This short and easy loop around the Franklin Canyon Reservoir in the north end of Franklin Canyon Park is a great introduction to the area – and a reminder of what kinds of hidden gems are scattered all over the city. There are lots of opportunities to leave the reservoir loop to explore the park – or just sit by the shores and birdwatch, too. This is also where the opening to “The Andy Griffith Show” was filmed – as well as one of the sites of Camp Anawana from Nickelodeon’s “Salute Your Shorts.”
On my initial trip to Franklin Canyon Park, I wanted to try to do a large loop that linked the southern and northern portions of the park together – but I was thwarted by some confusing maps and unsigned trails. Instead, I split my trip into two separate loop hikes. You can follow the hike on the Hastain Trail here, or try connecting the two routes for a longer day in the park, too.
This northern loop is shorter, flatter, and generally pretty easy all-around. For the purposes of this write up, I started on the ranch trail near the intersection of Lake Drive and Franklin Canyon Drive, but you could pretty much hop onto this loop from anywhere along the route. Parking is very limited at this intersection, but there’s plenty of room further north or south.
If you start at this intersection, across the street from the old building there’s a short wooden bridge over a creekbed. Cross it and continue climbing up into the shaded forest.
In a very short distance – about 225 feet – this spur trail intersects with the Ranch Trail at a sharp corner. Bear left to follow the trail north, parallel with Franklin Canyon Drive.
Here, the trail levels out a bit as it meanders through the woods toward the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir. This is a short but really lovely stretch of trail that at times doesn’t even feel like it’s in Southern California – and it certainly doesn’t feel right outside Beverly Hills.
Ignore the trail to your left at around the 0.3 mile mark and continue on the Ranch Trail until you end up at a street crossing near one of the park’s many motion-sensor traffic cameras.
Cross the intersection straight ahead toward the information sign and you’ll end up right along the shore of Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir.
From here, the trail pretty much follows the shore of the reservoir around the entire body of water. When I went, there were a TON of birds – especially ducks – all over the place. And in many part of the trail, it felt like I was walking through a saltwater marsh somewhere on the coast, not near a reservoir in the middle of the mountains.
Also, if you’ve got a hankering to recreate the opening credits of The Andy Griffith Show, now’s the time to do it.
This path loops around the north side of the lake and leaves the shore on the west bank to rejoin the road after making its way through a small grove of evergreens. From here, you can cross the street and make a very short loop around Heavenly Pond, another favorite hangout for the local duck population.
After returning from Heavenly Pond, rejoin Franklin Canyon Drive and head south. You can either rejoin the trail at the intersection or just follow the road back to the intersection with Lake Drive.
Tags: andy griffith show, beverly hills, dog-friendly, franklin canyon park, Hiking, Los Angeles, santa monica mountains national recreation area, upper franklin canyon reservoir
