Brand Park Glendale, CA

Brand Park is situated in the Verdugo Mountains in the foothills of Glendale. For the hike to the top, start at the Green Cross statue of the lady and head straight up the hill towards the east radio towers for the easier side and up the fire road behind the doctor's house about a mile up past the landfill and then turn left when you get to the large sycamore tree for the steeper trail. The more challenging side also has a set of radio towers on top and ends at the top of Tongva Peak. It may help some people to wear cleats to get a better grip, but I have no problems using trail running shoes. Both sides are kind of steep and a good elevation gain, but are relatively short hikes. If you run down the fire road to the west of Tongva Peak, it will add a couple of miles to your run or hike (4.1 miles to the parking lot). At the halfway point of the east side, there are benches, and a nice view of Glendale, Burbank, Downtown, Silverlake, and the north side of Griffith Park. Pasadena, Tujunga and La Crescenta are visible when you get to the top and look over the other side. Things to take into account:

There is no shade

There are little gnats, flies and hornets so use DEET

There is no water

Like any hike, you can slip and fall and crack your head open and perish and the plants and animals don't care so just enjoy yourselves and don't take any unnecessary risks.

Superior views on clear days of the San Gabriel Mountains on one side, and the sprawl on the other

Rabbit, squirrel, coyote, and a bobcat or two.

A couple of nice oaks.

This park is filled with cool stuff in general. There is a branch of the Glendale public library and a Japanese tea house, but you probably knew that. The Brand Family graveyard is on the premises as well, and has a very cool pyramid tombstone. There is also a trail with waterfalls that you can access by walking up the asphalt road at the north end of the park, and hanging a left at the drainage ditch at the fork in the road. When you come to a pork in the road, take it.

This is a really good place to eat medicinal mushrooms and is super cool when it rains! The park closes at 10PM.