Franklin Canyon Park

“A hidden gem from its usually sparse visitors, to its quaint turtle pond, to its slightly ominous, crumbling Spanish-style house on the premises that was built by the (cursed) Doheny family in 1930s as a summer retreat. So sad that the LA Parks system has been so abysmally underfunded that they had to close the Nature Education Center that I so loved as a kid (you can still glimpse deflated kayaks and a taxidermied mountain lion through the dusty windows).”

“Loved hiking here early on weekend mornings. Beautiful, serene, stunning. Way better than Runyon.”

“Franklin Canyon Park is beyond a gem. It is a green paradise of trails and water, with a lake, a creek, and other water features that come and go depending on rainfall. It is accessible via the top, off Mulholland, or below, off Coldwater Canyon Boulevard. You can hike in or drive and park. The walk up the hill from outside the south side is lovely, with a sea breeze, coastal views and a close look at someone's haunted chateau with a mouldering Bentley in the yard. Once you access the park, decide if you want to stick close to the beautiful lake, hike in the hilly trails, or wander the road to the pond where the karp keep getting bigger and more angelic with their gossamer fins. (Did someone really dump those guys?) If you choose this mode, try to spot the big, mossy-colored frogs that hide in the muck. Other restorative activities are owl spotting, listening for the bees hiving in the tall light poles, and staying clear of the occasional coyote. There are deer and rabbits, and a fat raccoon who washes in the creek. Some places are almost jungle-like. Others are arid and scrubby. I visit the place often and have never come to the end of the many trails. From the top, the flat blue Pacific reveals how close she really was all along. The park has a visitor's center that is sometimes open depending on budget. Rumor has it Barry Diller and Diane Von Furstenburg are planning to "Little Island" the place, which is unnecessary but who is going to stop the rich from making our lives better. Every single time I visit Franklin, I wonder why more people are not taking advantage of its peace and beauty. It is lovely in all seasons. Sometimes at sunset there are mysterious, vast flocks of crows sitting silently in the trees. The lake is teems with turtles and water fowl. Sure, there are vibey photoshoots and once a booming "yoga weekend" with a horrible DJ ruining the silence with bad dance tunes. But usually this park is almost empty of people. Take advantage of the chance to breathe deeply beneath the live oaks and cottonwoods. I want to see you there!”