01
Best overall pick
Beaudry Loop Trail
Verdugo Mountains Above North Glendale • Sweeping Ridge Fire-Road Loop With Big-City Views • Classic Local Training Hike
A stout loop that climbs quickly into the Verdugos for big views over Glendale, Burbank, and the wider LA basin.
Starting from a neighborhood cul-de-sac, Beaudry Loop wastes no time gaining elevation and delivering open-sky views. The wide fire road makes it easy to hike side by side, and the loop format keeps the scenery changing, from chaparral slopes to long looks at the San Fernando Valley. Go on a clear day and you can often see all the way to downtown and the San Gabriels in one turn of the head.
02
Best quick workout
Brand Lateral Trail Loop
Brand Park Foothills In North Glendale • Short But Steep Hillside Singletrack And Fire Road • After-Work Leg Burner
A compact loop above Brand Park that packs in a serious climb, switchbacks, and sunset views in under a couple of miles.
The Brand Lateral loop is a go-to for locals who want to squeeze a real workout into a busy day. The trail shoots up from the park into the Verdugo foothills, trading shade for quick elevation and a wide-open panorama over Glendale. It is exposed and can feel hot at midday, but in cooler hours it is hard to beat for a fast climb and a satisfying glide back down.
03
Best half-day escape
Dunsmore Canyon to Le Mesnager Loop
Deukmejian Wilderness Park In The North Glendale/La Crescenta Foothills • Canyon-And-Ridge Wilderness Hike Close To Town • Best For Feeling Far From The City
A rocky canyon walk that climbs to airy ridges, giving you a taste of real foothill wilderness without a long drive.
Deukmejian Wilderness Park feels surprisingly rugged, and the Dunsmore Canyon–Le Mesnager combo shows it off nicely. You start along a boulder-strewn creek bed and chaparral slopes before gaining the ridge, where the views open toward the San Gabriels and back over the Crescenta Valley. It is a great choice when you want something quieter and more natural than a typical city park hike.
04
Best summit and skyline views
Mount Thom via Las Flores Motorway
Verdugo Mountains Above Glendale And Montrose • Steady Fire-Road Ascent To A Prominent Summit • Best Viewpoint Trek
A sustained climb up an old service road to a high point with sweeping views over Glendale, the 210 corridor, and distant ranges.
Mount Thom looks steep from below, and the hike lives up to that first impression, but the grade is steady and the road surface is straightforward. As you wind up the ridge, antennas and power lines give way to wide horizons and a real sense of how the Verdugos sit between the valleys. On clear evenings, the summit is a favorite spot to watch the lights flicker on across the basin.
05
Most family-friendly pick
Griffith Park Old Zoo Loop
Griffith Park Just Southwest Of Glendale • Urban Park Loop Mixing Old Zoo Ruins, Shade, And Open Vistas • Best For Casual Explorers And Kids
A playful loop that threads past abandoned zoo enclosures, grassy picnic spots, and gentle hills with views into Glendale and Los Feliz.
The Old Zoo area is one of Griffith Park’s quirkiest corners, and the surrounding trails make for an easy, choose-your-own-adventure style hike. You can wander among the old animal cages, link together mellow dirt paths, and add short climbs to overlooks as your group’s energy allows. It is close to the freeway yet feels like a different world, making it an easy outing for mixed-ability groups or visiting friends.