Catch the Perseid meteor showers during a hike in the Simi Hills

Looking for a good place to watch the annual Perseid meteor showers this weekend? Any dark venue away from urban lights -- say the Angeles National Forest or Santa Monica Mountains -- will do, provided you have a clear view of the night sky.

Here’s an easy way to learn more about the shooting-star show expected in the wee hours local time on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Head out to the Simi Hills for a half-mile hike to a viewing platform in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve on Saturday night.

The two-hour sky-watching event starts at 8 p.m. and is free. Meet the group at the trailhead at the end of Victory Boulevard (directions here).

Of course, the show continues well after the hike ends, so plan to stay up late and stay somewhere dark. EarthSky reports that meteors were visible at a rate of 42 per hour as of this morning (Friday), and peak time this weekend should produce 50 to 60 meteors per hour.