One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Views of the Westside from Franklin Canyon's Hastain Trail
Tucked at the southern end of Franklin Canyon Park on a dead-end road is Franklin Ranch, home to decently sized open grassy field, a small bench area for outdoor classes and a few trails, including the lasso-shaped trail known as the Hastain Trail.
It's a good alternative to the somewhat busy Wilacre Park in Studio City and much busier Runyon Canyon in Hollywood. You won't ever be alone on the trail, located near the edge of Beverly Hills, but bumping into other hikers is a little more rare than these other spots.
To get there, enter Franklin Canyon from either end of the park (Beverly Hills or the Valley) and head south at Lake Drive. Two trailheads and parking areas are available on the left side.
Most hikers tend to treat Hastain as a there-and-back instead of a full loop or lasso-shape, either because of confusion on maps (there are 3 versions, one online and two available at the park visitor center) or because a complete loop includes a short walk on Lake Drive (with the optional streetside Discovery Trail). We recommend doing the full loop (1.72 miles*) plus the there-and-back extension from the apex of the hill, which will add nearly a mile more of hiking for a total of 2.7 miles. Most hikers tend to park at the northern trailhead and hike to the top and back, which is about 2.8 miles.
From the lowest to highest point, the elevation gain is about 800 feet.
The Franklin Ranch portion of the park is owned by the National Park Service, but maintained by the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority. All of the park is within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
*The official park estimate is 2.3 miles. When marking the trail on gmap-pedometer.com, it came out to 1.72 miles.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
