The highest point in the City of LA at 5,076 feet, on a tough 10-mile, 2,800-foot loop, the Mt. Lukens hike. Wilderness most Angelenos don't know exists.
It’s rare, but you can get snow on Mt. Lukens. The same peak can see temps over 90F in the summer. Doing some planning ahead of time is a must.
This stone barn dates to 1914 and once anchored George Le Mesnager’s vineyard. Vines still grow on the property, and you can join the Stone Barn Vineyard Conservancy to get a taste of the wine.
The parking lot for the hike is large and if you arrive early you should have no problem finding a spot.
When the park’s gates are closed like you see here, you still have options.
The hike starts in Glendale’s Deukmejian Wilderness Park, about 14 miles due north of downtown LA.
There are a lot of use trails at the start and end of this hike. Having a GPX track loaded on a device, or an app like AllTrails, helps you stay on route.
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The hike goes counter-clockwise up the south side of Dunsmore Canyon, then after a visit to the summit, descends on the north side.
Yea, it’s one of those hikes. You go up, and you come down. One thing I like about this routing is that the descent is a gentler gradient which makes it easier to enjoy the views on the way down.
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There are water fountains to fill up your bottles and bladders. And bathrooms to empty your bladders.
If the gates are locked or the parking lot at Deukmejian Wilderness Park is full, there is street parking around the entrance.
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