We took a late afternoon hike around Griffith Park, revisiting some of the trails we used to explore when we lived in Burbank. I enjoy hiking from the northern section of the park because it’s usually less crowded than the southern end near the observatory. Today felt especially quiet, with clouds rolling in and the weather hinting at rain. We parked at the Mineral Wells picnic area and walked along the Mineral Wells Trail until we reached Mt. Hollywood Drive. Mt. Hollywood Drive is a paved road free of car traffic and popular with cyclists. This hike offered plenty of scenery, with views of Burbank, Glendale, the Verdugos, and the San Gabriels. Our plan was to loop back via the North Trail, passing Amir’s Garden, and then return to Mineral Wells.

Along the way, I noticed ceanothus, also known as California Lilac, in shades of white and light purple. Ceanothus is native to California and one of the first signs of spring. I reacquainted myself with toyon berries, tobacco plants, California buckwheat, and the tall eucalyptus trees. The higher we climbed into the hills, the chillier it became, and a light rain began to fall. We reached a viewpoint overlooking Royce's Canyon, admiring the peaks – Mt. Lee and Cahuenga – and I spotted the pocket cave nestled in the canyon below. The hills were vibrant and lush, spring at its finest, and the rain enhanced the scrubby fragrance of chaparral and sagebrush.

We encountered some critters during the hike as well: a coyote, a skunk, and a pair of ravens playing in the wind. We passed the haunted picnic table, which looked even more weathered over the years, and after reaching the high point of the loop, we turned toward the North Trail to start our descent. We stopped briefly at Amir’s Garden to admire its beauty, lovingly planted into the hillside, with sweeping views over Glendale. As we approached the end of the hike, the clouds began to clear, the sun emerged, and the sky turned a clear blue – a perfect end to a perfect day.

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The beautiful Pacifico Mountain stands at 7,124’. It’s located in the central San Gabriels and the climb up on the PCT offers expansive views that sweep across the Antelope Valley and the Mojave Desert. This hike is about 6 miles one way. We’ve done it in its entirety in the past, but today our goal was to reach the PCT mile marker, break for lunch and then turn around and head back. With the shorter days, we wanted to make sure we were back down the mountain before darkness fell. We began the hike from Mill Creek Summit heading up the PCT. The aroma of chaparral was comforting and familiar and there was plenty of Manzanita on the trail. The charred trees burned in the Station Fire still held fast. As the trail hugged the north face of Mt. Pacifico, we passed large Spanish Bayonet. The trail is easy graded, but it is narrow and parts have now eroded since we were last here in 2019. We stopped to watch a group of ravens call and croak to one another as they danced and dived on the wind in tandem before landing on the precipitous ledges. I’ve always loved this hike because of those birds. The views to the PCT marker did not disappoint. The clouds decorated the blue sky only adding to the dramatic scenery of this incredible hike. After our break, we began making our way back. It was a nice way to end our time in the Angeles, until we return again next year.

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Griffith Park, Mt. Hollywood Dr., North Trail Loop, 4.5 miles RT, 577 +/-, March 17, 2025

Mt. Pacifico, Angeles National Forest, PCT out and back, 8 Miles RT, 1,519’ +/-, November 7, 2023