For the first part of the hike, the view is dominated by Eagle
Rock, a rugged, layered rock outcropping that towers over the
horizon to the north. There's a distinct spot on the way down -
just before the final descent to the valley floor - where there's a
sudden change in the tenor and level of the surrounding noise; it
goes from quiet, except for the inevitable plane passing overhead,
to the roar of running water. Once you enter the shaded, cool
canyon bottom, the croaking of frogs punctuates the steady hum of
flowing water.
The walk through the sycamore, oak, and bay laurel trees is flat
and cool. Although there is a sign pointing out how to reach the
waterfall, it can be a little tricky to find, as evidenced by some
well-worn trails to nowhere up a steep ravine opposite the brook.
Be sure to follow the stream back up the canyon and over some
boulders in order to reach the waterfall. On a hot day, the cool,
damp air swirling around the grotto under the falls will make it
difficult to leave.
Griffith Park
Because I live in
Santa Monica near the ocean, convenience and
habit lead me to do most of my hiking in west
Los Angeles. But
farther east, closer to Hollywood and downtown, there are plenty of
options for quick getaways from the heart of the city. The most
obvious is Griffith Park, the destination of 10 million people
annually. Located northeast of Hollywood and bordering the Los
Feliz neighborhood, Griffith Park is more than 4,100 acres - about
five times the size of New York's Central Park - of largely
undeveloped, chaparral-covered hillsides on the eastern end of the
Santa Monica Mountains.
Created in 1896 out of land donated by Colonel Griffith J.
Griffith, a Welsh émigré who made a fortune in gold mining, the
park today is home to the Greek Theater, the Los Angeles Zoo and
Botanical Gardens, and the stunning art deco Griffith Observatory,
where scenes from
James Dean's
Rebel Without a Cause were
filmed. But it also has 53 miles of trails for hiking and horseback
riding. Located in the heart of the city, Griffith Park has a more
urban feel to it, particularly on weekends when large crowds come
to picnic and hike.