Located in the heart of Beverly Hills is a wonderful park called Franklin Canyon.

Vegas and his friend Chase

Its a little tricky to find due to the entrance being hidden in windy,  narrow  residential streets.

The best way to get there from Sunset Blvd is turn north up Rexford, than right on to Beverly drive, left at the light (intersection of Coldwater Canyon and Beverly Drive) to stay on Beverly drive.   Stay on the road until  you see a small street sign that says Franklin Canyon Drive, this is your only clue to finding the park.  It is the third right off Beverly Drive. It all looks residential, because it is, stay on Franklin Canyon road and  continue to drive through a  main gate way leading into undeveloped land you  are now entering the park.

Here is a link to a trail map for inside the park.

When you are inside the park, be very careful about coming to a full and complete stop at the  stop signs. They have cameras that are triggered by a vehicle not stopping, and violators will receive a very expensive ticket$175  in the mail, two weeks after your visit.

The park has several highlights including a turtle pond and a duck pond. Several picnic areas, ample parking and a amphitheater.  The park has been a popular location for filming “remote” scenes and you can pick up a list of some of the parks on camera appearances at the parks office which include Law and Order

The other thing to be aware of is the on-leash rules are strictly enforced. You may get a false sense of being all alone and as you turn a corner you and your pooch will be face to face with a ranger, who is on foot and itching to write a ticket.

Speaking of itching stay on the marked trails there are several of them and they are fun to explore but the park does have poison oak. You don’t want your dog to get it on its fur than transfer it to you. Other things to watch out for are wasps and snakes.

There are a couple of rest room facilities located inside the park. The main one is up by the amphitheater and there is ample parking. The second is located at the other end of the park. At a fork in the road, which is the intersection of Franklin Canyon Drive and Lake Drive you will see a small stone building it looks like a charming cottage which is now abandoned. If you head straight you will end up at the amphitheater and Sooky Goldman Nature Center and if you turn right you head to the bottom of the park and Franklin Canyon Ranch site.

I often park right across from the stone building, there is parking for approximately three vehicles, and walk the road down to the bottom of the park. Its a lovely shaded stroll, with a little stream running alongside, which feeds into a smaller pond. At one time there was plenty of Koi in the pond but it looks like they have all disappeared.

Be sure to check the parks calendar of events of they have many fun free activities. I took a guided tour of the park and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the parks history and the flora and fauna.

There is controversy with a real estate developer  building on land that people assumed was part of the park, but was actually private property that backs on to the park. People are very adamant to keep hiking on the land and despite the efforts of the developer to keep people back he now just has a sign that says you are entering private property. If you would like to learn more there is a group called Save Franklin Canyon.

View of the City of Los Angeles from Franklin Canyon

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