Hikers introduced to new trail
The La Cañada Flintridge Trails Council on Saturday officially welcomed hikers, bicyclists, dog walkers and equestrians to enjoy the completed trail loop that surrounds La Cañada.
Although it took 40 years, the loop’s successful completion is due in large part to the collaborative effort between Los Angeles County, the city and the Trails Council volunteer group.
“I can’t give enough credit to the City Council…the last 10 years, the City Council has been very proactive in talking with Caltrans and getting grants” to make La Cañada’s trail system complete, said Randy Strapazon, an active member of the Trails Council.
The trail is an approximate 12-mile loop that winds its way past La Cañada High School and the Flintridge Riding Club, through Flint Canyon and into the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. For a hiker with a steady, fast pace, the trail loop would take an approximate six hours to complete, Strapazon said.
Once a year, the Trails Council sponsors the Trails Day Hike to highlight the recreational facet within the community. This year’s trail celebration is made even sweeter, given that the last link in the trail was opened and dedicated in March of this year.
Both Strapazon and Caroline Craven, another Trails Council member, emphasized that the La Cañada hiking trails promote the positive quality of life residents find in the community. For Craven, the trail system and the outdoor recreation it lends have been part of her family’s life since they moved to La Cañada 50 years ago.
In planning for the Trails Day Hike, Trails Council volunteers provided fun activities for kids, as well as a way to get all family members excited about the outdoor trails. At the Trails Council Link trailhead, kids could plant flowers in terra cotta pots, decorate sun visors and participate in a scavenger hunt.
Among the hikers taking part in the annual Trail Day was the Geller family, which moved to town about a year ago.
“I saw an ad [for the hike] in the paper and thought it would be fun,” said Paul Geller.