Westbound view from Stough Canyon

Heading down the Stough Canyon fire road

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.

Stough Canyon Loop

• Location: Verdugo Mountains near Burbank, at the Stough Canyon Nature Center, 2300 Walnut Ave.  From the I-5 freeway, take the Burbank Blvd. exit.  Turn right on Burbank Blvd. and take an immediate left on San Fernando.  Go right on Delaware and in 0.2 miles go right on Glenoaks.  Take a quick left on Walnut and follow it to its end at the nature center (1.8 miles.)  From the north, take the Scott Road exit on I-5, bear right on San Fernando and take a left onto Delaware.
• Agency: City of Burbank
• Distance: 2.4 miles
• Elevation gain: 900 feet
• Suggested time: 1 1/2 hours
• Difficulty Rating: PG
• Best season: October – June
• USGS topo map: “Burbank”
• Recommended gear: hiking poles; sun hat
• More information: here; info on the nature center here (including video)
• Rating: 6

Sometimes I feel like the more I know about hiking in L.A., the less I know.

The Verdugo Mountains are a particularly intriguing place, often overlooked in favor of the nearby Hollywood Hills,  Santa Monicas and San Gabriels – but they offer quick, convenient, great workouts.  For some reason, these hikes often feel very different from each other, even though they are usually pretty close as the crow flies.  The Stough Canyon loop is a fun trip that provides a good workout without being too intense.  It can also easily be linked with several other trails in the area for a longer hike.

From the parking area at the nature center, head up the fire road.  The beginning of the trail is fairly steep as it makes a quick S-curve, but once you get used to the grade it’s not that tough.  Look for a trail branching off to the left at half a mile.  (The loop can be hiked in either direction, but here we’ll describe it clockwise.)  You take this left and continue your climb.  Almost immediately, you get to a split, where a short spur to the left climbs to a point where you get nice views of the Hollywood Hills and the Burbank airport.

The main route continues, past the ruins of an old camp building.  After some more steady climbing, the trail tops out on a ridge, where you can see your return route below.  The trail dips down, heading northwest to join the Verudgo Fire Road.  Head right, coming soon to a clearing where the Stough Canyon road leads downhill back to the nature center.  A few benches make this a nice spot to take a break, where you can see the San Gabriels to the north and the L.A. Basin to the right.

On the way back down the fire road, you get more nice city views, and you pass by some interesting geology.  After 0.9 miles, you return to the first intersection, and you retrace your steps to the parking lot.  If the nature center is open, you can spend some extra time there; also be sure to check out the nature trail, with trees planted by some local girl scouts.  See, the money you spent on those cookies was put to good use!