Trail Review: Bee Rock
Trailhead: Spring Canyon, 5400 Griffith Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Parking: Free parking along the road or at nearby parking lots.
Distance: 1.6 miles out & back
This one is a shorty but goody. Found on the east side of Griffith Park, Bee Rock is a cliff-side overlook that looks out onto Glendale and Los Angeles. The trail to Bee Rock starts at Griffith Park Drive, just north of the Merry-Go-Round. Parking will depend on when you get there and how busy the park is, but if you can't find parking on the side road where the trail starts, there are a few lots close by that'll add just a bit more walking to the whole trip.
At the end of the Spring Canyon road (which has parking along the side), there will be a circle for cars to turn around, and then a road gate which you'll need to walk around to start the trail.
A little further up the path, you'll come to a fence which has an opening to the right, and past that is an intersection of trails. The left hand trail will bring you to the Old LA Zoo which could be a fun add on to the hike and is not very long. The right hand trail goes toward the Mineral Wells trail and the Bill Eckert trail. Bee Rock will be the trail that continues on straight ahead.
The incline from here will get a little more intense. We were there on a cloudy afternoon so it actually wasn't that hot and made the climb much easier. But I could see how doing this on a hot day might be more difficult.
On the way up, you'll be able to see Bee Rock every once in a while. The fencing around the overlook makes it pretty distinct:
There was one small, very steep section as we approached the top. It came at what looked like an intersection, but when we tried the way that wasn't so steep, it became a dead end at some of the fencing shortly after. Heading up the other path, it took some time and maneuvering because I was silly and didn't wear proper hiking shoes on this particular hike... But after that one slow down, we were soon at Bee Rock and could enjoy the view of Glendale and the mountains in the distance. We were the only ones up there at that time so we didn't have to deal with any crowds, which is uncommon in Griffith Park.
When done, just head back the way you came and you'll be back down in Spring Canyon in no time.
Bottom Line: A very short hike in Griffith Park that ends with a nice view of Glendale. Can be made longer with neighboring trails.
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