Spend any time with this site, you'll begin to notice that some favorite places in Los Angeles get highlighted again and again and again.
One of those "favorite places" in the Upper Temescal Canyon Ridge Trail. My son and I were back in Los Angeles last January to celebrate his 16th birthday. We drove down Friday evening and spent the weekend at some of our favorite - and some new - places.
Saturday morning I met up with a friend from our church in Los Angeles for an early morning hike along the Upper Temescal Canyon Ridge Trail.
My apologies for repeating myself again and again and again - but I really believe the Upper Temescal Canyon Ridge trail is simply the best hike in Los Angeles.
Upper Temescal is located entirely within Los Angeles City Limits. The trailhead is a quick 8 minute drive north of Sunset Blvd and the PCH in the Palisades Highlands neighborhood of Pacific Palisades.
Los Angeles is the second largest urban area in the US - yet between 6:30am-7:30am on a Saturday morning we didn't see a single other person on the trail. Incredible.
Los Angeles is the second largest urban area in the US - yet between 6:30am-7:30am on a Saturday morning we didn't see a single other person on the trail. Incredible.
Yes, it's a bit of a drive if you're located anywhere east of the 405 freeway, or in the San Fernando Valley, etc. But the Upper Temescal Canyon Ridge trail has it all: incredible views of Santa Monica Bay and Los Angeles basin - all the way from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles. Or, in our case, beautiful fog creeping up the canyons. You'll occasionally see deer or other wildlife, and can enjoy incredible solitude on the edge of Los Angeles city limits. And it's a fire road - giving everyone a bit more space while hiking - or mountain biking. And there's no crazy elevation gains.
Here's a link to the location of the trailhead, and some additional information from a previous post.
Once again, the ebb and flow the the coast fog made for some outstanding views.
My buddy Jim. We've been friends since the late '70's - and I've lost track how many times we hiked this trail together.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" wrote King Solomon. I appreciate the chance to connect and pray and build into each other's lives. Yes, grown men really do ask about each other's lives and pray for each other. Even in Los Angeles. Even in 2016.
A quick final view. Here's a couple of links to some previous posts of this same hike: first with very striking views on a clear Fall afternoon, and then the same trail shrouded in coastal fog on a Spring morning.
Good way to start the weekend. My son appreciated the change to sleep in a bit before a big day of getting out and seeing the city - and I appreciate the chance to experience this corner of Los Angeles and connect with a long time friend. More next time.
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