85 feet above street level. Then marvel at the sights you’ll see from the building, which was dedicated in 1929.

Small placards and a compass on the deck help to identify landmarks. Look to the southeast, over the many red-tiled roofs, and you’ll see the palm tree-lined coast and the Pacific beyond. Anacapa Island can be spotted in the distance on a particularly clear day.

To the northwest is the Old Mission, and to the northeast are Santa Barbara’s gentle green hills, including La Cumbre Peak, nearly 4,000 feet above sea level.

* Santa Barbara County Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekends and 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays.

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Brentwood

There’s more to see at the new Getty than just the celebrated art collection and garden. Developers also carved out a new lookout spot affording great views of Southern California extending all the way to the ocean.

The museum’s south side offers the best place to take a break from the exhibits and drink in the view.

The south terrace provides a peaceful spot from which to see downtown Los Angeles. Walk out on the lower level, which leads to a small cactus garden, and you’ll see an expansive view southward.

Below, the San Diego Freeway snakes through the Los Angeles basin. You might even spot a deer on the hillside. On a crystalline day you’ll enjoy a great view west to the ocean.

* Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thursdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission free; parking reservations required. Parking, $5. (310) 440-7300.

Pacific Wheel in Santa Monica

This colorful Ferris wheel near the end of the Santa Monica Pier doesn’t rise as high as many of the peaks in the mountain range to the north, but it does offer a one-of-a-kind view of the pier, the sprawling city and the winding Santa Monica Bay coastline.

Plop down a few bucks and take a seat in one of the yellow and red gondolas, which seat up to six riders each. The gondolas start at pier level, then quickly soar 90 feet overhead, offering a bird’s-eye view.

Each rider gets seven revolutions, which is more than enough time to check out the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south, the Malibu coast to the north and even the sea gulls, which often hover high over the pier searching for their next meal.

* Pacific Park, 380 Santa Monica Pier; Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fridays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sundays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Admission to Pacific Park is free. The Ferris wheel costs $2-$3, depending on the time. (310) 260-8744.

Griffith Observatory

Many towering office buildings and hotels in downtown Los Angeles offer great views, but Griffith Observatory is an L.A. classic--and not just for stargazing.

The observatory’s outdoor walkways and surrounding park offer many spectacular lookout spots with expansive vistas.

The Hollywood sign, for example, is mounted on a hill just northwest of the observatory, and a great view of it can be had next to the outdoor snack bar. Stroll next to the south side of the observatory for a sweeping scene of the Los Angeles basin.

The downtown skyscrapers tower over the basin to the southeast. Under the best conditions, looking south, you can see all the way to San Pedro.

Another great reason to visit the observatory: Parking is free.

* Griffith Observatory, at the north end of Vermont Avenue in Griffith Park at 2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Feliz. (213) 664-1191.

Palos Verdes Estates Lookout

Drive along the Palos Verdes Peninsula’s winding coastline--Pacific Coast Highway and Palos Verdes Drive West--and you’ll pass dozens of spots that afford great views of Santa Monica Bay or Catalina Island from tall bluffs hanging over the Pacific.

Some spots stand out, including an easily accessible area overlooking Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes Estates. On weekend days, the small parking lot next to the bluff, located at the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive West and Paseo del Mar, fills with visitors armed with cameras and binoculars.

The view of the South Bay is the big draw. Redondo Beach and King Harbor are closest. Look farther north to see the piers off Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. When visibility is at its peak, you can look out past Malibu.

If your timing is right, you also can look down the cliff and watch longboard surfers paddling into the bay’s chilly winter waves.

Knott’s Berry Farm’s Supreme Scream Ride

If you’re looking for thrills with your views, Knott’s Berry Farm’s Supreme Scream ride could be for you.

The ride climbs 30 stories--that’s 252 feet high. On a clear day, depending on the seating, thrill-seekers enjoy a sweeping glimpse of Orange County, the ocean and even downtown Los Angeles.

The view is fleeting--about seven seconds. That’s because once riders reach the top, they are propelled downward at more than 50 mph, and left to bounce on a cushion of air.

If you’re not ready to bounce, try the Sky Cabin, a relaxing three-minute ride that slowly elevates visitors to 225 feet for a revolving panoramic scene of the park and its surroundings.

* Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Admission is $36; $26 for children 3-11 and seniors; children younger than 3 admitted free. Parking is $7. (714) 220-5200.

Orange Hill Restaurant

After heavy rains when the skies clear, the staff will tell you, locals flock to this upscale restaurant perched high on a hill east of downtown Orange to take in the sweeping view of Southern California.

Dine on broiled lobster tail at a window-side table and look out to see Disneyland’s Matterhorn in Anaheim, the El Toro Marine Air Base, Long Beach and even Catalina Island more than 20 miles off the coast. At night, city lights sparkle for miles.

The staff recommends arriving by 5 p.m. if you want to avoid a wait for a window table. Reservations are accepted, but the best tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

While waiting to be seated, step outside, where cocktails and appetizers are served around small fire pits.

* Orange Hill Restaurant, 6410 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, (714) 997-2910.

O’Neill Regional Park in Orange County

If it’s true that the harder you work for a goal, the more you appreciate it, then visitors who make the relatively steep, milelong hike to Vista Lookout in O’Neill Regional Park are especially grateful for the spot’s rustic, panoramic view.

At 1,492 feet, the lookout offers spectacular glimpses of nearby Modjeska Peak and Santiago Peak, as well as miles of brush-lined canyons. On a clear day, which of course is the best time to go, Catalina Island appears in the distance.

A short hike to the lookout is about two miles round-trip. Pay the day-use fee and follow the park road that parallels Live Oak Canyon Road until it dead-ends at the trail, where parking is available. Hop from your car and hoof it, following the trail as it meanders under sycamore and coastal live oak trees, then cuts left toward the lookout.

There you’ll find several picnic benches offering a great place to relax. Have lunch and soak in the wide-open spaces.

* O’Neill Regional Park, 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon; open for day use 7 a.m.-sunset, $2 fee per vehicle weekdays, $4 Saturdays-Sundays. (949) 858-9365.

Dana Point Bluffs

Back in the 1800s, men stood on the bluffs overlooking what is now Dana Point Harbor and tossed cowhides over the edge so they could be loaded on trading ships anchored below.

These days the historic bluffs are the place to enjoy salty sea breezes and to take in an inspiring view of the picturesque harbor and the blue Pacific beyond.

A number of spots offer postcard-perfect scenes.

Tiny Ken Sampson Overview Park, next to the Blue Lantern Inn on Blue Lantern, features a gazebo perched on the bluff, offering a shady spot to watch sailboats motor past the breakwater.

Nearby, Bluff Top Trail off Amber Lantern features a short walk along the cliffs and offers equally impressive views. The trail passes a statue of “The Hide Drogher”--a barefooted worker tossing a cowhide off the edge.

* Ken Sampson Overview Park on Blue Lantern near Santa Clara Avenue and Bluff Top Trail between Amber Lantern and Violet Lantern, Dana Point, (949) 496-4251.

Mt. Soledad

On a clear day, this relatively small hill in western San Diego packs a big punch, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the city and its varied landscape.

Two roads, Via Capri and La Jolla Scenic Drive, lead to the top, where free parking is abundant. Once there, climb the red-brick steps leading to the 40-foot white cross that tops the hill, then survey the scene.

To the north is Torrey Pines. To the southeast lies downtown San Diego, with its high-rise office buildings. The western view offers a peek at the Pacific. Look south for a great view of Mission Bay, where sailboats skim tranquil waters. On an exceptionally clear day, the hills of Tijuana rise even farther south.

The hill attracts locals and visitors alike. A grassy strip around the top is a great place to enjoy a picnic or admire the tall cross, dedicated in 1954, as a tribute to the U.S. armed forces.