It's not too long of a hike. There is a steep portion in the beginning and it slowly levels out as you approach the top where you get a pretty decent view of the San Fernando Valley. I like this place over Runyon because it's much less crowded and nowhere near as much dog doodoo. It's a nice quiet trail. Don't forget to pay for parking at the pay station before you park. I believe it costs like $3, which is pretty steep. I recommend you try to find street parking. Make sure you read the parking signs. read more

I've been doing this loop for years. I always call it Fryman. The loop takes about an hour and it a good little workout. Dogs are fine on leash. I take mine frequently. They even have a stop near the Tree People turn off where there is a doggie water fountain just for dogs. It does get more crowded during peak times (like Saturday/Sunday mornings), but it's never as crowded as say Runyon. It does cost $3 per car to park in the lot, so make sure you have cash, exact change. You can look for street parking otherwise, but be careful as several areas are permit only. Great spot to hike and get a workout. Check it out! read more

Wilacre Park aka "Fryman Canyon" is my go-to spot for a nice brief hike with my dog. My biggest suggestion is arriving before 8AM if you want to avoid paying the small parking lot fee. The round about hike takes about 45 minutes and is perfect solo or in a group. What I love is this place isn't super crowded and is very dog friendly. They have a few doggie bag dispensers and mid-hike (near Tree People) there is a water bowl area. The initial incline is the best, and perhaps I'm out of shape, but my calves and booty feel the burn. You will find people of all ages here, and at different fitness levels. read more

Today, March 1st, 2010--- marks my 3rd attempt at working on 1 of my 2010 resolutions, which is to get back into *Healthy Living* mode: eat well and exercise to offset my *Yelp belly*! I'm SERIOUS this time! Yes, reallllllllly! ('',) - Thanks again *bestie* for introducing me to yet another fantastic *Hidden Gem* !!! You're on a roll! whoo hooo! - This place rocks my socks w/ an easy hiking trail filled with lush greenery and a wide clean pathway. Luckily, I did not encounter any dog droppings, as mentioned by previous yelpers---let's hope the pet owners continue to be responsible. A good hiking trail in THE VALLEY? noooo way! yessssss way! yaaaaaaaaaaaay! read more

Wilacre Park - W is or Wilacre Park! ('',) check out the clean & wide pathway! - Parks Near Me - Studio City, California

This hiking trail is good, IMO. It starts off a bit uphill, so you might get a bit winded if you're not used to it. You go up a long path up to a fork where you can choose to go more uphill and more scenic if you choose the left, or the right side, which is a bit easier and easy to follow. In the middle grounds, you will find a water fountain and bathrooms uphill again lol near tree people. You can also start the hike by going up another way, which is by walking through the housing track and coming up the back way, which is still a nice workout. Either way, I love this place. I think George clooneys house is at the bottom of the hike by another housing track. That also leads to another GORGEOUS hike that goes through the woods and ends up at the top of mulholland drive. Beautiful view from up there and awesome workout. Just don't park your car in the actual parking lot they have off laurel or the actual laurel street, as cars seem to get broken into a lot there. read more

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Fryman Canyon - I vote this hike one of the best in the valley - short and sweet, not very challenging but a great place to get out and catch some fresh air. A lot less "Hollywood" than Runyon and a lot less dog shit than Runyon, less horse shit than Bronson and more shade than Stough - this short little loop will satisfy your craving for a quick neighborhood hike. My son and I like to walk here to increase the mileage or loop it a couple times. If you do drive, find parking on Laurel and a ways down and you can manage to add in a little extra that way too. A few rattlesnakes from time to time, a sign about a mountain lion once - we never saw him, lots of little groundhogs and lizards - connects to Tree People trails. All in all this is a hike just about anyone at any fitness level can do without thinking twice. read more

Easy hiking trail but you can make it a bit more challenging by running and doing a full circle trip on the trail instead of going just one way. This is a cool option if you don't want to drive out to the longer and more challenging Runyon. Parking can be a pain on the weekend. They do have a pay lot and street parking in the area (just check the signs as some streets require permits). Directions: From the 101 Freeway, exit Laurel Canyon Boulevard. Travel south one mile and turn right onto Fryman Road, then right into the park. Get the full directions and trail map here: http://www.lamountains.com/maps/wilacre.pdf Some nice views of the SF valley from here. read more

This is not Fryman Canyon Park. Fryman Canyon Park is on Mulholland Drive, not off Laurel Canyon. Granted the Betty B. Dearing Trail continues from Wilacre Park into Fryman, but that's a different park and technically a different Yelp listing (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/fryman-canyon-park-los-angeles). Going south of TreePeople is no longer Wilacre Park. Staying within the park boundary is an easy walk. All trails can be covered in 2.1 miles with a 550' elevation difference. The route starts on a moderately steep paved road which is good on the rare instance when it rains. The grade reduces when the path turns into a wide dirt road that continues into other parks. To stay in Wilacre Park, loop back at the trail sign along a normal dirt hiking trail called U-Vanu that returns to the paved road. Most people stuck to the wide dirt road. The entire loop has consistent low-angle views across the valley but the annoying noise of commercial aircraft because this is under the take-off path for the Burbank (aka Bob Hope aka Hollywood aka whatever is the next rebranding) Airport. Golly gee wilacre parking was a pain and good reason to never return because there are so many better hikes with plenty of parking. read more

This is Fryman Canyon aka Betty B Dearing aka Wilacre Park. It's a nice quick 45-60 min hike. They have new clean bathrooms. Small parking lot. We had gone around 10:30am pretty busy but was able to find a parking spot from all the early birds leaving. A lot of dogs & disappointed from a lot of people not picking up after their dogs poop. Pretty steady incline for the first 10 min but after that it's not so bad. Nice big houses to look at. I could do it twice next time around. read more

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I like how this hiking spot is great for a quick exercise and some fresh air. The loop does not take too long to go around and it is great for a casual hike. If you get tired, you can take breaks or you can always turn around and go back down instead of going around the loop. After walking up the trail, you will be able to see a view of part of the valley. When I go hiking, I also enjoy seeing some flowers along the way. Yesterday, I was able to spot some yellow and purple flowers. The parking lot can get busy, but I went on a Saturday around 5 pm and I didn't have to wait long to park when someone was leaving. read more

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This is like a mini version of Runyon... tons of dogs and very uphill. Plus points for a parking lot even if you have to pay $3. It wasn't that great but it connects to Tree People. Go here and then walk along Ventura afterwards and go shopping... great day! read more

Parking here is usually hard to get if you come before 8AM you should be fine. Also weekdays are less packed. If you're looking for a nice view of The Valley, this hike has great views. Not to hard and I believe it eventually leads to Fryman canyon. However, I have seen people looking out for people taking off their mask, so beware of mask police. read more

I love this trail. I hike it about 4 times a week, able to do so a little under an hour easily. Relatively decent parking (just depends on time of day and day of the week), plenty of trash cans for dog droppings to be discarded, there's a couple water fountains along the trail. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because there aren't clear maps/signs in place for where you could end up. If you follow the main trail, you'll be fine, but there are plenty of side trails that could be better mapped out and have proper signs. Also for those of you who don't pick up after your dogs: shame on you for your entitled laziness. There are plenty of free baggies and trash cans around. No excuse! read more

One of my favorite hikes, since it's so convenient to my home, truly beautiful and I love the view of the valley. I take the route from a residential street and then go up the hill through the fenced gate, really nice. I love this hike, since everyone takes their cute dogs up there and also it's gorgeous and an easy hike, not too strenuous as well. I highly recommend this amazing hike. I love being in nature and taking photo's. read more

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It's open again after the upgrades. Bravo on the new bathrooms with seat covers and soap and alllll fancy. The parking lot, despite them adding a few additional spots, is still a freaking zoo. If you are meeting someone, always allow yourself an extra 5 to 10 minutes for parking to stalk people leaving to pounce on their spot. The hike itself is a pretty steady incline and a decent work out. You could either go out and back or do a loop through residential. Not much for views, but appreciate having a hike in the middle of urban sprawl. Note: many people call this spot "Fryman" but it's not technically. read more

Such a beautiful place to hike! Perfect for dogs too just be careful with snakes during snake season!! Absolutely love this place. Has a clean bathroom which is always important and even doggie bags scattered around so there's no excuse to not put up ur dogs shit. Free parking but on some days it's really packed so you might have to wait for a couple minutes. read more

It's always a pleasure to be able to have some free time and be able to hike and enjoy the moment of freedom. The different trails never end always able to detour to another. BE AWARE of snakes read more

Wilacre Park - Parks Near Me - Studio City, California

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Wonderful place to clear your head. Much more green and dogless than Runyon. I really like that I can just walk my thoughts away. Give it a try the next time you need a good mind extraction. read more

Tired of fending off the makeup-caked, miniature dog filled, chiseled ab abundant Runyon Canyon? (Okay, gotta admit this can be fun, too...) Either way, if you're up for a slightly less crowded (and less energy-consuming) hike, especially as Lake Hollywood has yet to fully recover from the rains of '05, then get your butt on down to Fryman. Just off Laurel Canyon, south of Laurel Terrace, this trail allows you to stretch your legs and get some fresh air for just under an hour, with some great views of the Valley along the way. (You can boogie all the way to the trail end, which dumps you into a cul de sac that eventually leads back down to Fryman, or you can always about face and find your way back the way you came in.) While it's a little less "Hollywoody" than Runyon, you'll still hear passersby talking about the writers strike, and don't expect too many hellos from hikers coming toward you. (My wife and I actually play a game: one point each for one of our unreturned "hellos" or "howdys" - gets a little dull after you realize pretty much no one says "hi" back.) Then again, I guess it wouldn't really be LA, otherwise ;) --js read more

I recently got into hiking and I've going to as many different hikes as possible and I had a great experience in this park. There is an onsite parking lot which charges $3 but tends to get full. I actually parked 3-4 blocks up the hill on Fryman in the residential area and it was free, no permits required. This is a very transited park but what I noticed is that a lot of people tend to just do half, maybe because they do not know the way or are tired but once you get uphill and then start coming down you will reach a residential area which has a gate but there is another trail to the right. This trail will take you uphill to a so-called Rain Forest. It's such a nice walk! You will arrive to the Rain Forest which has this huge trees, a small stream and birds. This is a perfect spot to rest and eat. You can then follow the path across the stream and you find yourself hiking on hills with beautiful views of the valley. Along the way you will also see a trapeze-like swing which swings into the abyss. I did see a few brave people swinging from it but to each it's own. Great place for an awesome workout! read more

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A nice getaway only minutes away from the urban sprawl. Me and my partner in crime took the dogs here and Fox had a great time. Max got jumped by an off-leash retriever but he was cool about it. In dog language Max was thinking, "mutt get off my back....you smell" and your owner sucks balls for letting you off leash untrained." Some dog owners need more training than the dogs do! Anyway, a nice hilly section as you start from the Wilacre parking lot. We ran into Woody Harrelson and he nearly collapses as his trainer is kicking his a$$ up the hill. He asked for a for a drink of water. We ran into him again on the way back and he almost fainted from exhaustion. Hahaa. Make sure you visit the natural amphitheather for a break. Nice views all day. People watching while hiking is always fun. Come explore the goodness Tip: Don't mind the wannabe enthusiasts hiking with True Religion jeans, Gucci shoes, and Oliver Peoples aviators while holding a large Starbucks frapuccino on the trail. read more

This is indeed a decent get away from the everyday madness life throws atcha - we all know about mazy (mad & crazy) living in L.A. It really depends on the time you go, though. Go very early, or during the evening just before it gets dark -- bring a flashlight or headlamp so you can see the coyotes just before they eat you. It gets crowded at times, but it's so close to where we work, live, etc., that it makes it worth while. Yeah, there's Runyon close by that offers great views of Hollywood, but it just gets too crowded for my liking; maybe I'm just jealous of all the hot mens running around with their shirts off (300 women just left Yelp and are headed to Runyon) -- I'm a dude with a flabby body. I don't know why I just admitted that. Back to Wilacre - I've seen really down to earth "Hollywood" people here that smile and say hi, and I've seen your typical Hollywood broads (I say that with respect, broads) in miniskirts talking all loud on their cells that will not return a friendly nod. Whatevs. I thought the purpose of coming here was to get away from all that, not to show off your Roach purses and Loui Crouton accessories. For mountain bikers: (which is what I'm usually doing here) there's some decent single track here... nothing crazy, but fun in a fix. NOTE: I rarely do this trail any longer if I'm in Wilacre. Why? Because there is sucha better trail that actually connects to this one that a lot of people don't seem know about. They walk by it all the time and have no clue; it's great, actually. It's about a mile and 1/2 of rain foresty single track with little cross bridges, huge trees, shade!, creek crossings and a rope swing! Just do it! Be careful if you're riding and be courteous of hikers. If you're interested, shoot me an email if you don't know about it already. Check out the photos I've uploaded. Regardless of which trail you do, take it all in and try not to focus too much on what's happening around you..except rattle snakes.. pay attention to those, they will kill you. read more

I love this hike. I started out doing the main loop, then realized it was a better workout to just go on the trail until it hits the pavement at the neighborhood at Iredell St., and turn around and go back instead of completing the loop. THEN I discovered the trails that veer off from the main path, and created a whole new route. And then just recently I discovered this awesome rainforest-y section that goes for miles and got super excited. Unfortunately, I also realized that this section is covered in rattlesnake pits and poison oak, probably the two things that terrify me most in life. To add to this, I saw my first rattlesnake today on the trail and almost had a heart attack. Sadly, I probably won't be frequenting this section anymore, at least not for a while. Love that this could be a simple 45 min jaunt, or a 3 hour exploratory hike. I usually create a decently challenging route that takes around 2 hours and burns a significant amount of calories, so I can enjoy a tasty Umami burger later than day without feeling too terribly guilty. A couple pet peeves: 1. Large groups of hikers who insist on taking up the entire trail by walking side by side. Come on. There are people trying to pass you from behind, and people coming at you who are trying to get by. Be considerate. 2. Along those same lines...think of the path as a road. Stay to the right. It just makes things so much easier. I will not move for you. I'm talking to you, Plump Lips McGee. 3. People who try to talk to you and then get irritated when you don't respond because they don't seem to realize you're wearing headphones. Also, please don't stop me in the middle of my run and ask if I can take a picture for you. Could you...maybe...ask the little old lady who is moving along at a leisurely pace, seemingly with all the time in the world, instead of the person who is clearly trying to beat a personal best and stopping for even 40 seconds would kind of throw a wrench in things? 4. Maybe not a pet peeve, but it cracks me up when I see people drinking large cups of soda while they're huffing and puffing up the mountain. I cross my fingers that it's water or an fitness drink in those cups, but I have my doubts. Hey, if you pass out from dehydration, you did it to yourself. WARNING: I usually park on Laurel, and when I leave I sometimes just make a giant U-turn to get me back on the road headed north toward Ventura Blvd. However, I've noticed a few times that there is a cop on a bike who likes to sit on the side of the road and I'm pretty sure he tickets people for doing that, because I've seen him writing people up a couple times, though I've never seen anyone being caught in the act, so it could be for something completely different. Just a warning! Celebrity Sighting: Ray Romano, Sara Gilbert, Lisa Rinna read more

This is truly a super getaway from the city, because it is so close, but when you are there it feels so far from it all! Lots of dogs. Lots off leash, even with signs that say to keep them on one. Unfortunately, Wilacre Park seems to attract lazy dog owners who do not pick up after their pets. Boo! If you don't have a bag, at least let them poop in the brush, not in the middle of the dang road! There is so much dog poo on the path that I call this, "The Trail of Turds". And I am not exaggerating. The climb for me is challenging but I am not cardiovascularly tough. My first steps up the incline, my neck veins feel as though they are going to pop and my head feels a lot of pressure. Haha. I'm getting much faster on my time though! I love that most of the hike is shady, so many trees and wildflowers. The crest is where the Tree People are located, and where the Mark Taper Amphitheater is located. It is so beautifully cool up there! The walk down and through the neighborhood takes you past sets that they use for the HBO show True Blood. That's a bonus! Another bonus, you do get celebrity sightings here, not as many as runyon, but a good clutch of them! Today, I saw Annette Benning! OH, they bumped up the parking fee recently, from $1 to $3! They also put No Parking signs up all over the place on the street. read more

It's so nice here. There are no city views, only valley. I must say though, it's a nice change of pace. It is challenging. If you up your pace to a medium fast walk, you are going to breath, and sweat. I like it. Never too crowded, and ample parking, both on the street, and in a private lot. Bring water, or at least a bottle. It gets hot in the sun-soaked valley! read more

Wilacre Park - Parks Near Me - Studio City, California

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My sister and I made plans to meet up at Wilacre Park, more commonly referred to as "Fryman Canyon." One thing I do love about Fryman Canyon is its location: It. Is. In. The. Valley. And don't you dare ask which valley I'm referring to!!! There is only ONE Valley: 818/SFV for life!!! Anyways I enjoy hiking and have been to Eaton Canyon, Griffith Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Mt Wilson(yes I've hiked Mt Wilson to the very top---it was a great experience, but I am one and done on that hike lol), Runyon Canyon, and Sturtevant Falls. Fryman Canyon offers easy access to a relatively easy trail so I can get a quick hike in without leaving the Valley. Since my sister lives in the East Valley and I live in the West Valley, Fryman is perfectly centrally located between the both of us. Another thing I love about Fryman Canyon is the parking lot and its FREE parking. The parking lot is at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Fryman, with the entrance located on Fryman. By the time my sister and I were walking to the start of the trail, there were a line of cars entering the lot. My advice: if you're an early bird like, you should have no problem getting a parking spot before 730am. The later the morning is, the less likely you are to find a spot in the parking lot OR you can opt to park on nearby residential streets--just be aware of the street parking stipulations. Since it my me and my sister's 1st time here, we followed the majority of people to the main entrance. The good majority of the start of the hike was uphill, which was quite the workout...we were huffing and puffing, but in a good way. The path at this point is paved, but uneven. If you are like me, clumsy, I would recommend focusing on where you walk to avoid any trip and falls. There were a good number of people walking along the trail with us...the elderly, families with kids (without strollers), people with their dogs, people running hardcore, etc. Another good thing about this hike are the funny and friendly reminder signs "There is no poop fairy," for people to pick up after their pets. For the most part, the trail was free and clear of poop. The view of the valley is ok. This could've had something to do with the gray and cloudy skies from this morning, but there was hardly any view, as we walked uphill, due to the brush blocking the view. Along the trail we saw a few paths that led off to other directions, but we stayed on the main path eventually winding down and out into a residential neighborhood that got us back to the parking lot. I'd definitely do this hike again, but perhaps check out other trails off of the main path and see where they end up. read more

I like that they have readily available parking by the main fire road. Make sure you pay the $3 parking fee because they do issue tickets for not paying. I like starting at the end of Fryman road and going up to the betty dearing trail and taking it into the rain forest and coming out to the neighborhood culdesac on the other end of the fire road. If you do decide to take the fire road up all the way it a much easier route. However, I would suggest taking the single track trails to the side of the fire road to make it more extreme. Edit: 3/15/15 The fire road down by the parking lot does loop back around so don't worry. Just stick to the fire road and at the top it will lead back down to the street. read more

This is a great trail! Good for young people, old people, babies, doggies, mommies, and daddies. I would not necessarily recommend a beginner to start this, but if you are adventurous, try it out after some stretching and with water! Parking looked small to me, but never had an issue finding one. Sometimes just pull up and park, or other times wait a few minutes for people to leave. There are two options when you leave the parking lot. You can go right, straight into the dirt steep side of the hike, or walk back out onto the road and kick a right up the street for the paved part first. If you are a beginner hiker, try the paved part first, and worse case scenario, you turn around and try the whole thing another time. I have done both. If you have a stroller, the paved portion is a street so its smooth, but be prepared for that hill. The dirt side has cracks, rocks, and other stuff, so be prepared with small dogs, or little kids/strollers. People seem to be friendly, and pretty responsible (kids not running around like crazy, and picking up dog poop). read more

This is one of my favorite hiking spots ever. Back when I was super out of shape, I swore I would conquer the hills (both sides, no matter which way you start). It's one of my favorites because you get some amazing views, the air is wonderful and the trail is wide. I've yet to come across any wild life that freaks me out and I love all the dogs I see. Sometimes I see celebrities, too. This isn't a friendly trail, though. People don't really say hi to each other. I find that it's best to just walk it without all of the distraction and appreciate it for what it is. Definitely greener and nicer than most trails. Parents also brave it with strollers and manage to do okay, although I be they worked up to it. It has enough umph to get your heart rate up, but for the more serious hiker, they probably wouldn't be phased or impressed. Give it a shot anyway. Most folks don't know there's a longer, slimmer trail off the residential part. It's hard to spot and feels weird to walk up, but I haven't braved it all the way because it's not nearly as well managed and you need a machete just to get through all of the crap swatting you in the face. I didn't feel comfortable going so we turned around because it was pretty steep, slim and secluded. For another day! The loop itself is wonderful, which is what most people do. There's spots for people watching, a bench and the Tree People if you wanna see what they're up to. read more

Rocky trails in about 70% of the main trail. Always be aware of your footing. Bugs are prevalent in the summer. "Must outrun super tiny black bugs!" OK.. lost em'. Run run run... walk walk walk... Look out! You almost smashed a stink bug. It's a veritable rolley polley and stink bug death trail I tell you. Wait, what's that buzzing sound? "A BEE!" Freak out! *Arms spazzing about* Whew.. that was close. Back to running/powerwalking. What's this? Two tigermoms pushing their babies on strollers! Make way for the babies! Onto more trail running/powerwalking. Run run run.. uh, ok.. now what? A guy power mountain biking up the hill! Good thing I didn't meet up with him where the trail gets narrow. Back to working out. Hmm.. rather quiet. Almost too quiet. Ahh! Lady with long leash and wild dog veering into my lane! *Jump sideways*. Man, this trail is like a video game with shortcuts but the shortcuts are filled with spiny shrubs and low lying trees. As you can see there are a lot of obstacles so be vigilant. The grade on the hill is challenging at the start but once you reach the top it levels out for a while. Picture a long, windy escalator. Anyone can conquer this trail. read more

This is the hiking trail I've become most familiar with whilst living in LA. As a valley girl it is by far the closest and most convenient for me. Parking used to be $1 but has since raised to $3 which I don't really mind paying because it goes to the upkeep of the trails and to the Tree People. ***If you don't feel like paying for parking you can look for a spot on Laurel right before you hit Fryman. Also if you see someone leaving the parking lot, just ask them for their ticket. Everyone has always been super friendly about it, and then you can Pay It Forward when you leave. Trail is pretty simple. Starts uphill and then levels off before heading down again. I think the whole loop is barely 2 miles so I like to do it twice to feel like I've actually accomplished some sort of fitness. Also there is a one flight wooden stair case leading up to the Tree People which I like to run up and down about 10 sets to get the heart rate up. Everyone brings their dogs, so if you've got an out doorsy pup bring him/her along! read more

Just got robbed and the ranger didn't call . They don't give a Poop. My car was vandalized and all my stuff stripped. They said they'd call but they didn't. I just wanted peace and they didn't even try. read more

Wilacre Park - DONT GO HERE EVER - Parks Near Me - Studio City, California

I absolutely loooooove this hike! It's super doable for all fitness types, trail is wide, so there's no one to really slow you down, and it ends (or starts - up to you) in a residential area with some gorgeous homes. Parking is free, I've never had a problem with the parking lot, people are always coming in and out! read more

This isn't the most beautiful hike in LA county but it sure gets the job done. The view's definitely not as breathtaking as Runyon or Franklin but it's steep enough to get my heart thumping. I think it's pretty cool because it takes you all the way up until you see that you've come to the middle of Laurel and Coldwater. The trail even takes you past Tree People. There's a parking lot but it requires a $3 fee but I almost always find parking along Laurel Canyon. read more

A small and manageable city hike from Studio City to Beverly Hills (towards Tree People in Coldwater Canyon). I took a leisurely stroll through the trail and it took me two hours round trip. I imagine it would be much faster if you would speed walk or go trail running. The trail starts at an incline, but not difficult at all. It's free parking in the lot now, so that's great that you no longer have to find parking in the residential area. A great alternative to Runyon Canyon since I imagine parking is easier here. At around 7 am, I found myself alone on the trail. At around 9 am, it started getting crowded with many families taking their children on this popular hike. I recommend a hike as early as possible for a quieter and peaceful experience. The views of the Valley are incredible during the hike and also the views from the Tree People managed area of the trail is amazing with all the greenery in view from the mountain. It's not a loop and the trail ends in a residential area where you'll have to walk back through the same trail. read more

If you don't want to pay $3 dollars to park just park down the street and walk an extra 5 minutes to the park. I don't mind it. To each their frugal own. The beginning is steep but not as bad as Stough Canyon Park in Burbank. It levels off after 15minutes. You can jog up the incline so it's not that bad. It'll get your legs burning. There are many side paths you can take besides the main trail. It is kid friendly and people take their dogs. They don't pick-up the droppings though, so be mindful of where you step. Nice view of the city as well. The path after 40-60 (depending on your pace) minutes leads into the Tree People Park off Coldwater Cyn. They have bathrooms there and a picnic area. Just keep on the main trail and you'll run right into it. Essentially, you can hike from Laurel Canyon to Coldwater Canyon. read more

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LOVE LOVE LOVE. If you've read my review of Runyon Canyon, you'll know I'm a novice at this hiking thing. After getting my feet wet at Runyon after joining a hiking group, I was a little gunshy to try again. I AM SO GLAD I DID!!! I just love this place. It's a 3 mile loop, half way up hill, last half downhill (no matter which way you start). The views are fantabulous and it's challenging enough to make you feel a sense of accomplishment when you leave, yet no SO bad you find yourself looking for excuses to skip hiking today. I actually look forward to my hiking sessions. I either come in my hiking group, invite someone or my fave HIKE ALONE (while listening to my Audible App read me some scandalous tell all autobio). Really great place to hike, even for beginners. I don't think it's much of a challenge for expert hikers...unless you wear like 50 lbs ankle weights. Oh, and once you're done hiking you can reward yourself shopping by visiting one of the many amazing shops down the street on Ventura =) Oh, if you want to park onsite, it's $3.00, if not parking is available on street nearby. read more

My favorite place to hike in the valley. It's not the most difficult trail, but it's good enough. From start to finish it's about 45 minutes walking, a little longer if you bring your dog(s) with you. There are water fountains (and one for your dog) about half way through the trail. A lot of nice views of the valley. Every once in a while there are mountain bikers on the trail. I usually drive past the parking lot and park in the residential area on Fryman. I like to start at the parking lot and then going up because I think it's a little more challenging then starting in the residential area and ending at the parking lot. You can also park at the Tree People parking lot (off of Coldwater) and start in the middle of the trail (near the water fountains). read more

How can I be the first to Yelp about Wilacre park!? Sure it isn't huge or popular like Griffith or Runyon Canyon but dang it, it is a nice easy, dog-friendly hike. I happen to be house/dog sitting right across the street and this was a nice way to work off the New Years alcohol still swimming in my system. Alex Trebek apparently lives right next to Wilacre but several calls of "I'll take the Penis Mighter for $1000!" and "Suck it Trebek!" went unanswered. Maybe I shouldn't be hungover when I go out in public from now on. Anyway, the park itself is great. There is limited parking at the trail head which you have to pay for. Parking in the surrounding neighborhood seems to be extremely limited due to daytime parking bans. The trail starts out fairly steep but isn't grueling. Once it levels out it is quite a nice hike. You get some great views of the valley. It even crosses over into Coldwater Canyon Park, which flows into the Franklin Canyon and Fryman Canyon I believe. I didn't venture that far so I cannot say for certain. There are plenty of trash cans for your dog droppings and water fountains for the two and four-legged hikers alike. All in all Wilacre is a good way to stretch your legs. If you are looking for a challenging hike, I am sure there are plenty of other places. I am going to make it a point to head back to Wilacre one of these days. read more

Maybe yelping about favorite hiking spots is not a good thing after all! I read the reviews and thought how wonderful I'll go this afternoon! Well, I think everyone read the reviews and decided that at 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon we would all show up at this spot with all two hundred and twenty two of our dogs. The truly tragic part was that 30% of the dog's owners FORGOT their leashes and after the pit bull charged up the hill at me and my normally calm Labradors I decided to call it quits. read more