| The seeds of one of the world's great city | | | | hot, dry summers mixing with mild, wet |
| parks were sown with the arrival of Colonel | | | | winters in a coastal location - is the |
| Griffith Jenkins Griffith from Wales in 1865 | | | | rarest in the world. Only four other |
| to make a fortune in California gold mines. | | | | areas in the world enjoy the same climate, |
| In 1882 Griffith came to Los Angeles and | | | | the fewest acres of any ecosystem. |
| purchased 4,071 acres of an original | | | | |
| Spanish land grant, Rancho Los Felix. | | | | Santa Monica Mountains NRA is a paradise for |
| | | | canine hikers but not an unfettered one. |
| In 1896 he gave more than 3,000 acres of | | | | Dogs are not allowed on state park trails so |
| California oaks, wild sage and manzanita to | | | | you will need to limit your explorations to |
| the city as a Christmas present - "a place of | | | | national and city park lands. |
| relaxation and rest for the masses." Today | | | | |
| Griffith Park, west of I-5 between Los Feliz | | | | An easy introduction to the park near the |
| Boulevard and Ventura Freeway, is the | | | | Visitor Center is at Rancho Sierra Vista |
| largest urban wilderness area in America, | | | | (Satwiwa) where a loop trail slips 1.5 miles |
| including 53 miles of trails, fire roads | | | | through grasslands and chaparral- covered |
| and bridle paths. Many of the trails feature | | | | hillsides. The loop begins and ends at the |
| views of the famous Hollywood sign - the | | | | Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture |
| 6-mile Mt. Hollywood Trail climbs to the top. | | | | Center. |
| Dog-friendly touches include a dog park | | | | |
| adjacent to Ferraro Soccer Field and rides | | | | Athletic dogs will want to test the many |
| for dogs on the Los Angeles Live Steamers | | | | canyon trails at Zuma Canyon, Solstice |
| miniature train. | | | | Canyon, Franklin Canyon and more. Expect |
| | | | extended ocean views and scenic looks where |
| For even more first-class canine hiking | | | | the land has been folded into peaks and |
| travel 10 minutes west to the Santa Monica | | | | canyons by shifts along the San Andreas |
| Mountains National Recreation Area. Santa | | | | Fault. |
| Monica Mountain NRA is an amalgamation of | | | | |
| 150,000 private, city, county, state and | | | | Some of the sportiest canine hiking in the |
| federal acres knitted into a single entity | | | | Santa Monica Mountains is at Circle K Ranch |
| in 1978. | | | | where trails ascend to Sandstone Peak, the |
| | | | highest point in the park at 3,111 feet. |
| The park stretches 46 miles from east to | | | | One route, the Backbone Trail, will one day |
| west, co-existing next to the most densely | | | | stretch 65 miles across the entire national |
| populated urban area in the United States - | | | | recreation area. Dog owners may want to skip |
| one in every 17 Americans live within an | | | | the downhill hiking on the Grotto Trail. |
| hour's drive of the Santa Monica Mountains. | | | | After going two miles, dogs are not allowed |
| The Mediterranean climate in the park - | | | | on the final 1/8 mile to The Grotto. |