AllTrails' reviews promised incredible views of DTLA and Dodger Stadium. But Mother Nature's cloak of fog kept our eyes on the narrow trail edging the fifty story drop down to the I5. Barbara and I came for the history and views and got a two-sided hike. The first half started at the trail on the east side of Stadium Way that circled clockwise to the N, following the mountainside trail that wrapped and wound above I5.  If you ever drive the 5 and catch a gaze up at the wall of mountain as you speed past—that's where we were. Somewhere far below us we could HEAR the cars on the 5. Beyond the 5 to the east ran the Los Angeles River—invisible to us this morning. The importance of the L.A. River in the history of Los Angeles River cannot be overstated, even during its concrete imprisonment. In 1769, Spanish noble and first governor of the Californias Gaspar Portola followed the path of the L.A. River through this portion of his expedition to settle and bring Christianity to Alta California. About a hundred years later in 1886, as the city boomed, six-hundred acre Elysian Park, future home to Dodger Stadium and the site of our hike, became Los Angeles' oldest park. The history of the river/park combo create the heartbeat of the city. The fact that Barbara and I couldn't see very far ahead intensified the narrowness of the trail and closed in the the views—we could see the trail ahead but the fog curtained most everything else, including where the bobcat that crossed the trail ahead came from and went. (I'm sure we looked curious as we wind-milled our arms for a quarter mile.) One bobcat and a few big loud birds kept us entertained until we had to scramble up a pile of concrete block remnants to reach the street above at 0.9 miles. The second half of the hike was flat and serene. The cool weather and fog eliminated any of the game and picnic action for the last 2/3 of the hike. We stopped at Angel's Point then followed a paved road to Stadium Way and the car across the street. No matter, the foggy danger of the first round was worth it. If you are looking for a risky trail in the heart of the city, check out this hike. 

   

   

   

Inevitably, during the holidays Barbara and I end up hiking somewhere near Pasadena's Rose Parade bustle. This hike put us smack dab next to the float construction grounds. Even more fascinating was the variety of stops and stories on this 2-mile hike around 61-acre Brookside Park. Located on Arroyo Blvd south of the Rose Bowl. Brookside Park parallels the 24.9 mile Arroyo Seco ("dry stream"), named by Gaspar de Portolá because the river had the least water of any river he had ever seen. The hike begins at an unassuming trail off the parking lot behind the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center then quickly connects to a gorgeous river-stone bordered trail with stairs, both constructed in 1938 by the WPA and Work Relief depression-era programs sponsored by the city of Pasadena. We followed the trail to a switchback leading up to Arroyo Blvd, exiting the park for just enough distance to take in a couple of gorgeous Pasadena Craftsman homes and catch a stunning view over the Rose Bowl to the mountains beyond. Back into the park, the trail led us past the backside of the Kidspace Children's Museum added to Brookside Park in 2004. The trail took us out of the park again at Seco Street and past the float construction area (top secret, no peeks). Last turn, up Arroyo Blvd got us back to the park and a detour to get closer to the museum entrance (adorable), then back into the park and back to the car. A great morning for a hike, followed by a trip to Colorado Blvd. for mochas at our old favorite, Intelligentsia. Next week Pasadena will be dressed in full Rose Bowl glory with tourists and parade watchers galore. 

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

Barbara and I found this hike while browsing through AllTrails. Blah name for a truly special hike, a challenging out-and-back on a single, steep, loose rocky trail totally worth the balancing act for the breathtaking 180 view of the Pacific coastline from Malibu to Santa Monica.  The day was sunny, no shade, and while we had an easy time navigating the hilly trail on the way south, the heat hit me hard on the way back up to the north. Lesson: take a LOT of water. Go early. Go late. But don't go cloudy—the views are EVERYTHING on this hike. Nevertheless GO: this trail is utterly spectacular. Entrance at Tuna Canyon Road off Fernwood Pacific Drive, deep in Topanga Canyon.