GP-eX Segment 5:
TRAVEL TOWN LOOP
LOOKING FOR A SATISFYING HIKE, but short on time? Northside trails are often less-crowded. This figure-8 route is equestrian-friendly, and offers hikers shady stretches underneath groves of coast live oak, steep climbs to open vistas along with an off-the-beaten path surprise. Your heart and spirit will be pumping high in no time. Bonus: Check out Travel Town trains, exhibits and gift store.
PARKING
Park Travel Town lot (10 am – 5 pm) or dirt lot S of Travel Town (dawn to dusk)
LENGTH
4.6 miles
GAIN
825 ft.
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
DIRECTION
Either, clockwise below
1.Walk S from the parking area, past the white vehicular barrier gate, to the trailhead at the intersection of Griffith Park Dr. and Skyline Trail. Turn R and use the crosswalk to walk W across paved Griffith Park Dr., past the equestrian sign on the L and continuing straight (sign #78/Oak Canyon Trail – you’ll return to this spot later in the hike).
2.Turn R/N and walk on a path that veers slightly R, down and through tunnel #9. You emerge to the Martinez Arena on your R (with a porta potty). Stay L to continue W on the unmarked Main Trail, a dirt bridle path flanked by fences on the N side of Zoo Drive. Main curves around Martinez Arena and turns E at the junction of Zoo Dr. and Forest Lawn Dr. Continue on the wide, sandy trail, passing Martinez Arena, Travel Town and a broad lawn with picnic tables on your R. You’re now directly S of the L.A. Equestrian Center, across the 134 and the L.A. River to the N.
3.At .8, you arrive at a junction with a large, three-trunked tree in the middle. Turn R and continue straight across Zoo Drive’s crosswalk (passing L.A. Live Steamers Railroad Museum on your L) to the Rattlesnake Trail trailhead (sign #77).
[Internment Camp Barracks photo credit: Herald Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library]
4.Proceed past the white gate up the steep, curvy Rattlesnake fire road. The trail splits off to the L to Tank #75, but continue straight uphill to the junction with Skyline (aka “3 Points”) at 1.4 miles (sign #81 on L). Toyon landfill is in front in the distance and a water spigot and horse trough is on the R. You may hear chipping and trucks at the L.A. Composting facility below.
6.At 1.85 miles, you arrive at a 3-way junction (sign #80 on your L). Continue straight via few steep downhill sections to the out-and-back Migdal Trail fire road, arriving at the end (2.02).
8.Cross Griffith Park Dr. again and walk straight to the Oak Canyon sign (#78). When facing the sign, take the L trail to continue up the sandy, shaded Oak Canyon Trail. You share this pretty section with equestrians; remember to give them the right of way. After heavy rains, this trail can get churned up by horses and may be muddy and slippery in spots. Stay R when the trail splits at 2.88, walking slightly uphill and staying L at the unmarked junction on the R to the Suicide Trail. Continue past the junction with paved Mt. Hollywood Dr. (3.42, sign #87) and proceed past sign #86 on your R for a short uphill.
9.Continue past the dirt Toyon Trail on your R to a junction at 3.56 and turn L. You see a stop sign on paved Griffith Park Dr. and the Compost Facility across the street. Walk E to cross Griffith Park Dr. to Rattlesnake Trail (sign #83 on L) and proceed uphill on the curving fire road.
10.You arrive again at the junction with Skyline/3 Points (sign #81, 3.73). Turn L and retrace your earlier steps continuing straight on flat Skyline to the junction with the Migdal Trail (sign #80, 4.0). This time, take a hard R immediately and continue down the curvy Skyline fire road to paved Griffith Park Dr. (sign #79, 4.55). Turn R/N on Griffith Park Dr., to return to your parking spot on the L near Travel Town.
