Glendale Peak - Griffith Park, Los Angeles, Ca
Between the holidays, a trip to Mexico, an unforgiving work schedule and my current state of sickness I haven't had a whole lot of time to dedicate to hikeology. Thankfully, we are in the middle of a much needed long weekend which finally gives me the opportunity to finally catch up!
To kick off the end of this dry spell, I want to share a wonderful moderate 3.5 mile out and back hike through Griffith Park up to Glendale Peak. I love this trail because it's easily accessible, offers some spectacular views and is low on foot traffic compared to a lot of the other hikes through Griffith Park.
The trailhead begins on a fire road just opposite Greek Theatre on Vermont Canyon Road. Parking is easy to find as there are many spots lining the right side of the street right in front of the trail. You will jump right into a noticeable incline, but after about 0.2 miles the trail plateaus where you will gain great views of downtown LA to the south and the Greek Theater just below you. Being a regular patron to the Greek Theater, I really enjoy this different vantage point where you get the chance to look out over the little amphitheater tucked away in the trees.
From here you will continue to follow the fire road until you descend upon a three way junction. To your right, there is a firewood that delves deeper into the canyon and to your right, another trail that leads you past the golf course and tennis court. Ignore these trails on either side of you can continue straight to the trail that quickly ascends up the side of the mountain.
You will follow this fire road until you reach the 1.3 mile point in your hike. Here you will find the trail intersecting with Vista de Valle Drive which is a paved road. You will also notice a green building on your left hand side, make a hard left at the building and continue your climb along the fire road.
As you make your way up the fire road your views of the Griffith Park Observatory will begin to open up and soon you will find yourself upon a small wooden footbridge to your left and a little blue sign (that has unfortunately been graffitied) to your right.
While the footbridge is intriguing, ignore that (for now - it's a great place for photos when you're doubling back down) and follow the inconspicuous Henry's Trail to your right. This trail is dedicated to Henry Shamma, who was a Sierra Club member and avid writer who spent many years leading hikes up to Glendale Peak and tirelessly maintaining other trails throughout Griffith Park.
You will immediately notice a difference in the terrain. This single trail trail is a bit more rugged than the rest of your hike, but it doesn't last very long so don't be dissuaded by the awkwardly eroding staircase before you.
While you continue to follow the single track trail to the top of Glendale Peak you will find the views only continue to get better and better. Once at the peak, you will have access to full 360º views spanning from downtown LA, to the Pacific, the San Grabriels and the Valley below.
I found this spot to be incredibly calming. With the lack of foot traffic, you're likely to have the views to yourself, which is a rare thing in Griffith Park. We sat for a long while up there in silence, simply enjoying the scenery and the serenity of it all. Once you're done taking it all in, simply follow the trail back the way you came.
How to get there: Head north on Vermont Avenue into Griffith Park. As you continue north through the park you will pass the Greek Theater on your left and notice parking along the right side. The trailhead will be on the east side of Vermont just past the theater.
Address: 2715 N Vermont Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
