Deukmejian Wilderness Park — Attraction in Glendale

Mt Lukens via Dunsmore Canyon.

This was the second time we attempted this trail. The first time, we failed and ended up on a completely different trail. Second time’s the charm? Trail is very poorly marked. Existing signage is confusing and many were missing arrows. I would recommend a map or gps. We went clockwise. That first turn just off the main path looks like a dead end. The first time we tried this trail, we saw some people coming up this little path that looked like it followed a dried up river. We made out way down, saw the bench, wandered around a little, and turned around because thought “no way this is the trail.” This time, I knew from researching... go around the bench. The first and last three or four miles have a lot overgrown shrubs, so wear pants unless you like being bush whacked. At the top of Mt Lukens, there’s no where to sit and rest (or for us, make a meal and hot beverage), but if you keep going past the towers for about 5-10 minutes, there’s a flat concrete platform just off the main trail. Keep an eye out for that happy face on the way down. We weren’t paying attention and kept following the bigger path. We realized a mile or so later that we were going the wrong way and had to go back uphill to find the turnoff. Luckily, I read about the happy face in reviews, otherwise, I would’ve been skeptical about going through the break in foliage. The path is pretty narrow, rocky, and overgrown for the last few miles. I recommend bringing a headlamp or other light source (other than your phone) because we ended up hiking down in the afternoon and it’s the dark side of the mountain. There’s a section of the down hike that takes you through a little valley .. it was pitch black when we passed through.

TL;DR: Bring map and headlamp, look for the happy...

It's time to explore the unseen. Without further ado let's begin the adventure.

Deukmejian Wilderness Park is a public park which occupies a rugged 709-acre site in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mts at the northernmost extremity of the City of Glendale. There are 10 trails throughout the park which varies in length, elevation and level of difficulty. They are as follows: Le Mesnager loop, Rim of the Valley, Dunsmore Canyon, Vineyard, Mummy Rock, Crescenta View, Cooks Canyon, Haines Canyon, Mt Lukens and Pickens Spur. Moreover, trails on the site provide spectacular views of the Crescenta Valley and the Los Angeles basin.

I arrived early morning and decided to do the easy Dunsmore Canyon (elev gain 600 ft) is a mile long with extremely rocky trail; this canyon intersects with Crescenta View, Le Mesnager Loop, Mummy Rock and Vinyard trails.

The view was amazing!

Dogs are allowed but they must be on a leash. Public bathroom is available. Parking lot is free albeit limited. Overall, it's a great park to go on a hiking adventure. I highly...

This wilderness parked is right next to the mountains and provides many hiking opportunities of all levels. There is a museum that has interactive exhibits geared to teach us about the local environment, the flora and fauna, and the wildlife found in the area. The museum also gives us a brief history of the people who have called the surrounding area home.

We were fortunate enough to come on a weekend as part of a childrens interactive hike. They gave the kids brief introductions to scientific terms, took us a short hike, and then arts and craft time where they made mosquito repellent necklaces. It's really cool to expose kids to the outdoors and science. This location does a great job of that.

There are also picnic areas where families can come and enjoy a day at the park and enjoy the scenery. I got the impression that it can get hot in the summer, so if you do come during that time, bring...