Discover a slice of wilderness right in the heart of LA, just minutes from downtown Beverly Hills. You don’t need to travel hours to get to the great outdoors—there are beautiful canyon trails right in your backyard!
It doesn’t get more centrally located than this…literally the geographic center of Los Angeles (according to the former USGS employee who commemorated the precise location with a hidden plaque that we will be locating and visiting), this moderate, 2.5 mile round trip trail hike and lush nature walk through the chaparral, grasslands, and oak woodlands of the Santa Monica Mountains (and a few redwoods to boot!) is sure to inspire with its hidden gems: the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir—a three acre lake that was used as the shooting location of the Andy Griffith Show opening credits, a duck and turtle pond surrounded by proudly standing pampas grass (together serving as the permanent and seasonal home for birds in the Pacific Flyway), and atop the ridge on Mulholland Drive at its highest elevation, spectacular sweeping views of both Santa Monica Bay to the south and the San Bernardino Mountains to the north.
This hike is offered by the Sierra Club. While on this hike you will hear about the Wilderness Travel Course starting in January. This 10-week class covers the skills and gear needed to safely enjoy and explore the outdoors. You are bound to not only learn but have fun and make new friends in this class!
Additonal details:
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 2.5 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 325 feet
- Facilities: Drinking fountain and water bottle refill station, restrooms
- MRCA Franklin Canyon Park Trail Map
- RSVP here. Exact meeting place listed in the link.
Hike leaders:
- Drew Baldwin drewpbaldwin@gmail.com (310)880-6140
- Ann Pedreschi apedreschi@sbcglobal.net (818) 636-4655
