We don’t get into Griffith Park much but when we do its special. On this trek I’ll take you to an abandoned pool on top of a hill.
The pool was originally built in the 1920’s for a girls camp. The camp was destroyed by fire in the 1950s and a new camp was built slightly lower on the hill – as a boys camp. A new girls camp was built as well, but further west. The pool remained in use by the boy’s camp until 1987 when it was closed after a bigger pool was built in the camp.
Our hike will begin at the Fern Canyon Nature Trail. We’ll swing through the remains of the Old LA Zoo on the way up the hill to the pool. We’ll take a break at a lonely picnic bench by a memorial to Paul Ritschel, a Sierra Club member who led monthly night hikes in the Park from 1969 to 1972.
On our return we’ll (trespass) through the new camp, visit Bee Rock and another section of the Old Zoo
We’ll stay off the wide trails/roads as much as possible (of course) and on ridge-top use trails instead. The NO FIREROADS rule will be in effect!
Hike is about 6.5 miles with 1800 ft total ascent and rated DIFFICULT due to terrain
