Hiking trails and tips
Elevation gain: About 2000 feet
Hours: 3 and half hours
Trailhead: Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park
Difficulty : Easy
The hike start at Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, where Reseda road end. The trail go downward half way to the Eagle Rock, and then slight upward. I did a little bit of loop.
Distance: 14 miles, out and back
Elevation gain: About 4800 feet
Hours: 7 hours ( including about 40-50 minute rest)
Trailhead: Echo Mountain Trailhead, Lake Ave & E Loma Alta Dr
Difficulty : Advanced
The first part of hike is to take Castle Canyon Trail up to Echo Mountain, then go up to Inspiration point, and finally Mt. Lowe. From trailhead to Echo mountain is pretty easy to follow. Just go until you meet some ruins of old buildings. Then, some go toward Inspiration point and some time to enjoy the view there. Go further to Mt. Lowe, and there are major junctions in a couple of minutes. On the far left, it goes Sam Merrill Trail, and on the left it goes to Mt Lowe CG and Sunset Ridge, and on the right it goes to Mt Lowe. Take right here continue to Mt Lowe. On way down, we met this junction again, then take Sam Merrill Trail, it goes to Echo Mountain. From there take Castle Canyon Trail down to trailhead.
This is 5 miles hike out and back, from Prisoners harbor to Pelican Bay. This is in the private part of the island (Nature Conservancy).
Distance: 11.5 miles, out and back
Elevation gain: About 3200 feet
Hours: 5 hours and half ( including about 40-50 minute rest)
Trailhead: Burkhart Trail inside Buckhorn Campground.
Finding a trailhead was little difficult for me. On the highway 2, when you see Buckhorn Campground sign, you have to turn left on that spot. Don’t pass this point, and you might get lost. Once you get on the load, you will get a junction soon, one just go out of this narrow road, and the other go to the campground. Turn left and follow the sign “Burkhart Trail”, and continue until the road end. There is little parking lot there, and you need Adventure Pass on this lot.
The lowest elevation is 5617 feet, and the highest elevation is 7837. The first 2 miles was descending to the creek, which means you have to ascend at the end. This was little difficult because I was so tired. Then next 3 miles is pretty easy ascending. Then you will get 5 miles sign on the saddle. Here hard part start. Turn left, and continue to the Will Thrall Peak. There is a couple of junctions, but follow the sign of BurkHard Trail, also it is part of PCT.
Distance: 13 miles, out and back
Elevation gain: About 2400 feet
Hours: 5 hours
Distance: 5.7 miles, out and back
Elevation gain: About 900 feet
Hours: 2.5 hours
This is a short cut to reach Parker Mesa Overlook. To get the trailhead, Take Sunset Blvd on Pacific Coast Highway, then turn left on Paseo Miramar, and continue until the road end. There are free street parking available on west side Paseo Miramar, and just watch out NO parking zone ( kind of red blocks).
This is my fourth time visits, and it is different route than my previous. I also have a company, and it was much easier and enjoyable.
Hiked a total of 11 miles beginning at the eastern start of the Backbone at Will Rogers State Park and ending our day at Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park.
Distance: 7.5 miles, out and back
Elevation gain: 1200 + 300
Hours: 3.5 hours
The hike is a kind of adventurous, because most people are new to this trail. The weather in December is pretty windy and cold, and I have little snow near the top. Please prepare warm clothes and globes. There was PCT trail sign at the beginning, soon you will see the top of Grass mountain. On way back, we take a different way to PCT and then hike about a mile or so, then turn around, return back where we came. There was another PCT trail on the other side, so it may worth try that next time.
Second Time: Sep 23, 2017
The weather was nicer than last visit. The uphill is not steep, and very comfortable hiking.
Distance: 6-7 miles, out and back
Elevation gain: 1500 feet
Hours: 3 hours
Distance: 6 miles – Partial Loop
Elevation gain: 1900 feet
Hours: 2.5 – 3 hours