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Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir

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View of Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir, Hollywood Hills
Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir

Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir

  • Location: Hollywood Hills.  From the San Fernando Valley, take the 101 freeway to Coldwater Canyon.  Head south on Coldwater for 2.5 miles and take a hard right on Franklin Canyon Drive.  Drive 0.7 miles into the park and take a left into the parking lot for the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom. Note that there is a camera-enforced stop sign at the intersection.  From Sunset Blvd., head north on Beverly Drive for 0.4 miles.  Take a left to stay on Beverly, and then another left 0.2 miles later.  In 0.9 miles, take a right on Franklin Canyon Drive.  Follow Franklin Canyon Drive for 1.8 miles, around the reservoir, to a T-junction. Turn right and pull into the parking lot.
  • Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
  • Distance: 0.8 miles
  • Elevation gain: Level
  • Difficulty Rating: G
  • Suggested time: 30 minutes
  • Best season: Year round
  • USGS topo map: Beverly Hills
  • Recommended guidebook: Day Hikes In the Santa Monica Mountains
  • Recommended gear: insect repellent
  • More information: here; trip descriptions (slightly different route) here and here; Franklin Canyon Park Yelp page here
  • Rating: 4
Start of the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir hike
0:00 – Start of the hike at the Douglas Outdoor Classroom (click thumbnails to see the full sized versions)

Franklin Canyon Park feels a little more like wilderness than most of the other parks in the Hollywood Hills. You’ll still see power lines overhead and hear traffic nearby but if you don’t have time to make it to Malibu Creek or the Angeles National Forest, the park is a nice little spot for an escape into nature. The short but enjoyable walk around the upper reservoir, the smaller of the two in the park, is well worth a visit if you live or work in the area, or perhaps have friends visiting from out of town who want more out of the Hollywood experience than spotting celebrities.

Trail leading toward Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir
0:06 – Leaving the main road toward the lake (times are approximate)

Several trails branch away from the lake, making it easy to extend your hike should you want to; you can also visit the Hastain Trail at the southern end of the park. This post, however, will focus on the short loop around the lake, which can be done with a combination of single-track trails and paved roads. It can be done in either direction, but since the paved road is one-way counter clockwise to traffic, try hiking clockwise so you can always see oncoming cars.

Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir as seen from the picnic area
0:10 – View of the lake from the picnic area

Leave the parking lot and turn left, immediately arriving at a junction. Turn left again and follow the paved road through a pleasant woodland of pines, sycamores and oaks. At 0.2 miles, cross over the concrete barrier on a wooden staircase and descend toward the lake. Make a hard left and follow the trail (listed as the Chernoff Trail on some maps) to a picnic area where you get a nice view of the reservoir from a bench.

Oak tree on the Wodoc Nature Trail, Franklin Canyon Park
0:20 – Oak on the Wodoc Nature Trail

Continuing through the woods, you reach a staircase leading to a dam at the reservoir’s southern end. Cross it, passing by a private residence and arriving at the Wodoc Nature Trail. This short paved path circles a small pool known as Heavenly Pond, popular with ducks (although feeding is not allowed).

When the nature trail rejoins the road, continue north toward the start of the hike and into a dirt parking lot. You can close the loop out on the paved road but to make it more interesting, take either of the two dirt paths leading out of the lot, both of which rejoin at another picnic area. Follow the trail past the picnic tables, under a large oak and back up to the road where you retrace your steps to the parking lot.

Picnic table, Franklin Canyon Park
0:24 – Picnic area

Text and photography copyright 2014 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from hiking on this trail. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.


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