While neighborhood walking through this eclectic neighborhood is pleasant, it is nice to get out of the city to hike through the hills on lovely sunny LA days.
Eagle Rock is named for the massive rock outcropping near the center of the neighborhood that looks like an eagle with wings outstretched. Occidental College has its home in Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock is also known for a countercultural movement that can make walks through neighborhood streets fun and exciting.
While some areas of this populous neighborhood can be too crowded for shy dogs, you can escape the crowds by going into the hillsides at the perimeters or throughout Eagle Rock.
While much of this fun neighborhood is made up of streets, you can escape into the hills at places throughout the neighborhood for some desert hiking. Places without buildings are most likely too steep for construction, so prepare for a serious hike if you are going into the hills. Sand has a tendency to get into shoes and may be hot on your dog's pads on hot days, so wear high boots or sandals, and check the temperature of the sand and provide your dog with shoes if necessary.
If you don't want to hike through the foothills, and especially if your dog likes to run, the hilly neighborhood streets in Eagle Rock provide the perfect place for running your dog while you ride on wheels, either rollerblades, a bike, or a skateboard. The hills can get steep suddenly, so unless you are very confident of having control of your wheels and your dog, use a device with brakes.
You and your dog can enjoy challenging yourselves in this natural landscape and can take breaks in the shade of rock outcroppings if you get too hot. There isn't much in the way of vegetation and wildlife is sparse as it generally is in desert landscapes, but you do have a chance of seeing desert wildlife, and your dog can enjoy smelling the trails left by wild animals in the night.
If you want to enjoy looking into the wilderness but don't want to take on deep sand hiking, you can stick to one of the many trails or roads that run through the wild areas of Eagle Rock.