We’re Surrounded By Amazing Places To Hike, Get Out And Explore!

First, I have to say- I am so excited to bring you a hiking series. Over the next several months, I will be writing about the hikes I take and bringing you the details. I go to a variety of different trails and can’t wait to share my love of it with you. When my kids and I are restless during our witching hour (3 pm), we hike. When I am feeling overwhelmed and have an hour, I venture out on the trail. When I simply want to get outside, I find a mountain to enjoy. When I feel bloated, I throw on my hiking shoes and just GO. It is truly a gift to be able to live so close to all of this beauty. Let’s explore it!

The Basics: Trail: Wisdom Tree
Location: Lake Hollywood
(From Burbank: Head south on Olive Avenue, left on Lake Hollywood Drive, right on Primera Avenue, right in La Suvida Drive, slight left on Lake Hollywood Drive)

Kid Friendly?: (*This is always subjective since each child is so different*)
My 8 year old and his buddy hightailed it up this hill like it was no big deal. My 3 year old had a harder go of it. The first half was very difficult for him, but he ended up hitting a stride about half way up. It’s a narrow trail with loose earth, so I would use caution and help younger ones along the way. Kids will surprise you sometimes. They are really capable of so much awesomeness! There are a lot of fun things to look at and a beautiful view, so if they do need to go back down, not all is lost! It’s a fun area to explore and walk around.

Parking situation: your best bet would be to park along Lake Hollywood Drive. ALWAYS pay attention to parking signs and be respectful of residents.

How do I know I’m at the right place?: The pavement on Wonder View Drive ends and turns into a dirt road. A yellow gate separates the trail head from the residential street. It’s about a 0.5 mile walk from parking. There is also what used to be a plaque (pictured at the bottom of this post) That’s your trail head!

Quick Tips:
This trail is heavily populated. Everyone is always very kind, but I do recommend brushing up on hiking etiquette just to keep everyone safe (http://www.hikingdude.com/hiking-etiquette.php)
When you are finished looking at the Wisdom Tree, you can turn around and hike to the back of the Hollywood sign. It’s really cool! Just be forewarned- you will have to turn around and hike back however long you walked. It’s beautiful though. Totally worth it.

Don’t climb the tree!
I am always a big fan of tree climbing, but this tree needs to be left alone. In the words of Modern Hiker: “It’s being loved to death. Let’s preserve it for as long as we can.”
Modern Hiker is such a wonderful resource to visit before you take any hike. Here’s a link to their
post on Wisdom Tree: http://www.modernhiker.com/2013/02/28/hiking-to-the-wisdom-tree-and-cahuenga-peak/

This trail is dog friendly. Be sure to remember water for them.Conclusion: Wisdom Tree is a wonderful way to explore our beautiful city and get a great workout in the process. It is a steep climb, but the view up top makes it SO worth it. There is so much to enjoy in this particular area that even in the several times I’ve been, I don’t even feel like I’ve seen every part, which is such a great feeling. My children enjoyed the mystery of it and the ruggedness of the trek up. Our favorite part was seeing a hawk soaring on our way down. Memories being made, y’all!For any hike, I recommend:
1. Bring plenty of water.
2. Light and healthy snack is always nice when you’ve hit the top.
3. Leave No Trace: https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles
4. I like to bring a small day hikers first aid kit.
5. Have FUN! Keep at at through all the huff and puffs.

Next hiking article will be something a bit cooler for Summer. Stay tuned!