Distance (round-trip)
2.7 mi
Time
1.5 hrs
Elevation Gain
617 ft
Season
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Weather
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2.7 mi
1.5 hrs
617 ft
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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The Hastain Trail hike in Franklin Canyon Park takes you on a short loop in the southern half of the park on a rugged, hidden little canyon just outside of Beverly Hills. This is a decent workout with some really lovely canyon scenery and views of Beverly Hills and Century City – and not too crowded, either!
Note: Franklin Canyon Park is currently involved in an ongoing dispute with a private land developer on the eastern edge of the park, who has closed off access to hikers in the past. A series of decisions has alternately favored both sides, so check with the park or be prepared to potentially be unable to complete the route as described here.
Initially, I wanted to do a full loop hike of the entire park, but unfortunately I found the map situation to be a little lacking. The map shown on the park’s official web site (PDF) is not terrifically detailed and also differs quite a bit from the map posted on an information sign near the Upper Reservoir and Google Maps of the area – not to mention the actual posted trail names on signs inside the park. So – I’m not entirely sure I did what can be considered the ‘classic’ Hastain Loop – but it was still a fun little trail.
The trailhead is very easy to spot – it’s near a large Franklin Canyon Ranch sign, a staircase, information board, and trash can. There’s a small parking area near the trailhead but also plenty of room to park on the opposite side of the street if it’s full.
Lace up your boots, grab your water bottle, and start up the fire road Hastain Trail (which may, depending on what map you’re looking at, ACTUALLY be the Discovery Trail).
The first part of the trail is pretty easy – you only gain about 80 feet in the first quarter-mile. At that point, you get a small break, but from then on out it’s a steady 550 foot ascent over the next 1.15 miles. Nothing too crazy, but enough to make you feel like you’re getting a decent workout – especially if it’s hot outside.
Ignore the spur trail and keep ascending on the main trail – making sure to look south toward views of Century City and Beverly Hills and being thankful that people had the foresight to preserve this canyon from further development so you could enjoy the moment.
When you’re done soaking in the views, backtrack to the intersection and take the westernmost spur. On maps, this fire road continues to Beverly Ridge Terrace, where it also looks like you can rejoin another trail to descend into Franklin Canyon. In reality, this fire road hits a big ol’ fence and dead ends, with a warning sign for hikers not to try crossing into the rich folks’ neighborhood.
Otherwise, the firebreak descent is about 0.4 miles and is pretty fun – especially if you’re looking for more of a “full-fledged” hiking experience. It’s most steep toward the very end of the trail – but everything is easily passable if you take your time.
After that it’s just another 0.4 miles on the fire road back to the trailhead, completing the Hastain Loop.
***UPDATE***
The odd fences on this trail are leftovers from an ongoing legal battle between the park and a nearby developer. As of October 18, 2012, an LA Superior Court Judge has ordered the developer to remove the fences and guarantee hikers’ access to the trails.
Mostly good - I think in my research before this hike and during the hike in the actual park, I came across no less than three different versions of trail maps - none of which had the same path for the Hastain Trail. The trail is marked at the main trailhead but no junctions are signed.
From Sunset in Beverly Hills, head north on Beverly Drive. At the intersection near Coldwater Canyon Park and a fire station, keep left at the light to stay on Beverly. The street narrows in a residential neighborhood and in under 2 miles, take a right at the stop sign onto Franklin Canyon Drive. Enter the park and in 1.1 miles, veer right onto Lake Drive. Trailhead is 0.7 mile south, with a sign for the Hastain Trail. Beware of motion-sensor cameras at stop signs.
4 Comments
Thank you so much for the detailed and perfect directions and descriptions. I ran the trail this morning and it was great! 45 minutes to complete with a few stops to take in the view. Thanks!
Nice post. I went through the post I found it very informative and useful. Thanks for sharing.
Kristin - I was JUST reading that post when you commented :). Thanks for the info!
From Curbed LA:
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/10/developer_cant_keep_people_off_awesome_franklin_canyon_trail.php
Franklin Canyon's Hastain Trail will stay hikeable (killer views of the basin at the summit)--a judge has ruled that developer Mohamed Hadid must not interfere with its "public recreational use." This all stems from the Save Franklin Canyon case: Hadid and his company bought about 45 acres in the early aughts with the intent to build a few mansions (the land is a bit west of Coldwater Canyon and close to the gated and crazy over-the-top Beverly Park neighborhood). Neighbors were not so psyched. Most of Hastain Trail's one and a half miles is on public land, but about a third runs through Hadid's property, according to Beverly Hills Patch--several hikers brought a lawsuit arguing that the whole thing should be considered a public easement. They won out and now a preliminary judgment says that Hadid has to keep the trail open to the public and to "remove all fencing and equipment from the trail." Hadid's lawyers say the hikers just want to stop the mansion development. Hadid is known for his bananas gilded megamansions, but it's not clear what his plans for Franklin Canyon are or were.
Also:
http://beverlyhills.patch.com/articles/franklin-canyon-s-hastain-trail-remains-fully-open-to-public-for-now
With recent wildfire damage and ongoing waves of COVID-19 infections and restrictions, National Forest, National Park, and other public land closures, restrictions, or social distancing guidelines may be in-effect.
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