Oh, the places ROO will go: Franklin Canyon, Beverly Hills

One of my favorite places to go in Los Angeles is Franklin Canyon- it's easily accessible for us folks who live in the Valley, but also for those who live in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, or on the West Side. So, if I want to get the dogs out for a little hike but don't have a ton of time to spend in the car, I can just shoot up Coldwater Canyon, take a right onto Franklin Canyon Drive and and park at the entrance - just through the gate.
Franklin is a great place to go when you are seeking a little peace and quiet. It's not as popular as some of the other nearby trails in the Hollywood/Beverly Hills area such as Runyon, Fryman and Wilacre. I particularly like to go here when I am taking out some leash "challenged" dogs who don't always react very well when they see others of their kind- we don't see a ton of dogs here, they are *supposed* to be on leash (but I know better and am always prepared to see an off leash pup when I am on the trails) and there is plenty of space to get myself and my dogs out of the way of any oncoming pooches.

When you are in the midst of the canyon, it really is very easy to forget that you are right smack dab in the middle of LA. It is relatively quiet, the air feels clean and actually smells of nature, and you may even see some "nature" such as coyotes, deer and the occasionally wildcat- my mom and I once spotted a bobcat up on a cliff spying on us as we walked along the fire road.
Wile I am often content to just walk the dogs along the park roads, there are plenty of off road excursions available. If you entering from the Coldwater/Mulholland side, shortly before you get to the main parking area at the bottom of the hill you'll find a fire road on your right. This road is about a mile long and nice and wide and fairly easy for even slightly older dogs to navigate though there is a gentle slope, so be prepared to come back uphill on your back to your car.

Off the main parking lot at the bottom there are a handful of single track trails- they do get quite steep, and be forewarned that you may have a tough time getting back down the steep, soft dirt slopes with a leashed dog. And, yes, there are rattlers hanging out in the bushes so keep your eyes and ears open.

If you venture past the ponds and head down Lake Road toward the reservoir, you'll find both the Discovery and Hastain trails. The Hastain trail is a little wider and probably one of the more popular trails at the park. Unfortunately, this trail has been the object of some controversy lately- the trail ventures onto private property towards the top, which for years was not an issue. But a contractor is building a home atop the hills and has been trying to limit hikers' access to this part of the trail....much to many a park user's dismay. You may encounter barricades and signs warning you about trespassing or even protestors upset by these new barricades. Kind of ruins the experience. Hopefully hikers and property owners can come to an agreement soon.

Finally, the best thing about Franklin Canyon- the park ranger/maintenance man, Saban. Those who frequent the park know him well. He remembers everyone, and always takes a moment to stop and ask how you are doing. I don't always run into him, but when I do, it makes my park experience that much more enjoyable!

Roo and Seamus enjoyed Franklin Canyon on both Thursday and Friday this past week. Photos included, though they were both being extremely camera shy (also Seamus was annoyed by some flying bugs that would surround us every time we tried to stop).