Trail Review - Franklin Canyon Ranch Trail

RANCH TRAIL FRANKLIN CANYON:

Upper Franklin Reservoir October '10

Difficulty: easy

Distance:1.5- 2.0 miles

Dog : must be on leash

Solitude: very little

Directions: Take Sunset Blvd East from 405, turn left at Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. Take left to stay on Beverly Drive. Head straight and Beverly Drive will turn into Franklin Canyon Drive. Enter park at Gates. Drive to junction where Franklin Canyon Drive meets Lake Drive. Park there at the base of the Ranch Trail.

Ranch Trail Trailhead

I finally took my dog to walk at Franklin Canyon, a scenic park above Beverly Hills that is part of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

The Ranch Trail starts out with a series of steps and a couple of switch backs. You climb about 50 to 100 feet initially and then it levels off. You can walk along the trail smack dab in the middle of the chaparral. The characteristic Sycamores and Oaks make you almost forget that you are basically right in the middle of a major metropolitan area.

The trail soon descends back to the road which leads you to Upper Franklin Reservoir and Heavenly Pond. You can continue in either direction around the cat tail lined reservoir. Its very picturesque. There were a few mallards in Upper Franklin Reservoir but Heavenly Pond had tens of ducks as well as a completely different species of water fowl which I couldn't identify.

Some ducks at Heavenly Pond

 One can stroll along various paths around the reservoir lengthening the distance by taking additional laps. Then when one has rounded the reservoir sufficiently return back along the road back to where you parked.

All in all an enjoyable little hike, well shaded, perfect for taking a dog for  a walk. Unfortunately as indicated above all dogs must be leashed.