Scenic Franklin Canyon Is Often Put in the Spotlight

It’s appeared in your living room a hundred times, but you probably don’t know its name.

The many faces of Franklin Canyon can be seen almost daily on television. Moviemakers have found the canyon to be a convincing substitute for a wide variety of locales ranging from High Sierra forest to jungle lagoon. “Bonanza,” “Mayberry RFD,” the recent TV movie “Return to Mayberry” and countless other shows have used the canyon as a stage.

But despite frequent invasions of Hollywood stars and technicians, Franklin Canyon on most days offers hikers, bird watchers and nature lovers a tranquil retreat. The canyon is protected by Franklin Canyon Ranch, a national parkland preserve perched atop the hills above Beverly Hills.

Franklin Canyon and its visitors benefit enormously from interpretive efforts provided by the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom, named for the Supreme Court justice and environmentalist whose eloquence on behalf of America’s wildlands will long be remembered. Winding through the canyon are special trails for senior citizens, the disabled and the blind.

Hastain Trail explores the lower part of Franklin Canyon. It ascends the eastern ridge of the canyon and offers fine views of both the San Fernando Valley and the westside of Los Angeles.

Directions to trailhead: From the westside of Los Angeles: Proceed to the intersection of Beverly Drive and Coldwater Canyon Drive and follow Beverly Drive north for 1.2 miles. Turn right onto Franklin Canyon Drive and continue 0.8 miles to Lake Drive. Make a sharp right for 0.7 of a mile to Franklin Canyon Ranch House, the outdoor classroom headquarters. Park along Lake Drive.

From the San Fernando Valley: Exit the Ventura Freeway on Coldwater Canyon Drive. Head south past Ventura Boulevard to the top of Coldwater Canyon Drive and Mulholland Drive. Cross Mulholland and proceed south on Franklin Canyon Drive. After a mile, the pavement ends. Continue 0.8 of a mile on good dirt road past Upper Franklin Reservoir to a junction and bear left onto Lake Drive. Parking is available on Lake Drive near the outdoor classroom headquarters.

You can pick up a trail map at the Visitor Center/outdoor classroom headquarters. Information: (213) 858-3834.

The hike: From the Visitor Center, you may walk up Lake Drive to the start of Hastain Trail or cross Lake Drive to the Canyon Trail, which winds beneath live oaks and sycamores and through a chaparral community on the west slope of the canyon. A rightward fork of Canyon Trail returns you to Lake Drive, which you’ll follow a short distance to a fire road (Hastain Trail).

Hastain Trail ascends sage, bay laurel and chamiso-covered slopes. Notice the outcroppings of Santa Monica slate, the oldest rock in the Santa Monica Mountains. The slate is geological evidence that the mountains were once beneath the ocean.

A bit more than a mile’s walk brings the hiker to an overlook, where there’s a good view of Beverly Hills and the Wilshire corridor. (The fire road--Hastain Trail--continues climbing and offers good views of Upper Franklin Canyon and the San Fernando Valley.) To finish this day hike, turn right onto the distinct trail (marked with the international hiking symbol) and descend to the nature center/outdoor classroom headquarters. Walk back up Lake Road to your car.

Hastain Loop Trail

Two and one-half miles roundtrip; 400-foot elevation gain.