If you enjoy throngs of women power-walking in their sports bras,
being studiously ignored by people you attempt to greet on the
trails, and inhaling the ever-redolent stench of canine fecal
matter, this is the park for you!
Runyan Canyon Park looking south from Indian Rock
Owned at various times by coal magnate Carmen Runyon, Irish
tenor John McCormick, and millionaire Huntington Hartford, Runyan
Canyon was purchased in 1984 by the city of Los Angeles, with
funding provided by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Read
about more historical details, including famous visitors like John
Barrymore, Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn, the Frank Lloyd Wright
connection, and find trail maps here: Runyon-Canyon.com Also see
the excellent Wild L.A. A Day Hiker's Guide by John
McKinney.
I recommend avoiding the central lower area of the park as much
as possible, unless you enjoy crowds or want to avail yourself of
the free daily yoga classes from 10:30 to 11:30am just inside the
park entrance on Fuller. Instead head quickly for the outer
boundary trails for a three mile loop up the Eastern Ridge Way and
down Western High Way, encompassing often terrific views and
challenging climbs and descents. You might even discover the
remnants of
The Other Hollywood Sign. Make sure your ACL's are in good
shape and your hamstrings warmed up. This micro will start you at
the northern end of the park or serve as a midpoint of your hike
from the southern entrance. Just a couple of feet off the trail, it
should be an easy find, but please, beware of snakes. Parking can
be scarce and is enforced strictly.