Hike #1610 Alternate
April 23, 2025
Two Canyon Park Hike - Fryman and Wilacre
The north gate into Franklin Park is closed pending road repair by the LADWP. Therefore the trailhead has been changed to the Tree People parking lot at the intersection of Coldwater Canyon Ave and Mulholland Drive. The hike description has been amended to reflect this change.
Hike Leader: Julie Thornton
Meet at 8:00 am for start at 8:30 am
Rabbits will start at an earlier time to be determined.
Please print your own hike descriptions and maps.
Background: These are beautiful canyons filled with sycamore and oak trees located between ridges of the St. Monicas between Coldwater Canyon and Laurel Canyons. Two separate hikes are prossible: a combination of Franklin-Wilacre-Fryman Canyons and Southern Franklin Canyon. Both involve a combination of residential streets, dirt trails and fire roads. Hikers can chose to do one hike or the other, rabbits might try doing both.
Directions to the Trailhead: Enter "Tree People" into your Google Maps app. This will take you to the Tree People parking lot. Gates open at 6:00 am.
From the North: From US 101 exit Coldwater Canyon Ave. in Studio City. Go south on Coldwater Canyon for 2.5 miles. Be aware that Coldwater from the 101 to Ventura Blvd then up to Mulholland Drive gets very backed up with rush hour traffic in the early morning. Just before the intersection of Coldwater Canyon Ave and Mulholland Drive, turn left at the lights into the Tree People parking lot.
Alternate directions from the north to avoid the Coldwater Canyon traffic: Head south on the 405 from the 101. Exit at the N. Sepulveda Blvd exit. Turn right onto N Sepulveda Blvd. Turn right on Skirball Center Drive. Turn right on Mullholland Drive heading east. Continue 4.5 miles then turn left at the lights across Coldwatwer Canyon Ave and into the Tree People parking lot.
From the South: From the 405 headng north, take the Mulholland Drive exit. Turn left onto Skirball Center Drive. Turn right onto Mulholland Drive heading east. Continue 4.5 miles then turn left at the lights across Coldwatwer Canyon Ave and into the Tree People parking lot.
Wilacre-Fryman Canyon Hike:
GPS: 5.0 mi. RT: ~1,000 ft. elevation change.
Wilacre Canyon: From the Tree People parking lot, look for a set of stairs on the left covered in rock masonry. Turn right at the bottom and walk a short distance to another set of stairs on the left, descend these stairs then turn right. This path ends at a T intersection, a large open area with information signs and a water fountain. Turn left and head north on the Betty B Dearing Trail. After 0.25 miles, you have the option of continuing on the Betty B Dearing Trail or turning right onto the U-Vanu Trail (blue track). Both trails parallel each other, heading east, ultimately arriving at the "Wilacre Park Entrance" on Fryman Road.. Turn right and head south on Fryman Road for 0.66 miles until you reach Dona Maria Drive. Bear right through a yellow gate onto Briarcrest Fire Road. In 0.1 miles turn right onto the Betty B Dearing Trail with logs on either side.
Fryman Canyon: Follow this twisting Betty B Dearing trail in a generally westerly direction for 1.5 miles and passing the "rain forest" until the trail ends at Iredell Lane. Turn left and continue to the end of the cul-de-sac, then renter Wilacre Canyon Park.
Wilacre Canyon: Continue on the Betty B Dearing trail for another 0.5 miles until you reach the T intersaction mentioed above. retrace your steps into the Tree People Facility. Find a seating area for refreshments.
Google Photomap for Franklin, Wilacre, Fryman Loop
Updated: 2025-04-17
