LA Hikes: Charlie Turner Trail

Looking for a highly acclaimed, scenic, easy, classic Los Angeles hike? Give the Charlie Turner trail, also known as the Mount Hollywood trail, a go. This 3 mile roundtrip hike gives you 360 degree views that include the Hollywood sign, panoramic views of the city of Los Angeles from the beach past downtown, the San Gabriel mountains and of course the sprawling Santa Monica mountain range that you will be climbing. The 650 foot elevation gain takes you high enough to take in breathtaking views without the effort of a strenuous hike.

The hike starts out on a fairly even path and within 5 minutes you're able to take in beautiful views of Los Angeles. This is a popular trail so be prepared to hike with a lot of people.

The Hollywood sign! I'm not sure if this trail will take you all the way to the Hollywood sign, and either were the 5 other people that asked us that question along our way. Take note that the trailheads and trails themselves are not well marked in this area. There were a couple of instances where we didn't know which path to continue on. A lot of people were asking for directions and we saw some people back-tracking after making a wrong turn. Just keep an eye on the path you take so you can take the same one back.

The Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles in the background. Simply stunning.

The San Gabriel Mountains in the distance

About halfway up there is a nice little lookout and resting spot. It's a great spot to take a picture with the Hollywood sign in the background.

Looks like a scene out of a fairy tale, no?

The last little bit of the hike is a steeper climb to the top, where you are rewarded with...

 

...a ridiculous view of Los Angeles. So pretty! It was a little overcast on this day, but that didn't take away from the view and the fresh air at the top. There were about 10 friendly butterflies at the top that would let you get fairly close to them.

I recommend descending back down along the actual trail. There is a shortcut that we saw some people taking both up and down the mountain. You can catch it at the very beginning of the trail right after you cross the bridge. We tried to take this "shortcut" on the way down and I ended up sliding halfway down in a crouched position, grabbing onto what ever I could get my hands on until two girls came up and said they saw a "huge" snake further below. So, we turned around and climbed back up...and then took the actual trail down. You know what they say about short cuts...

How To Get To The Charlie Turner Trailhead

To get to the Charlie Turner trailhead, follow directions that would take you to the Griffith Observatory. You can park in the Griffith Observatory parking lot, but chances are it will be full, so you'll have to park on one of the other side streets and make your way up the hill toward the Observatory. The trailhead starts at the north end of the Observatory parking lot, there is a sign there that says "Mount Hollywood Trail," with "Charlie Turner Trail" in smaller writing beneath it.

This is such a classic Los Angeles hike that will surely delight.

Experience & Explore: The Japanese Gardens, Van Nuys, California

"The beauty of the "garden of water and fragrance" (Suiho En) creates for the visitor a world of meditative calm where it is possible to focus on the simple and beautiful things in nature, and our lives." - The Japanese Garden

A real hidden treasure, The Japanese Garden in Van Nuys is a wonderful way to escape Los Angeles and soak in some Yin to balance all that Yang. This beautiful and authentic garden brought back so many peaceful memories of the Gardens in Japan. You can see one of the gardens we visited in Kyoto here and a garden in Shinjuku here.

Here the air is fragrant, clean and clear. Birds chirp, the wind rustles through the leaves, and the sound of the waterfall is soothing and tranquil. Once inside the walls of this 6 1/2 acre garden I literally felt time slooooooowww down.

The next time you need to restore your inner-peace and set your worries free, I highly recommend doing yourself a favor and visiting this secluded little gem. 

The Japanese Garden 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, California 91406 T: (818).756.8166

Do you have a hidden local getaway to escape the crazy?

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden

When my parents came to visit in April we went to visit the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, it was such a nice way to spend the day. Upon entry to the 127 acres of beautiful botanical Gardens, you are greeted by peacocks, dozens of them! 

hey there buddy

inspiration for a painting? reminds me of the work of my dear friend Erik Otto

fresh air and bright, open blue skies 

The botanical gardens are divided by continent: The Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia, and then by area of interest. Plants from all around the world can be found here, including some that are endangered. You can see a map of the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens here.

look at this stylish crew

so peaceful and serene

so incredibly beautiful that it almost looks fake

the Meyberg Waterfall

i had to get in on the action, too

reminds me of Japan

We also stopped and had lunch at their cafe which has a 

beautiful view of the gardens. We had intended to only stay for 2 hours, but ended up staying here for about 4 hours just walking around, exploring and enjoying. 

Experience and Explore: Will Rogers State Park, Santa Monica

Will Rogers State Historic Park is located in the Santa Monica Mountains and is about a 15-20 minute drive up from the city of Santa Monica (traffic willing). The hike to Inspiration Point is 2 miles up and back and is a very easy hike.

The most interesting thing to me about Will Rogers State Park is Mr. Will Rogers himself...he's kind of like that guy Duke, that started Duke's Restaurants...have you ever read Duke's bio?!? Well, Will Rogers, from Oklahoma, started out as a "cowboy entertainer," and went on to be a movie star, newspaper columnist and radio commenter. You can read more about him here. Mr. Rogers bought this plot of land where he built a 31-room cottage and ranch as a weekend home for he and his family. Will Rogers himself designed the riding trails that wind through the mountains to the back to the ranch. I didn't know about Will Roger's story until I started to write this blog post, now I definitely want to go back and take he tour of his house which still stands and contains some of his prized possessions.

Will Rogers