View from Cerro Negro
In Cherry Canyon
Text and photography copyright 2010 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. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Cerro Negro in Cherry Canyon
- Location: In La Canada, behind Descanso Gardens, at 4157 Hampstead. From the 2 freeway, take the Verdugo exit (go as if you are heading on to I-210 east). Go 0.3 miles on Verdugo, take a right on Descanso and go 0.9 miles to Chevy Chase. Take a right on Chevy Chase and a quick right on Hampstead. Look for the entrance to the park on the right in 0.4 miles. Park on the street, or in the dirt lot inside.
- Agency: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy/City of La Canada
- Distance: 1.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 400 feet
- Suggested time: 1 hour
- Difficulty Rating: PG
- Best season: All year
- USGS topo map: “Pasadena”
- More information: here
- Rating: 6
Canyons, city views and mountain views – in less than a mile? It must be the Cherry Canyon Open Space. Located behind popular Descanso Gardens, this 131-acre park offers a surprising amount of solitude and variety. There are quite a few trails in Cherry Canyon, and the one described here is the quickest way to get to Cerro Negro, where you get panoramic views of Los Angeles, the San Gabriels, the Verudgo Mountains, the Hollywood Hills and if you’re lucky, the ocean, Santa Anas and San Bernardino/San Jacinto ranges.
From the parking area, take the Owl Trail down into Cherry Canyon. This is one of the more scenic oak woodlands in the foothills of the San Gabriels. Although you occasionally glimpse the nearby houses, there is a strong sense of isolation.
Stay right at the junction as you work your way up the canyon. Soon, you leave the woods and start switchbacking your way up a steep slope. You arrive at a four-way junction. The Owl Trail continues up the steep, fire-break resembling road in front of you. This short stretch is quite difficult, but it ends soon and deposits you at a fire road. (You can also get here by taking a right back at the junction, going half a mile and taking a hard left at the four-way intersection you’ll come to).
Take a left and go about a quarter mile to the top of Cerro Negro. The radio facilities here are off limits, but you can walk around them and get a great view of the surrounding area. Picnic tables and benches below the summit make for a nice rest stop.
If you want to extend the hike, you can take any of several longer routes back to the trail head instead of the steep Owl Trail. A good route is to take the fire road past the Owl Trail turnoff and to bear right on the Cherry Canyon Motorway. This gets you back to the parking area. You can extend things further with Liz’s Loop, which provides nice views of the San Gabriels.
