Franklin Canyon is probably not the place where experienced hikers come for kicks but it is the perfect place to unwind,  have a picnic and visualize how your favorite movie or TV show shot here. That is, because Franklin Canyon is a notable filming location located in  Beverly Hills.

The hike itself is not strenuous, it’s a 3.5 mile double lollipop path. However, most of the locals that visit seem to make their own path, just simply walking around the upper reservoir lake and down Lake Drive -once again I would mostly recommend this hike to those who just want to take a nice stroll under shade or those looking to picnic. The center of Franklin Canyon  is the upper reservoir lake, a beautiful spacious breath of water known for its appearances in TV and film. The most well known being the fishing hole, Myers lake from The Andy Griffith Show.

Other scenes for shows and cinema in Franklin Canyon include:  Bonanza, Lassie, The Brady Brunch, The Young and the Restless, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Sons of Anarchy, True Blood, How I Met Your Mother, Wil and Grace, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Great Outdoors and many more.

One of my favorite parts of visiting Franklin Canyon and the most thrilling part in my opinion was the Hastain Trail.  This is the loneliest part of the entire hike and is relatively short in length and duration but somewhat steep and leads to an overall view of Franklin Canyon.

In short, I would recommend this as a nice early day escapade- I would start with walking the Hastain Trail and end the day walking around the reservoir and picnicking under the trees.

Admission: FREE

Parking: FREE

Ages: ALL

Difficulty: None

Highlights: Hastain Trail, Franklin Lake