Franklin Canyon Park

This is one of my absolute favorite places. It has not been bombarded by all those annoying tourist buses. Thank goodness! It is a bit of the countryside in a big city. And if you are coming to Los Angeles to visit, it is a wonderful place to enjoy - peace, quiet and beauty. There are lots of ducks and some other wildlife. Kids will enjoy looking for turtles and bull frogs. If you are lucky you might see a rabbit or two. There is a hill to hike up with an amazing view on clear days. On the other side of the park is a lake and a pond.

It is best to rent a car to visit this place. Just know the roads are very narrow and people walk every where - so drive safely.

Franklin Canyon Reservoir Loop is a great family experience! The trails are family friendly.

We would suggest rugged outdoor-geared strollers only.

Bring lots of water.

The bathroom is clean!

Ducks, geese, turtles, and frogs can be seen near the water. *sorry, feeding the ducks is not allowed*

Lots of poison oak but if you stick to the clear trails you will be just fine!

The roads are small and tight a be careful of oncoming traffic and move to the side to let others pass.

Cell phone service for Verizon is sparse but available along the roads.

Use this address for best access:
2600 Franklin Canyon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
United States

The area has many different trails that will suit all in the family. Small kids can walk leisurely around the lake. Many resting places and plenty of picnic areas. There are ducks, turtles and koi fishes. The trail around the lake are mostly shady. There are other trails that are more challenging. You will be rewarded with an overview of the lake area or the valley depending which trail you pick. There are also visitors center and amphitheater. When you drive in, please make a complete stop at the stop sign. There is a camera to catch people who do a rolling stop.

Don't drive or park there unless you're prepared for $100+ tickets. The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority will photograph and video your vehicle so they may send you tickets in the mail. Tickets you legally have to pay. Horrible that this is allowed to go on while people are trying to enjoy nature with their families. It never ends in LA.

Little parking. Filthy conditions. Vicious, fat, nasty cops to ruin your day. Hard to get to with lots of extra traffic at all the wrong times when you'd like to use it or access it. This is not a place that is friendly to pets at all.

I visited solely to find the spot where Andy and Opie walked to the fishing hole. A beautiful and tranquil area that's not far removed from the craziness of LA traffic.

One of the best parks in the city. If you're looking for an alternative to Runyon Canyon, this is it. A lot less crowded, cleaner , a lot more green and most important. tons of free parking!! I bring the kids for little nature walks and there's a prefect trail that goes around the reservoir lake, it's about 30mins walking and they love it. There's also a little pond filled with turtles,Koi and ducks where you can just come and have a little peace and quiet. If you're looking for something more challenging, there are tons of trails of different levels of difficulty.
This is also a great place for photography, between the reservoir lake, the pound, all the different plants and just all the scenery in general, there are plenty of great shots to take.
This is truly a gem in the middle of the city, would give it a 5 star if it wasn't for those sneaky stop sign cameras. If you decide visit the park be aware of those stop sign cameras!! Make full stops at the signs and you will have a great time. If you don't, you will get a $100.00 violation via mail and it will ruin your experience.
So make full stops, bring water, bring your camera and have a good time.

Best hike, walk, or run don't be surprise if you are jogging or walking the trail with Keenan Reeves. Very safe place! Maybe you would like to enjoy yoga etc.. At top of of Hills stop take in the view of the world! ! Water at base of hill in a wood crate. Take one but please put money in the slot. I love this place

If you want a quick escape from Beverly Hills, Hollywood or the Valley and you're tired of Runyan Canyon or Fryman Canyon, this is the place for you. Franklin Canyon Park is truly a beautiful quiet hidden gem that is a must go to if you've never visited it before. Drive up from the city or the valley and you will be shocked at the size and beauty of this park that is hidden in a residential area. I am always surprised by how many people who live in LA have never even heard of this park. It has 2 beautiful lakes and many dirt trails that traverse the hillside. You can also walk around the lake on the paved road. There are bathrooms at the Sooky Goldman Nature Preserve which is part of this compound. The park is over 600 acres and has 5 miles of hiking trails. There are many birds to watch here especially ducks on the pond. You can walk your dog on a leash. Just be careful of the cars that cut through from Beverly Hills. Also, for those of us who have already been ticketed, make sure that you don't come to a rolling stop at any of the stop signs in the park. There are cameras that photograph your license tags and you will get a hefty ticket in the mail. I can't recommend this park enough. You will feel that you are in on one of the great secret respites in LA!!!

Some interesting trivia: The park was originally a summer retreat for the Doheny family in the 1930s. The Lake was the “fishing hole” in the opening credits of The Andy Griffith Show, as well as the lagoon in the Universal Studios film Creature from the Black Lagoon.

I found this gem by making a wrong turn. It was one of my highlights of my trip. They're were filming something when I was there but didnt pay much attention because the overlooks, the river EVERYTHING was stunning. Coming from Chicago these areas are not accessible. Truly fantastic and if I was prepared I would have spent time hiking.