Welcome to Runyon Canyon
www.myspace.com/hikerunyoncanyon
No Smoking!! You'll set me on fire!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
Address & Directions: The trails are accessible at the top from Mulholland Drive (west of Outpost or east of Laurel Canyon) or at the bottom from Fuller Ave (northwest of LaBrea and Franklin)
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Cost: FREE
Runyon Canyon is a 130 acre park two blocks from Hollywood Boulevard, just west of the 101 Hollywood Freeway extending north to Mulholland Drive. There are entrances on Fuller Avenue, Vista Street and off Mulholland. Since 1984 when it was bought by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, it has been managed by the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department as an 'Urban Wilderness'. It is a rare example of wild chaparral with its drought-resistant evergreen trees and shrubs only a stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of the Hollywood community.
The park has a wide fire road running up from the Vista entrance, as well as more demanding trails taking the walker up to a number of magnificent viewpoints: from these the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory can be seen to the east; downtown (7 miles away to the south east); Park La Brea and Wilshire Boulevard (3 miles) and the Baldwin Hill which obscure LAX 11 miles away, are all due south. The Pacific Ocean (12 miles) and Catalina Island can be seen (air quality permitting) to the south west.
Nearer at hand, Sunset Strip and the Pacific Design Center can all be spotted with Century City behind them, as well as the new Hollywood and Highland Mall with the white elephants on the roof, the Capital Records building and the Chinese theatre, all on Hollywood Boulevard.
This popular hiking spot offers as good a chance of spotting Jennifer Lopez as The Ivy or Fred Segal. (But would she hit either of the latter in sweats, sans makeup?)
With a dog park at its base and one of the few off-leash hiking trails in LA, celebs, celeb-adjacents and mere lovers of the outdoors all flock here to tone their bods alongside their beloved pooches.
The hike up and back provides a stunning panoramic view at its peak—Hollywood Sign, Silver Lake, Downtown and Century City—and takes about an hour. Bring your own water and plastic bags to clean up after your pooch; respecting the dog-friendly rules is a must. It's best to go in the morning (weekends are especially crowded) to avoid the heat—especially during the summer, because there isn't an ounce of shade. In true LA style, free yoga classes are often held at the foot of the Canyon, just to the left of the Fuller Avenue entrance.
Tip: Park can be entered off of Fuller Avenue, Mulholland Drive or Vista Street.
Celebrity Factor: We've spotted Orlando Bloom, Kate Bosworth, Jake Gyllenhaal and many others.
Runyon promotes strength and good health in young pups and keeps old pups strong and healthy too!
Yoga every morning at 10:30am
"Spend as much time in nature as you can. It can ground you and reaffirm your connection with the world."
