The Upper Canyonback Trail is located in Encino, CA, in the Santa Monica Mountains. In short, it’s a gorgeous view of the Los Angeles and Hollywood area. Just driving to the trailhead, we drove past multi-million dollar homes. I was even hoping to bump shoulders with a celebrity. I saw a few people on the trail, but who knows.
About the Upper Canyonback Trail:
It’s about 3 miles of fairly leisurely hiking. It has about 450 feet of elevation gain. You can see the beautiful homes, Los Angeles, Burbank, and a 360 view of the area from the top. There is little to no shade, so bring water or a hat. You can find the start of the hike here.
My Experience on the Upper Canyonback Trail:
Getting to the Upper Canyonback Trail is a journey in itself. You drive through an extremely wealthy neighborhood, and you are already going up fast. Driving our vehicle, there were certain points we were like: is our car going to make it?
Once we got to the start of the Upper Canyonback Trail, it was a little bit rocky. It doesn’t look like you can continue driving, but there is a small lot at the trailhead. It can probably fit 4-5 vehicles. The first mile is fairly hilly; that’s where all of the inclines are. From there, you have a sweeping view of Los Angeles. I could have stopped there if you are looking for “good views.” You get a gorgeous view of the Santa Monica Mountains and an occasional view of an airplane landing at Burbank as you continue.
In all, it was exactly what I needed—a nice short, relaxing trip. There are many different trails around the area that you can extend your hiking, and I look forward to going back sometime soon. I still can’t get over the fact that Burbank and Hollywood are only 90 minutes from in the high desert.
You can see more California hikes here.
Questions for you:
Have you ever been on the Uppercanyon back trail or to Hollywood?
Do you have any favorite hikes in Los Angeles?