Las Flores Motorway Trail

I liked it. I wouldn't classify it as hard. The trail is a smooth fire road all the way to the top. It is a steady incline, but not terribly steep. There are a few alternatives for side tracking, but I stuck with the mapped trail.

Absolutely no shade, but if you wear a nice white hat, you'll be fine.

Telecommunications tower at the top.

Great views off in the distance.

Great geology close up. Read up on the interesting geology of the Verdugo Mountains, and you'll get a little more out of the trail-side scenery.

Starting near Glendale Community College, I'd expect more flowers for a place called Las Flores. Like most hikes in the Verdugo mountains, the trailhead is in a residential area. This neighborhood wasn't welcoming where influential homeowners likely pushed for the painted red "no parking" curbs, permit parking, and a gate with no gap for pedestrians and bicycles (needing to crawl through the 18" horizontal gap between metal bars).

Las Flores Motorway ends at Mt. Thom with the southern-most transmission towers on the Verdugo range. The trek is 2.5 miles one-way with a 1300' elevation change. The route has continual views of the Los Angeles Basin.

The road continues as Verdugo Motorway across the remaining ridgeline of the mountain range - intersecting with the high points of many other hikes like Beaudry Loop (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/beaudry-loop-hike-glendale), Brand Park (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/brand-park-hiking-trail-glendale), and Skyline (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/skyline-trail-burbank). The highest point on the range is at the Whiting Woods (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/whiting-woods-motorway-glendale) junction which is 5.4 miles one-way with 1800' elevation difference from the neighborhood street parking. If lucky, the ocean is visible on a clear day. The wide service road with no trees offers little shade but the hard and even surface is popular with mountain bikers (eBikes or any motor-powered transportation device are not allowed).

It is three miles up and a gain of 2,200 feet to get to the top of Mount Thom aka Mount Verdugo. This is eastern peak of the Verdugo Mountains which lies in the City of Glendale is about 2,450 feet above sea level. When you are near the top it feels a lot higher than it is. It is such a landmark when you are driving on the 2 Glendale Freeway or the 134 because it just looms over the City of Glendale.

The Verdugo Mountains are right in the middle of the suburbs, but no development is allowed, thank goodness. I believe the Verdugos contains around 4,000 acres. There are black bears and one was just spotted and tranquilized on the northwestern side of the range. They look brown, but the Grizzly bears have not been seen since the early 1900's. There are also mountain lions and I believe they have been spotted on the Burbank side. There are lots of native chaparral, live oaks, sycamores and non-native pine trees that were planted after some of the forest fires in the past.

The view is really is incredible on the Los Flores Motorway Trail and I bet you can see the ocean on a clear day. On your way up to the top you will have an unbelievable view of Glendale, Downtown L.A. and Griffith Park. As you approach the top you will be able to see Burbank, Universal City and the Crescenta Valley. You can't really stand on the very top of Mount Thom because of the large communication tower and the heavy duty fence that surrounds it.

You will be able to see a few other roads up at the top. One is the Beaudry Motorway Loop and the Verdugo Motorway. Here is a map:

http://parks.ci.glendale.ca.us/pdf/COG_TrailsAndFireRoadsBrochure.pdf

Read my earlier review of where to park for this particular route. Make sure you look at the signs because there is a lot of permit parking and red curbs. We parked about a 1/4 mile from the beginning of the fire road.

This trail is about 5-6 miles round trip. It starts in a residential area of Glendale. The trail is fairly wide and smooth without many loose rocks under foot. It is unshaded for the most part. But if you go early in the AM, there will be some casting of shadows that will allow for shade on occasion along the way. There is a steady incline, but not severe, all the way up.

Close to the top, this trail joins one of the steep trails that starts at Brand Park behind the statue. The views along the way and at the top are very nice. It's a good workout and a good alternative to starting at Brand Park.

This is a Goldilocks hike; the incline is not too steep, the 5 mile round-trip distance is not too far, and the work-out you get when it's all done is just about right.

The trail is located within Verdugo Hills which has been described an urban wildlife island completely surrounded by development. The trails are graded and well maintained fire roads.

I went on a cool and overcast morning so the weather was very kind to me. I couldn't imagine doing this one on a hot and sunny day because its 100% sun exposed.

At the end of the trail there is a nice cement platform that you can relax on and enjoy the panoramic views of San Fernando and Crescenta valley. The day I went I ran into a friendly, yet eccentric, fellow hiker who likes to run the trail without any shoes on. He says that the direct contact with the ground helps to release his negative energy. I'll have to try it one day.

I started the trail at the intersection of Sunshine Drive and Kildonan Avenue. At the end of Sunshine Dr. you will see a metal gate. Make your way up the street for 950 feet until you reach the start of the trail.

These types of trails are my absolute favorite. The incline is just steep enough to ensure a great cardio workout, but not too steep where you feel like you may pass out. The weather played in our favor today, I could not image doing this trail on a scorching day, because there would be no shade. To maximize your work out on this trail, power walk up the mountain and then after enjoying the view, jog the way day. My gps calculated a little over 5 miles round trip.

Like any other hike, there are a few things essential to add enjoyment to your workout:
1) a hiking partner, to keep you motivated
2) Lady Gaga, to help keep the pace
3) water, for hydration
4) sunscreen, for cancer protection
5) some type of protection against wild animals, although we didn't see any there are warning signs.

Beautiful trail with lovely views of the city.

Watch for the parking signs some require resident permits. We parked at the bottom of the hill and walked up the mountain which is a workout on its own.

Bring sunblock and water because there isn't much shade.

Overall
It's a fire road and isn't as spectacular as some other trails but it has a great view, fairly easy to access, isn't as busy as others, and is a nice workout.

My favorite trail within 15 minutes of Oxy.

Great views of the city from a number of standpoints. The trail isn't difficult; not very steep, fairly grippy dirty/sand/rocks, straightforward pathways. The only challenge is that you'll be in direct sunlight 98% of the time and there isn't really a stopping point because it goes deeper and deeper into the mountain range. I love it because it's still a quiet trail and not many people hike it!

Make sure to bring lots of water, sunblock, and sunglasses.

The views from this trail are amazing, but if you are looking for a leisurely hike this is not for you. It is definitely up up up with very few flat parts, and then down down down on the way back. The trail itself is a fairly smooth fire road, and not technical.

If you want extra mileage (and hills!) you could park your car down at Verdugo Park and start from there. Bathrooms and water are also available at the park.

A wide fire access trail with spectacular views but very little shade, glad I went but not a favorite hike of mine