We’re hiking the Catalina Verdugo Trail in the San Rafael Hills on Friday, November 8.  We’ll cover about 3.3 miles on a trail that is rated easy, but not flat.  We will be doing some uphill/downhill hiking.  We meet in the parking lot of the Glendale Sports Complex at 8:00AM.

This is a fun route that winds in and out of the canyons above the Complex.  We’ll stop at the top of the ridge for a refreshment/snack break then circle back down. There’s a nice combination of sun and shade on the hike although the snack break will be in full sun, so bring a hat!  Hiking poles may be useful. I consider this an urban hike. Although we are on trails and an unpaved fire road, we’re never out of sight or sound of the city.

If you’d like to carpool, we will leave the Village parking lot at 7:35AM.  When you register, please indicate if you (1) will drive yourself, (2) need a ride from the Village lot or (3) can drive and take how many extra. 

Directions

Via 134 Freeway: Head west on 134 then north on the 2 (Glendale) Freeway.  Exit at Mountain and make a left.  At the bottom of the hill, make a right onto Verdugo Road.  Stay in the right lane (the left lane branches off to Canada Blvd).  About 1.3 miles later, turn right onto Fern Lane which will take you directly into the Sports Complex.

Via 210 Freeway:  Drive north on 210 towards La Canada and exit at La Crescenta Avenue, making a left and heading south.  Stay on La Crescenta Ave, which will merge into Verdugo Road. Turn left on Fern Lane which will take you directly into the Sports Complex.  It’s about 3 miles from the La Crescenta freeway exit to the Fern Lane left turn.

On Fern Lane you’ll drive northeast about a mile, through a small traffic circle then underneath the Glendale Freeway and straight into the Sports Complex at 2200 Fern Lane. The Complex’s signage and chain-link fence are very unassuming, it feels like you’re entering a municipal maintenance yard.  Drive in, follow the road as it bears right and park in the spacious lot.  We’ll meet at the north end of the lot. The Complex has bathrooms.