Between LA And Thousand Oaks Is A Scenic Park With Ocean Views, Mountain Trails, And Wildlife

In Los Angeles, Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon capture the hearts of visitors when it comes to hiking the Santa Monica Mountains. For those seeking a quieter refuge with ocean vistas, you can find hikes, bodies of water, and resident wildlife at Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills. This woodland oasis may be an expansive 650 acres, but it's a green pocket that visitors often stumble upon via a wrong turn since signage is minimal. That's good news for those who are looking to leave the crowds behind for a peaceful walk, a tree-shaded picnic, or a chance to photograph some fauna.

The park's history is intertwined with L.A.'s development. It began in 1914 when the city built a reservoir to store water redirected from the Owens Valley, transforming this dry landscape into one studded with grass and woodlands. As word got out, oil tycoons such as Edward L. Doheny flocked to the canyon for summer vacations. Along the way, the reservoir was decommissioned and the National Park Service bought it in 1981, prompted by activists like Sooky Goldman to save it from commercial development. 

Hollywood has come calling over the years, scouting Franklin Canyon for many television and movie appearances, including in "The Andy Griffith Show," "Twin Peaks," and "It Happened One Night," per the Los Angeles Times. With a location between the city and Thousand Oaks, its proximity to studios has made it an ideal shooting spot. It also means visitors can combine celebrity-spotting on glitzy Rodeo Drive with a nature walk in less than a 15-minute drive to the park's southern entrance.

The trails at Franklin Canyon may be low-impact, but they do not skimp on lush scenery. A good starter hike for all ages is the loop around the reservoir, which sits in a natural bowl providing pockets of shade. Paved sections make it easy, but there are portions of dirt and boulders that make it a fun scramble for more adventurous types. Bring your camera, because if you get close enough to the water, you may spot red-eared slider turtles hanging out together and they may approach you for food — so be careful since they bite. You may also hear the guttural sounds of American bullfrogs, camouflaging themselves in the water or on the hunt for water beetles.

Another tranquil spot is Heavenly Pond. Here you can do as little or as much as you want. Very young visitors may more than appreciate sitting on the benches and watching mandarin and wood ducks glide by or spot more turtles sunning on logs. You can bring bread crumbs for the critters when they gather near the shore. Surrounded by California black walnut and sycamore trees, the pond's meandering .2-mile loop is ideal for strollers and dog walkers. And, depending on the season, you may spot resident towhees or sparrows or migratory birds like a goldfinch or western tanager since the park is one of many stops — like this nearby national coastal wildlife refuge — on the Pacific Flyway.

For a more cardio-infused trek, try the Hastain Trail. This 2.7-mile hike starts on a fire road, then begins a steady ascent through hillside shaped by outcroppings of Santa Monica slate, the mountain's oldest rock, per the Los Angeles Times. There are three sets of stairs to help break up the climb before you arrive at an overlook. This panoramic perch offers views of the lower canyon, and if the weather cooperates, you can see the shimmering Pacific Ocean. The return is a pretty steep decline divided into sections with climbing rope to help keep you upright. Reviewers on AllTrails suggest wearing pants for protection through tall grass and good hiking shoes for slippery portions and the tricky slope. 

You can soak up more info about Franklin Canyon Park's inhabitants at the Sooky Goldman Nature Center. This mini-museum of sorts features taxidermy displays, a small gift shop, and exhibits on geodes and local history. Hours in the past were hit-and-miss due to staffing shortages, and Google indicates that it's temporarily closed as of this writing. 

What can detract from the park's beauty are the cameras on the road's stop signs throughout the park with warnings of $100 fines, issued by the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority which oversees park operations. Apparently, these are no joke. Thus, to avoid a ticket at this free destination, strictly adhere to the traffic rules and regulations.