Afoot & Afield: Los Angeles County: 259 Spectacular Outings in Southern California

by Jerry Schad, David Harris

Overview

Explore 259 Memorable Hikes Near Los Angeles, California

From short nature trails to challenging peak climbs and breathtaking canyon treks, Los Angeles County is a hiker’s paradise. Experience the best of it with this updated edition of the classic hiking guidebook. Local author and hiking expert David Harris and Southland hiking guru Jerry Schad lead you along 259 trips in 33 regions, from the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains to Malibu and on out to Catalina Island. That’s virtually every hike worth taking within an hour’s drive of the city.

Afoot & Afield: Los Angeles County offers a comprehensive collection of hiking adventures for everyone from families with small children to experienced mountaineers seeking the ultimate challenge. The guide encompasses almost all public lands within the county, including Griffith Park and the Hollywood Hills, the San Gabriel Wilderness, Crystal Lake Recreation Area, and numerous county and city parks.

At-a-glance essential information, including distance, hiking time, elevation gain, and ratings for difficulty, help you to choose the perfect trail. Complete descriptions and driving directions are paired with easy-to-read maps with GPS waypoints to give you the in-depth details you need. So whether you seek solace from the crowds, a cardiovascular workout, or a new perspective of the natural world, Afoot & Afield: Los Angeles County will get you going.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899978352
Publisher:	Wilderness Press
Publication date:	11/19/2019
Series:	Afoot & Afield
Edition description:	4th Revised ed.
Pages:	512
Sales rank:	1,100,771
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Jerry Schad (1949–2011) was Southern California’s leading outdoors writer. His 16 guidebooks, including those in Wilderness Press’s popular and comprehensive Afoot & Afield series, along with his “Roam-O-Rama” column in the San Diego Reader, helped thousands of hikers discover the region’s diverse wild places. Jerry ran or hiked many thousands of miles of distinct trails throughout California, in the Southwest, and in Mexico. He was a sub-24-hour finisher of Northern California’s 100-mile Western States Endurance Run and served in a leadership capacity for outdoor excursions around the world. He taught astronomy and physical science at San Diego Mesa College and chaired its physical sciences department from 1999 until 2011. His sudden, untimely death from kidney cancer shocked and saddened the hiking community. David Harris is a professor of engineering at Harvey Mudd College. He is the author or coauthor of seven hiking guidebooks and five engineering textbooks. David grew up rambling about the Desolation Wilderness as a toddler in his father’s pack and later roamed the High Sierra as a Boy Scout. As a Sierra Club trip leader, he organized mountaineering trips throughout the Sierra Nevada. Since 1999, he has been exploring the mountains and deserts of Southern California. David is the father of three sons, with whom he loves sharing the outdoors.

Read an Excerpt

Franklin Canyon

• Distance 1.8 miles (loop)
• Hiking Time 1 hour
• Elevation Gain 400'
• Difficulty Easy
• Trail Use Dogs allowed, good for kids
• Best Times Year-round
• Agencies Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• Optional Map Trails Illustrated Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (253)

DIRECTIONS From the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, go north on Beverly Drive. After 0.7 mile be careful to fork left on the less-traveled north end of Beverly Drive at the intersection where the main road, Coldwater Canon Drive, goes straight. After another 0.8 mile, bear right on narrow Franklin Canyon Drive. Go 1.2 miles farther to Lake Drive. Turn right and backtrack 0.3 mile south to a small parking area with a kiosk and gated dirt road. If you reach a larger parking area with restrooms by a field and ranch house, you’ve gone 0.3 mile too far.

From the north via the 101 Freeway, it’s easier to take Exit 15 for Coldwater Canyon Avenue heading south. In 2.5 miles cross Mulholland Drive, and veer right onto narrow Franklin Canyon Drive. Continue 1.3 miles through the park, passing the lake and nature center; then veer left onto Lake Drive. Go 0.3 mile to the small parking area.

The Franklin Canyon Ranch park site, a part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, belongs to a complex of open-space units straddling the Santa Monica Mountains crest. The other units include Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir, Coldwater Canyon Park, Wilacre Park, and Fryman Canyon Natural Area. The Franklin Ranch itself was owned by the family of pioneering Angeleno Edward Doheny, who discovered oil in Los Angeles in 1892. The 400-acre ranch property was acquired as parkland in 1981.

From the kiosk at the parking area, walk up the gated fire road, which is unsigned but known as the Hastian Trail. Go 0.9 mile along chaparral-covered slopes to a hairpin turn (980 feet elevation) with a panoramic view of the city. Looking over green-mantled Beverly Hills estates and the office towers and condominiums of the Wilshire Corridor, you can sometimes see a blue horizon beyond.

From the hairpin turn, the fire road continues climbing toward Coldwater Canyon Drive. You veer right on the narrow switchback trail, descending a steep half mile to the green lawn and Doheny ranch house below. Somehow the old Doheny spread has managed to retain its rustic, rural charm.

From the ranch house, you can walk back to your car along the pavement or on either of two poorly marked trails that parallel Lake Drive. The trail on the right passes under a shady canopy of live oaks, while the trail on the left meanders among scattered oaks and sycamores down along Franklin Canyon’s usually dry streambed.

The park is laced with a ghostly web of other, nearly abandoned trails; poorly signed, many of them dead-end at private property at the park’s boundary. Adventurous locals can spend some time exploring them. Families will prefer walking around placid Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir; visiting Heavenly Pond, a tiny duck pond adjoining the reservoir to the west; and/or checking out the exhibits at the nearby Sooky Goldman Nature Center.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

LOS ANGELES & VICINITY MAP

PREFACE

OVERVIEW OF HIKES

INTRODUCING LOS ANGELES COUNTY

• Land of Many Climates
• Reading the Rocks
• Native Gardens
• Creatures Great and Small

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND COURTESY

• Preparation and Equipment
• Special Hazards
• Camping and Permits
• Other Regulations
• For Your Protection
• Trail Courtesy
• Where and When to Go

USING THIS BOOK

• Capsulized Information

CHAPTER 1: MALIBU COAST

• Trip 1.1 Point Dume to Paradise Cove

CHAPTER 2: PALOS VERDES PENINSULA

• Trip 2.1 Top of the Peninsula
• Trip 2.2 Malaga Cove to Bluff Cove
• Trip 2.3 Bluff Cove to Point Vicente
• Trip 2.4 White Point to Cabrillo Beach

CHAPTER 3: THOUSAND OAKS & MOORPARK

• Trip 3.1 Happy Camp Canyon
• Trip 3.2 Paradise Falls
• Trip 3.3 Los Padres Loop
• Trip 3.4 Los Robles Trail
• Trip 3.5 Lake Eleanor Open Space

CHAPTER 4: SIMI HILLS

• Trip 4.1 Sage Ranch
• Trip 4.2 Castle Peak
• Trip 4.3 Lasky Mesa
• Trip 4.4 Victory to Las Virgenes
• Trip 4.5 Upper Las Virgenes Canyon
• Trip 4.6 Cheeseboro Canyon
• Trip 4.7 China Flat Loop

CHAPTER 5: SANTA SUSANA MOUNTAIN

• Trip 5.1 Hummingbird Trail
• Trip 5.2 Chumash Loop
• Trip 5.3 Rocky Peak
• Trip 5.4 Corriganville Park
• Trip 5.5 Old Stagecoach Road
• Trip 5.6 Devil Canyon
• Trip 5.7 Oat Mountain
• Trip 5.8 Porter Ranch Loop
• Trip 5.9 Bee Canyon
• Trip 5.10 Mission Point
• Trip 5.11 Rice Canyon
• Trip 5.12 East Canyon Loop
• Trip 5.13 Don Mullally Loop
• Trip 5.14 Pico Canyon

CHAPTER 6: POINT MUGU

• Trip 6.1 Mugu Peak
• Trip 6.2 La Jolla Falls
• Trip 6.3 La Jolla Valley Loop
• Trip 6.4 Overlook Loop
• Trip 6.5 Serrano & Big Sycamore Loop
• Trip 6.6 Sycamore Canyon Waterfall
• Trip 6.7 Old Boney Loop
• Trip 6.8 Satwiwa Loop via Wendy Trail

CHAPTER 7: ARROYO SEQUIT & SANDSTONE PEAK

• Trip 7.1 Leo Carrillo Ocean Vista
• Trip 7.2 Leo Carrillo Traverse
• Trip 7.3 Nicholas Pond
• Trip 7.4 The Grotto
• Trip 7.5 Sandstone Peak
• Trip 7.6 Arroyo Sequit Park
• Trip 7.7 Charmlee Wilderness Park

CHAPTER 8: ZUMA CANYON

• Trip 8.1 Lower Zuma Canyon
• Trip 8.2 Zuma Canyon & Zuma Ridge Loop
• Trip 8.3 Newton Canyon
• Trip 8.4 Rocky Oaks

CHAPTER 9: MALIBU CREEK

• Trip 9.1 Escondido Canyon
• Trip 9.2 Lower Solstice Canyon
• Trip 9.3 Rising Sun & Sostomo Loop
• Trip 9.4 Corral Canyon
• Trip 9.5 Peter Strauss Trail
• Trip 9.6 Paramount Ranch
• Trip 9.7 Ladyface Mountain
• Trip 9.8 Lookout Loop
• Trip 9.9 Century Lake
• Trip 9.10 Lost Cabin Trail
• Trip 9.11 Bulldog & Backbone Loop
• Trip 9.12 Phantom Loop
• Trip 9.13 Upper Las Virgenes View Trail
• Trip 9.14 New Millennium Loop
• Trip 9.15 King Gillette Ranch Inspiration Point
• Trip 9.16 Piuma Overlook
• Trip 9.17 West Ridge of Saddle Peak
• Trip 9.18 Saddle Peak
• Trip 9.19 Red Rock Canyon
• Trip 9.20 Calabasas Peak
• Trip 9.21 Topanga Lookout & Stunt High Loop
• Trip 9.22 Hondo Canyon

CHAPTER 10: PACIFIC PALISADES & TOPANGA

• Trip 10.1 Eagle Rock Loop
• Trip 10.2 East Backbone Trail
• Trip 10.3 Santa Ynez Waterfall
• Trip 10.4 Topanga Overlook
• Trip 10.5 Temescal Canyon
• Trip 10.6 Rivas Canyon
• Trip 10.7 Will Rogers Park
• Trip 10.8 Rustic Canyon Loop
• Trip 10.9 Sullivan Canyon
• Trip 10.10 Viewridge Trail
• Trip 10.11 Summit Valley
• Trip 10.12 Woodland Ridge
• Trip 10.13 Caballero Canyon
• Trip 10.14 San Vicente Mountain

CHAPTER 11: ANTELOPE VALLEY

• Trip 11.1 Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park
• Trip 11.2 Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
• Trip 11.3 Saddleback Butte

CHAPTER 12: DESERT GATEWAY

• Trip 12.1 Elsmere Canyon Falls
• Trip 12.2 Whitney Canyon
• Trip 12.3 Placerita Canyon
• Trip 12.4 Manzanita Mountain to Los Pinetos Canyon
• Trip 12.5 Los Pinetos Waterfall
• Trip 12.6 Vasquez Rocks Natural Area
• Trip 12.7 Sierra Pelona & Mount McDill
• Trip 12.8 Jupiter Mountain

CHAPTER 13: GLENDALE & VERDUGO MOUNTAINS

• Trip 13.1 Deukmejian Wilderness Park
• Trip 13.2 Mount Lukens Southern Approach
• Trip 13.3 Haines Canyon
• Trip 13.4 La Tuna Loop
• Trip 13.5 Verdugo Peak Traverse
• Trip 13.6 Beaudry Loop
• Trip 13.7 Vital Link Trail
• Trip 13.8 West Side Loop
• Trip 13.9 Stough Canyon Loop

CHAPTER 14: GRIFFITH PARK

• Trip 14.1 Hollywood Sign via Cahuenga Peak
• Trip 14.2 Mulholland Ridge
• Trip 14.3 Mount Hollywood
• Trip 14.4 Beacon Hill
• Trip 14.5 East Side Loop
• Trip 14.6 Mount Bell

CHAPTER 15: HOLLYWOOD HILLS

• Trip 15.1 Franklin Canyon
• Trip 15.2 Coldwater to Fryman Canyon
• Trip 15.3 Wilacre & Coldwater Loop
• Trip 15.4 Trebek Open Space
• Trip 15.5 Runyon Canyon

CHAPTER 16: URBAN PARKS

• Trip 16.1 San Rafael Hills
• Trip 16.2 Debs Park
• Trip 16.3 Elysian Park
• Trip 16.4 Hahn Park
• Trip 16.5 Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

CHAPTER 17: PUENTE HILLS

• Trip 17.1 Sycamore Canyon
• Trip 17.2 Hellman Wilderness Park
• Trip 17.3 West Skyline Loop
• Trip 17.4 Worsham Canyon Loop
• Trip 17.5 Arroyo Pescadero Loop
• Trip 17.6 Schabarum Loop
• Trip 17.7 Powder Canyon Loop
• Trip 17.8 Schabarum–Skyline Trail

CHAPTER 18: SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

• Trip 18.1 Monrovia Canyon Falls
• Trip 18.2 Ben Overturff Trail
• Trip 18.3 Fish Canyon Falls
• Trip 18.4 Big Dalton Mystic Loop
• Trip 18.5 Big Dalton Canyon
• Trip 18.6 Glendora South Hills Wilderness
• Trip 18.7 Walnut Creek
• Trip 18.8 Bonelli Regional Park

CHAPTER 19: SAN DIMAS–LA VERNE–CLAREMONT HILLS

• Trip 19.1 Lower Marshall Canyon
• Trip 19.2 Middle Marshall Canyon
• Trip 19.3 Upper Marshall Canyon
• Trip 19.4 Johnson’s Pasture
• Trip 19.5 Sycamore Canyon
• Trip 19.6 Claremont Hills Wilderness Park
• Trip 19.7 Potato Mountain
• Trip 19.8 Thompson Creek Trail

CHAPTER 20: PIRU CREEK

• Trip 20.1 Oak Flat Trail
• Trip 20.2 Pothole–Agua Blanca Loop
• Trip 20.3 Piru Creek

CHAPTER 21: LIEBRE MOUNTAIN & FISH CANYON

• Trip 21.1 Liebre Mountain
• Trip 21.2 Fish Canyon Narrows

CHAPTER 22: TUJUNGA CANYONS

• Trip 22.1 Yerba Buena Ridge
• Trip 22.2 Trail Canyon Falls
• Trip 22.3 Condor Peak & Trail Canyon
• Trip 22.4 Mount Lukens & Grizzly Flats Loop
• Trip 22.5 Messenger Flats

CHAPTER 23: ARROYO SECO & FRONT RANGE

• Trip 23.1 Lower Arroyo Seco
• Trip 23.2 Down the Arroyo Seco
• Trip 23.3 Switzer Falls
• Trip 23.4 Royal Gorge
• Trip 23.5 World of Chaparral Trail
• Trip 23.6 Hoyt Mountain
• Trip 23.7 Josephine Peak
• Trip 23.8 Strawberry Peak
• Trip 23.9 Colby Canyon to Big Tujunga
• Trip 23.10 Mount Lawlor
• Trip 23.11 San Gabriel Peak
• Trip 23.12 Mount Lowe
• Trip 23.13 Inspiration Point
• Trip 23.14 Bear Canyon
• Trip 23.15 Millard Canyon Falls
• Trip 23.16 Dawn Mine Loop
• Trip 23.17 Upper Millard Canyon
• Trip 23.18 Brown Mountain Traverse
• Trip 23.19 Echo Mountain
• Trip 23.20 Mount Lowe Railway

CHAPTER 24: MOUNT WILSON & FRONT RANGE

• Trip 24.1 Henninger Flats
• Trip 24.2 Mount Wilson Toll Road
• Trip 24.3 Eaton Canyon Falls
• Trip 24.4 Idlehour Descent
• Trip 24.5 Valley Forge & DeVore Trails
• Trip 24.6 Bailey Canyon
• Trip 24.7 Jones Peak
• Trip 24.8 Mount Wilson to Sierra Madre
• Trip 24.9 Santa Anita Ridge
• Trip 24.10 Hoegees Loop
• Trip 24.11 Sturtevant Falls
• Trip 24.12 Santa Anita Canyon Loop
• Trip 24.13 Mount Wilson Loop
• Trip 24.14 Angeles Crest to Chantry Flat

CHAPTER 25: CHARLTON–CHILAO RECREATION AREA

• Trip 25.1 Vetter Mountain
• Trip 25.2 Chilao & Charlton Loop
• Trip 25.3 Mount Hillyer
• Trip 25.4 Pacifico Mountain

CHAPTER 26: CRYSTAL LAKE RECREATION AREA

• Trip 26.1 Lewis Falls
• Trip 26.2 Mount Islip: South Ridge
• Trip 26.3 Crystal Lake Nature Trails
• Trip 26.4 Mount Islip via Windy Gap
• Trip 26.5 Mount Hawkins Loop

CHAPTER 27: SAN GABRIEL WILDERNESS

• Trip 27.1 Upper Devils Canyon
• Trip 27.2 Mount Waterman Trail
• Trip 27.3 Waterman Mountain & Twin Peaks
• Trip 27.4 Smith Mountain
• Trip 27.5 Bear Creek Trail

CHAPTER 28: HIGH COUNTRY & NORTH SLOPE

• Trip 28.1 Winston Peak & Ridge
• Trip 28.2 Cooper Canyon Falls
• Trip 28.3 Burkhart Trail
• Trip 28.4 Kratka Ridge
• Trip 28.5 Mount Williamson
• Trip 28.6 Pleasant View Ridge
• Trip 28.7 Sierra Alta Nature Trail
• Trip 28.8 South Fork Trail
• Trip 28.9 Mount Islip: North Approach
• Trip 28.10 Devil’s Punchbowl Loop Trail
• Trip 28.11 Devil’s Chair
• Trip 28.12 Lower Punchbowl Canyon
• Trip 28.13 Holcomb Canyon

CHAPTER 29: BIG PINES & SHEEP MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS

• Trip 29.1 Shoemaker Canyon Road
• Trip 29.2 Rattlesnake Peak
• Trip 29.3 Cattle Canyon
• Trip 29.4 Bridge to Nowhere
• Trip 29.5 Iron Mountain
• Trip 29.6 Down the East Fork
• Trip 29.7 Big Horn Mine
• Trip 29.8 Ross Mountain
• Trip 29.9 Mount Baden-Powell Traverse
• Trip 29.10 Mount Lewis
• Trip 29.11 Lightning Ridge Nature Trail
• Trip 29.12 Jackson Lake Loop
• Trip 29.13 Table Mountain Nature Trail
• Trip 29.14 Big Pines Nature Trail
• Trip 29.15 Blue Ridge Trail

CHAPTER 30: SAN ANTONIO CANYON & OLD BALDY

• Trip 30.1 Stoddard Peak
• Trip 30.2 Sunset Peak
• Trip 30.3 Bear Flat
• Trip 30.4 Mount Baldy via Bear Ridge
• Trip 30.5 Icehouse Canyon
• Trip 30.6 Cedar Glen
• Trip 30.7 Cucamonga Peak
• Trip 30.8 Ontario Peak
• Trip 30.9 The Three Ts
• Trip 30.10 San Antonio Falls
• Trip 30.11 Baldy Loop
• Trip 30.12 San Antonio Ridge
• Trip 30.13 Baldy North Backbone Traverse
• Trip 30.14 Baldy Devils Backbone

CHAPTER 31: SANTA CATALINA ISLAND: AVALON

• Trip 31.1 East Mountain
• Trip 31.2 Lone Tree Point
• Trip 31.3 Airport Loop Trail
• Trip 31.4 Airport in the Sky to Little Harbor

CHAPTER 32: SANTA CATALINA ISLAND: TWO HARBORS

• Trip 32.1 Parsons Landing
• Trip 32.2 Silver Peak & Starlight Beach
• Trip 32.3 Harbor to Harbor

CHAPTER 33: LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS

• Trip 33.1 Silver Moccasin Trail
• Trip 33.2 Gabrielino Trail
• Trip 33.3 High Desert Loop
• Trip 33.4 Santa Monica Mountains Backbone Trail
• Trip 33.5 Trans-Catalina Trail
• Trip 33.6 San Gabriel River Trail

APPENDIXES

• Appendix A: Best Hikes
• Appendix B: Recommended Reading
• Appendix C: Local Organizations
• Appendix D: Agencies & Information Sources
• Appendix E: Maps

INDEX

ABOUT THE AUTHORS