Blog

Trailhead: Lewis Falls Trailhead, State Rte 39, Azusa, CA 91702 Parking: Free street parking on Rt. 39 next to trailhead Distance: 1 mile out & back The Lewis Falls trail starts at a blink-and-you'll-miss-it trailhead on a hairpin turn on Rt. 39 in the Angeles National Forest. The only evidence that a trail starts there was the cluster of cars parked along side the road. If there aren't any parking spots right at the turn in the road, there were some open spots just past the

Trailhead: Vasquez Truck Trail, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 Parking: Free parking along the dirt road at Vasquez Truck Trail and Rush Canyon Rd Distance: Approx. 1-2 miles out & back depending on trails taken Nestled in the hills north east of Santa Clarita, this short jaunt takes you to some sweeping views and some giant rocks suitable for climbing. To get to this trail, you'll need to drive up a dirt road that can feel like an obstacle course at times. Between the pools of mudd

Trailhead: Mt. Lowe Trailhead, Altadena, CA Parking: Depends on gate access but the closest parking is a tiny lot right in front of the trailhead. The next closest is a bigger lot at the Millard Trail Camp. Parking pass is required. Distance: 6 miles out and back Parking for the Dawn Mine Trail depends on a couple of factors. There is a gate on Chaney Trail that apparently has been closed at times during the pandemic. If that is the case, you'll need to park down on W. Loma A

Trailhead: 5267-5265 Jessen Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Parking: Free street parking on Solliden Lane Distance: 7.2 miles out & back Starting in a little, unassuming neighborhood, this trail ends with a 360° view that is quite spectacular. Parking near the trailhead was a little difficult because the road the trail starts on is narrow and only allows parking on the north side. It's not that long of a road either so all of the available parking spots were taken. We ende

Trailhead: 286-330 Whiting Woods Rd, Glendale, CA 91208 Parking: Free street parking by trailhead on Whiting Woods Road Distance: 5.2 miles out & back The biggest perk of this trail: How quiet it was. The Verdugo Mountain trails aren't quite as popular as trails in neighboring Griffith Park, but they still can see a fair amount of people. But this trail, perhaps because it's on the eastern side and starts in a small neighborhood, was so quiet that it felt like we had the trai

With the end of the year comes the lists, the recaps, the look back. It's part of our society's tradition. Well, let's not make this year any different. While this blog is new, my lists of hikes this year is fairly long and I'd like to briefly share with you my top 5 hikes of 2020. Due to Covid, it is fairly limited to the greater Los Angeles area, although I did make it as far as Big Bear, CA this fall and did include a hike from that trip in here. 5. Lewis Falls (Azusa, CA)

Trailhead: 1482-1474 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Parking: Free Street Parking on Descanso Drive Distance: Approximately 4 miles out & back This hike takes you up into the San Rafael Hills. You won't be going to any extreme elevations in these parts, but you'll still get some beautiful views nonetheless. Just to the west of the Descanso Gardens, the trail starts at the bend in the road. A paved path that is lined with brown wooden fencing indicates your startin

'Tis the season for gift giving! And if you've got a hiker on your list but don't know what they might want or need, I've compiled a small list of things that any hiker should be happy to get. Gifts under $25 Moisture Wicking Socks - These are very helpful for keeping your feet dry, especially on a hot day. Socks may sound cliché as a holiday gift but a good pair of moisture wicking socks can make all the difference for a comfortable hike. Outdoor First Aid Kit - It's always

Trailhead: Wildwood Canyon Park, Burbank, CA Parking: Free parking lot on Harvard Road at Wildwood Canyon Road Distance: 3.6 miles out & back Even though it's on the shorter side, this trail gets the blood pumping. Due to its location on the Burbank-facing side of the Verdugo Mountains and its easy accessibility, it can get a higher volume of hikers so if you are looking for a more pandemic friendly hike, you may want to try a different trail (There are a couple of trails on

Trailhead: North end of Harter Lane, La Cañada Flintridge, CA Parking: Free, opening street parking on Harter Lane Distance: 3.2 miles out & back This is a fun trail that has more than just a nice view at the end. It has a teepee! There are occasionally some steeper areas along the way that make this trail a bit more difficult but it is totally doable. The trail starts at the end of a dead-end street in a residential neighborhood. Parking was easy and plentiful along the side

Trailhead: Josephine Peak Road; Across the street from the US Forest Service Clear Creek Fire Station Parking: Free parking along the roadside just next to the US Forest Service Clear Creek Fire Station Distance: 8.6 miles out & back Josephine Peak is an easy to get to trail that is just 30-ish minutes from LA in the Angeles National Forest. The trail is a wide fire road that allows for easy passing of other hikers and the elevation gain is consistent but never too steep. The

Trailhead: Stough Canyon Nature Center, 2300 E Walnut Ave, Burbank, CA 91504 Parking: Free in small lot at the nature center or along E Walnut Ave. Distance: 2.8 miles out & back This trail, while fairly short, has some nice views and interesting finds that make it worth while. The trailhead is easy to get to and parking wasn't bad. The small parking lot at the nature center can fill up pretty quickly on the weekends but there was plenty of space to park along the road near t

Back in March, when the world shut down, I was devastated. I was devastated by the pain and suffering the pandemic was causing, and also devastated that my love of seeing and experiencing the world was being taken away from me. While I hadn't travelled as much as I had wanted to in recent years, I still cherished the opportunities I had to explore. 2019 had been a year of really connecting with nature and enjoying the outdoors. I was working hiking into my routine. I had even