Los Angeles never ceases to amaze me. Right in the middle of a city known for its traffic, is the most beautiful piece of nature.
Franklin Canyon is a secluded piece of heaven nestled down deep in the middle of the city. A paved walk will take you around a lake and under a canopy of tall trees.
Maintained dirt trails allow you to get a closer look at the lake . There are also beautiful trails that extend into the hillside.
The short hike around the lake and neighboring pond are stroller friendly and easy on little legs. The trails that branch off get a bit narrower and are tough for even a BOB Stroller.
I would suggest bringing a picnic lunch and plan on staying for a bit to explore. We saw tons of different types of birds and lots of turtles in the pond making it a perfect spot to bring binoculars or a nature journal.
The parking is free and there are several bathrooms. One to our surprise, looked like a Potta-Potty on the outside, but had plumbing inside. It’s the little things that bring joy when traveling with little ones.
A little fun piece of trivia about this location is that it has been used in a lot of movies and TV shows. One of it’s most famous is the opening scene of the Andy Griffith Show when Andy and Oipe are walked along the lake.
If you are ever in the Los Angeles area this is definitely a trail you need to check out!
Directions to Franklin Canyon can be found here.
