Wow this is a beautiful fun hike! My review is solely based on my experience because well I'm a parent, have 2 small boys and we hiked up to the water tower as a family. I just say this because there are so many different types of people who come here, hikers, runners, mountain bikers and cyclist especially who were whizzing by us like lightning. The trail we started on was off the side of the road a bit and we parked near a residential area that had a few parking spots, we were able to fit in at the end but a lot of signs were posted that parking is by permit only. The trail we took had little to no shade and it was very hot so if you're new to this trial, take some water with you for sure! There was a huge incline up to the water tower, about 3 hills it felt like and then we arrived at the water tower, took some pictures of the view and hiked back down! There seems to be other places to enter the trials and different trails you can take, we just followed the directions here on this Yelp review and initially went passed the arrived destination because we were new to the area and didn't realize we had to park off the side of the road, some people in the other reviews mention a parking lot BUT these directions and address do not have a parking lot. Summer months they close at 6pm, and winter fall months close at 5pm. We came here to get out of our area for a little while and fell in love with this place! It's such a good place to come to workout, there were all different types of people here, families, elderly, couples, single people, hiking groups, dog walkers, bikers, and runners, or people working out hard! Such a cool hike! We will definitely come back! Was very hot today, maybe we will come again on a cooler day! We seen some spiders, lizards, lots of dog poop (I guess owners don't pick up after their dogs here much) lookout! Honestly I don't think this hike is for the weak, it was super hard for me but for my husband a breeze so I guess it just depends on your body. Enjoy! read more

Turnbull Canyon is a popular trail in Puente Hills Reserve. The parking here is difficult as the area closest to the trail entrance has a Permit Required on the streets surrounding the area. So you have to park away and walk into the area. The park hours are 9am-6pm June to September, and 9am-5pm October to May. On the trail, I was able to observe lots of wildlife and local flora. ***BEWARE*** There is a lot of Poison Oak (pictured below) within the valley so it's important to make sure you stay on trail and not to touch the local plant and flora. (Which are also the rules of the trail) The views here were beautiful and the paths were well maintained. Make sure you bring in your own water. There are no bathrooms available and trashcans are limited to the beginning of the trail. I did notice there was lots of trash along the path, please make sure that you take your trash with you and if you own a dog, please do not just bag it and leave it on the side of the trail. Overall all it's a nice area and has access to lots of different variations of trails. It just gets busy and I would rate it higher if more people took the time to doing their part in keeping the trails litter-free read more

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Turnbull canyon has been my hiking spot for over 10 years now I love everything about it it's located in my hometown city WHITTIER once at the top you get amazing views of the west side downtown skyline covers all San Pedro ocean views front and back entrances I always take the back get me more steps in and early access compared to the front main gate I believe it's 9 am not sure . read more

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I love this trail! I find myself wanting to come here often as it's very peaceful and not typically overcrowded. There is so much nature on this track so be weary where you are stepping, as I have seen snakes before. From this trail you can see Catalina Island and downtown LA. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a medium intensity hike. read more

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This Hike is one of my favorites in Whittier. There are so many different paths to take with different intensity levels. The nature in Turnball Canyon is absolutely breathtaking. Not to mention the view of the city, you can even see LA and Long Beach. I definitely recommend this hike to any local or anyone willing to make the drive to see the beautiful spring bloom! read more

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Parking was really hard to find. The parking on the streets leading up to the trail requires a special permit. You need to park further down and then walk along the road to the trail. At the start of the trail, there is a trash can available. No restroom available. On the start of the trail, there were a lot of beetles and pill bugs. Luckily, did not come across any snakes. The trail does loop together, but you need to pay attention since there are a few instances where the trail can split to another one. There was not a lot of shade, so make sure to be prepared on a hot day. There were also some inclines throughout the trail. read more

Allegedly haunted hiking trails with an ascent to a water tower. On a clear day, you can see downtown LA. It's mostly exposed with limited shade. No restrooms available on the premises. Parking is difficult as much of the residential neighborhood is permit-only; there are a few spots located at the trailhead, but if it's busy, you may need to park several blocks away. Came here in the morning on Thanksgiving most recently and there were a fair amount of bikers and hikers. The lollipop route we did was about four miles total. Dogs are allowed in the trail. It's a kid-friendly hike. read more

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The only bad thing is the parking, before you could park inside for the Hellman trail. Now you can't park inside nor anywhere near the trail. I ended up parking an extra mile away. If you're lucky there are about 4 parallel parking spots in front of the entrance with no signs and my friend parked there. Started on peppergrass trail and up to rattlesnake I believe. Mainly walking on incline. Lots of nice views read more

Turnbull Canyon - Hike + where we parked - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

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-1 star for no parking and barely any shade. It's a walk to find parking because all the nearby street parking is permit only. The hike itself is a lot of incline and though it's technically a short distanced hike, it feels way longer. Getting to the tower areas are super steep and I was quite nervous walking back down. I did see someone hike up there while carrying a baby though I would not recommend... I think it's a little more challenging than neighboring hikes so that was a plus read more

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Ticks, mites, and rattlesnakes. That's all there is here. Especially Schabarum Trail. read more

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Most annoying part is finding parking because a lot of the roads need permit. Getting to the hiking trail was pretty dangerous because there's a lot of cars coming and going but no sidewalk. I missed the entrance to the hiking trail the first time. If you're not paying attention it's easy to miss. The hiking trail has a lot of black beetles everywhere. I love hiking but this trail has more bugs than what I'm used to. TLDR: I don't think I'll come back to this trail. read more

Such a great spot! This place feels like a mini getaway from LA. The views are awesome whether be it evening or sunrise. This place can get super lush during winter. read more

I was there on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, and saw two rattlesnakes. I'm not sure why or what to do. The snakes were on the trail path. They are green and yellowish, so they are not easy to see. The trail is cool because it's a hard hike, but I don't think it's worth getting bit by a snake. I guess hike at your own risk. read more

I really enjoyed turnbull canyon trail. The views of Los angeles are breathtaking. But the view of the san gabriel mountains is my favorite. When the sun is setting and reflecting off the clouds (or smog)) it's a amazing sight. Enjoy. read more

This is a great location to get in a good run, bike or a hike. The views are good and you will have great workout. If you have kids or fur babies they would enjoy it as well. read more

Turnbull Canyon pet friendly dogs everywhere super chill friendly vibes, also be careful parking because permit parking tickets. read more

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Beautiful hiking spot nestled in Whittier. The only ding is that there is very limited parking. I counted around 9 spots and the neighboring streets are all by Permit ONLY so please don't park on the neighboring streets! Best bet is to park by the school and walk up if parking is unavailable. Parking onsite does open promptly at 9am. When I arrived around 8:52am (Thursday 11/8) there was already a line of cars to get in. So if you plan on hiking get there early to snag a spot! Otherwise, get ready to get your butt kicked. By all means this is not an easy hike if you are going in with the intentions of thinking "cake walk" it definitely is not! There is a ton of incline so be ready to work that core and your booty!! However, the views are beautiful and something about nature is always so calming. Completing the hike one way is roughly around 8,000 steps to the tank. Be sure to make note of the trails you take because there are several and it's easy to get lost. Luckily cellphone service is accessible through the hike so you can look at maps if you get lost. Overall, great hike and definitely will return. read more

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Parking is difficult here because the only spots designated to hikers are on a hill that has limited space (probably 20-25 cars), and other than that the street parking nearby requires permits. So if you can't find parking on the hill, you'll have to park far away from the trail entrance. The trail is beautiful and has wonderful views the higher up you go! I recommend going on this hike on a gloomy/cloudy day because there isn't much shade on the trail. read more

Turnbull Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

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It's haunted. This use to be a Native American area believed that this land was cursed. It is seen as a mini Bermuda Triangle. 1. Haunted even when the Native Americans here 2. A war between the Native Americans and the Settlers John Whittier 3. Psychiatric asylum was there 4. Plane crash 5. Bus flipped over the curb and kids died 6. KKK meetings 7. Witchcrafts 8. Car accidents that lead to people's death. I came here hiking at night ones and I heard a witch laugh me and my friends heard it and we booked it. Not long ago someone told me he went hiking at night last year and saw a group of KKK members and told them to leave. Anyways pretty cool hike if you know this knowledge read more

It's a a good local hike. Only bad thing is that there is no safe parking. If you park on the street you're risking getting a ticket. Other than that, it's a nice place to hike with views to the mountains & DTLA. read more

Turnbull Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

Jumps that been there for over ten years were all flattened out and wall rides are almost gone.

If you google Turnbull Canyon, you'll find lots of websites with haunting tales, satanic rituals, haunted houses, and how the body of a woman was found there in 2007. With that said, I only go there to hike! Forgot about all that rubbish. Off the 605, exit Beverly Blvd. and head east. Past Painter Ave, Beverly turns into Turnbull Canyon Rd. There is no specified parking lot, park off to the side on the dirt. There are two separate entrances, this is the northern entrance to Turnbull Canyon. I like it because it's in a canyon, and canyon usually means shade and lots of greenery and I prefer that. The incline is very gradual, not like it's adjacent hiking area, Hellman. Eventually you connect to another trail, head to the left and you'll enter Hellman Wilderness Park. Head right and you can continue to Turnbull Canyon Water Tower. Take a pic with that graffiti filled tower and post it on Facebook to show how beast you are. Once you hit the connecting trail, there really isn't much shade, it's all open. Beware of bikers, they go fast. read more

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Not much to say because pretty much all the positive reviews & descriptions are right. It's a great place to get away from the noisy city & usual senseless day by day crap from the cold hearted city. (lol, right), seriously though, I love the escape from the more trending rude & ghetto people that you wonder "Why oh Why God?" "Why has thou forsaken me!!!".....and if you saw a little old movie back in the late 80's/maybe 1990 called "Lean on me", obviously the answer is "Because ___ - insert your name, your no damn good" Lol, it's true!!! Anyhow, it's not Hellman Park with the killer hills that hit you right away when you start out from the parking lot that honestly just ends up being too easy right after those tremendous hikes - its cake walk from there....but Turnbull's a nice steady incline. There are some trails off from the main entrance (I know there's two entrances, this one being where Beverly turns into Turnbull Cyn Rd.) that are some parts shaded, scenic and very secluded. You'll hear & see wildlife in all it's form. Take plenty of water, you'll need it, I did experience a little heat exhaustion last time w/the heatwave. Thank God I wasn't alone or I would have been some lucky animals din din. :( Dog poop is not discriminated here, although frowned upon. (At least push it to the side people!!!!) This hike is for the serious people who are experienced and yes you do see occasional stragglers that obviously have no clue or couth, Did see a few gussied up youngsters in cute short short revealing workout wardrobe, la-la gagging about. (they were far from us in entrance & we passed them up....we are old as dirt!!)....but that is usually with the later evening people right before dusk. Jmho, nothing more, simple poopoo yakking. Go any time early and it's pleasant. The satanic rituals, bodies, skulls, bones & star of David inked in blood on rocks do exist......only in stories of yesteryear(s) past. My mom (God Bless her soul) use to come up w/some good whoopers too....but truth is it's totally safe. (Although at night time I do wonder if there are any bodies - people or animal that are hidden deep in woods throughout) read more

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LOVED IT! We totally got lucky today the sky was clear. & on not even 5 minutes into our hike we were able to see a coyote walking around. Of course we stood our ground until we knew it was ok to keep going we didn't want to chance it! It was a challenging hike not too intense. I can't get over the weather it was just perfect. Since it is Tuesday it was really easy to find parking. It was our first time going there so we were kind of just going up there by everyone else's reviews but it was beautiful. Didn't see any snakes! :) read more

Turnbull Canyon - Some peace of mind. . - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

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Yelp address I used led me the wrong direction - I arrived at a residential area with no hiking trail in sight, so best double check with your friends if its your first time here! PARKING Parking is really hard. There is a small lot and people park parallel to the road by the entrance of the trail despite risking a ticket. Residential area nearby have strict permit parking as well, so before you celebrate finding a parking spot, make sure you read the signs! WHAT TO EXPECT This is a great trail to walk or run! There is no shade so wear sunscreen on a hot day. Benefits of hiking early is seeing the sunrise, getting decent parking, and the sun won't be baking down on you! The start of the trail is flat - really easy to walk or run. You will be surrounded by the mountains as you go through before you hit a broken pavement. There, you keep on going until you hit a fork. You can pretty much see the other trails and gauge where you want to go. For us, we headed left and away from the water tower to one of the high points for the view. There will be several inclines! It looks steep from afar, but they are totally doable. We got onto Rattlesnake Trail before we looped back around and headed towards the right to the water tower. Big incline to reach the top at the end, but once again, totally doable. Water tower has recently been painted over and gated, but artists have returned to slowly decorate the tower with their art once again. Entire hike via walking took about three hours and we totaled approximately 7 miles. read more

Turnbull Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

There are many local parking restrictions in the area so be aware. Just follow the trail of ant people making their way from the residential area up to the trail head entrance. We hiked from the car spot up to the Rattlesnake trail five miles roundtrip. There is very little shade so bring a hat during the summer months. read more

Hi! I love this trail been coming here for a while now but with a recent interaction with a park ranger made me post this review. I completely understand that I was hiking a bit to early but there is way to speak to a person without being rude. #1 it obvious what I'm doing on the trail and asking what are you doing here is just stupid. #2 You shouldn't tell people that you need to go to your own neighborhood and find somewhere else or go somewhere else to walk. I live in the neighborhood so I have no idea what you mean by that, and that just sounds wrong. #3 Dont threaten and yell at people just because you feel like exercising your authority. I was respectful and so should you. #4 Theres a better way of reminding people your here too early. Dont make assumptions based on the damn neighborhood, this is los angeles county not the county of Whittier! read more

12/1/18- Entrance at 7th street is closed. Not sure if other connecting trails are closed too. Trail usually opens at 9am. Too late in my opinion, especially in the summer. Don't try to sneak in earlier through other trails because you'll get a citation. I've seen it happen. I usually take a plastic bag to collect empty water bottles people leave behind. Wear long pants or keep an eye out for poison ivy which is often overgrown and on the trails. Pet friendly, and good trails for cyclists too. But, can someone please tell me why people have to blast music on the trail??? Earbuds people. This ain't no club. read more

Turnbull Canyon - 12/1/18- Turnbull Canyon entrance at 7th street. Not sure if connecting trails are closed too. - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

Parking is horrible. They do have a designated parking but it doesn't open until 9:00am. That's a little late to go hiking. This place has changed so much. Before you are able to park around the canyon and the designated parking was always open. read more

Great local hike. I was reading the yelp reviews on how tough parking is and was worried because on the drive up there are endless amounts of signs posted everywhere saying permit only parking, but I took a chance and got lucky finding a spot in the small parking lot. I went around 11AM on a Friday (prob not the best time because it was super hot). There were a good amount of people on the hike during the time. The hikes here can vary from long distance to short; it all depends on what trails you decide to go on. My friend and I decided to go on a shorter hike this time, so our round trip milage was only 3.64 miles. There is a helpful map at the bottom of the hike so you can plan out your trip accordingly. There are also signs showing you the start of a new trail along the hike. From the start, the hike has fairly steep hills with little/no shade. On the way up, we saw a great view of LA. This day we decided to go up to the graffiti water tower. The inclines you have to climb before reaching the top are pretty intense and on this hot day, they literally were the hardest things. But they are do-able. Unfortunately, the water tower is taped off with a guard sitting at the top, so you can't go up close. Overall, pretty great hike if you live near the area. Bring water, wear sunscreen, and wear a hat. Be prepared to look for parking and no shade with high intensity inclines and you will be all set for this hike! read more

Turnbull Canyon - water tower - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

Water tower is blocked guys! You can still see it and take pictures but the tower is blocked with construction tapes and gates. There's also security patrolling the area. Not sure what happened and why. Other than that, the hike itself was great. Easy and short. I would probably come earlier/later next time though- No shades and it was really hot since we went during noon (but then that totally was my own fault lol.) Parking wasn't too hard either and there were plenty other people hiking at the same time so it's hard to get lost lol. Descent local hike. Make sure to use sunblock and bring water! Oh and make sure you have good hiking shoes- although it's short and easy, some of the parts were very sandy and slippery. Dog friendly. read more

Turnbull Canyon - Open view. See the little water tower In the picture? ;) - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

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Our riding partner brought us here yesterday unexpectedly. He wanted to show us the way here from Long Beach. We did not hike. We rode our rode bikes all the way up the hill and then came right back down. Beautiful views on top (sun was setting) so the intense steep hill ride to the top is eventually worth all the trouble. This ride was no joke. It's very hard. I struggled, but man speeding down that hill was so much fun. When riding up the hill be cautious with traffic. Cars do fly by you. I have done the hike before as well. It's not an easy hike. You'll come across a huge steep hill. Great views on top. And of course the famous water tower. read more

I researched a couple places for dog friendly hike areas and I so happen to pick this one because it was on my way to the area that I was going to be heading to you after. Let me just say I got lucky to find such a gem. We did several trails it was very nice it was such a pretty day. I genuinely fell in love with the trails. Hardly any people saw two dogs the whole entire time wasn't over populated or overcrowded read more

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This review is for driving on the road. There are tons of excellent canyon roads in the LA Metro area. Angeles crest is huge and you can spend hours driving there. Going from La Canada to Hesperia or Palmdale. Mulholland Hwy is home to the infamous Snake; which is an awesome stretch of road but way too crowded Malibu and Glendora also has tons of awesome canyons... the list goes on and on. What sets Turnbull apart from the others is that it's really short so it doesn't require as much time investment. If you live in the SGV/Covina/Rowland Heights area it only takes 15-25 minutes to get to. Spend an hour there doing a few laps and then get a boba in Hacienda Heights before you go home. There are usually not too many cars even in the afternoon but there ARE a decent amount of cyclists. If you go 7am-9am it's pretty deserted. read more

Great hiking course for those either just getting into hiking or those looking for a moderate workout. The beginning portion of this trail will be the hardest portion you'll encounter but if you can get through it then the rest is cake. There's also an alternate route for those that can't handle the steep incline. Finding parking here can be a pain. The parking slots are very limited and street parking is permit parking only. So park on the streets at your own risk. **Best place to park without any worry will be at the top of the hill (trust me you'll see it)** you won't be ticketed there. Have fun goodluck, stay hydrated and stay safe read more

You should be coming here for an intense workout, not for the views. Major props to the group of crossfitters and other fitness buffs who I encountered on the trail. It pained me just watching them go so hard while I walked at a slow pace up and down those hills was killing my legs and butt. Insane incline had one girl running down a hill yelling, "CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP!!" Fellow hikers were quick to move out of her way as she tumbled. I hike to be immersed in beautiful scenic nature and expect a one-of-a-kind view as my reward at the end. Haha that did not happen at Turnbull Canyon. Sure, the water tower is there but so is thick, nasty smog when you look off into the distance. Locals and people who like city hikes might enjoy that but I do not. Parking is pretty challenging. Read the signs to avoid a parking ticket. Watch out for all the dog poop and bikers. Do not forget your water, snacks, sunscreen, or hat! read more

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This place is great to go with your friends. The incline is quite tiring. There are many inclines good luck!! 4 miles in all going up and Down. read more

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I give it four stars because the parking is complicated. Everything is resident parking, you need a permit. Luckily, a woman told us where theres a no permit parking by a elementary school. It's only about half a mile down so it wasn't that bad. Other than that it's a good way of getting a steady slow workout if you're taking it easy, but if you want to burn those calories you can also run it or jog. There's about three steep hills that get you moving. Ooh and watch out for the bikers going down hill. They go pretty fast. read more

Turnbull Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Whittier, California

No parking and something is always closed. Very late opening @ 9am. Extremely disappointed at all the restrictions. How are people supposed to enjoy nature/hiking when there is nowhere to park? I guess only the white people who live there have access to this hiking trail. read more

I came back on June 11, 2020. There's hiker, jogger and mountain bicycle riders. The view is fabulous especially sunset read more

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