franklin canyon park

This is a park with hiking trails, good bird watching and pretty vegetation in the Santa Monica Mountains near Mulholland Drive and Coldwater Canyon Ave. north of Beverly Hills. Great area to walk dogs or hike up the hillsides for beautiful views. The bottom of the canyon has a road with parking and bathrooms. No food or drinks are sold here. The trails go off in different directions up both sides of the canyon with views at the top overlooking Los Angeles. On clear days, you can see the coast and the island of Catalina. This park gets a little crowded on the weekends, so I recommend early morning hikes here.

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.

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

I arrived early, around 730am. The hiking is great, moderate difficulty. Trails were well maintained.

My children live within walking distance. My grandchildren walk to the reservoir every weekend. It's fun to know that the beginning of The Andy Griffith Show shows Opie and Andy skipping stones in the reservoir in the park.

I live close by and visit the park weekly.There are many hikes, beautiful vistas, great bird watching and a serene atmosphere (as long as you don't go on Sundays when it's super popular for hikers and families

We went to Franklin Canyon Park on a quest to find the location that was used for the opening to the Andy Griffith Show. We found it! The upper lake, Franklin Canyon Lake is only about 3 acres, so you can easily hike around it on the trails. Part of the lake has a marsh where there are turtles and ducks galore--perfect for up close photography. My husband spotted the location of the Andy Griffith Show theme, and we took many photos in that area. The lake and forest are very picturesque, so bring a camera. A water bottle is good on a warm day, but the hiking here isn't too extreme. They have a large visitors center, where they also teach classes. A hidden gem.

It was so beautiful here. There were two ponds, lots of trails, beautiful trees, and a very cool visitors center. I'd definitely go back again

I grew up with this park and it's still a great place to come and relax. Sometimes you forget your in a city. Check it out sometime.

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.