Trail Review: Ernest E. Debbs Park Summit Ridge Trail and Debb Lake
Parking: Free parking in the lot on Debs Park Road.
Distance: 1.8 miles out & back
Difficulty: easy
Nestled in East Los Angeles near Montecito Hills, Ernest E. Debbs Regional Park is a decently sized open space nature reserve. With plenty of parking, even on a weekend, this park is a good choice if you want don't want to drive too far but also don't want the crowds.
The Summit Ridge trail is a paved bike path but there are other, non-paved trails like the Valley View Trail and the City View Trail that run either parallel to Summit Ridge or are an off-shoot. So there are options if you don't want to stick to just the paved path.
The parking lot for the park is on Debs Park Road which cuts through the southern section of the park. We were there on a weekend and there were very few cars for the size of the lot so parking shouldn't be an issue. There were birthday parties and other gatherings being set up in the open space nearby so it could get busier in the afternoon, but even late morning was pretty empty.
The entrance to the trail is at the north west part of the parking lot. It's very well marked with a road block and lots of signage so it'll be hard to miss.
The first section of the trail is certainly the steepest. For about 0.3 miles the trail climbs and you'll definitely be getting a workout. The trail then opens up to a little roundabout where it appears like the trail splits in two directions, but really it's just a circle. The two paths meet up around the other side of the hill in the middle. There's even a dirt trail that cuts through the middle if you fancy another mini climb through the trees.
After that, the trail continues its upward ascent, although it's not as steep. You'll get some peeks of Downtown Los Angeles to the left and the neighborhood to the right. The path is lined with trees, though, so the views come and go. Eventually, you'll pass the Our Lady of Guadalupe Lookout which is a memorial bench decorated with flowers and artwork.
Continuing up the path, you'll soon pass a pavilion with benches and a picnic table. It seems like quite the trek for a gathering, but a good place to rest in some shade on a hot day. I'd be curious to know if the pavilion does get used for anything throughout the year.
Soon after the pavilion, the path comes to a three-way intersection. The two dirt trails to the left and right are options if you want to continue exploring the park. They are definitely good if you're looking to extend your hike or if you want a more intense workout. They do tend to be more on the moderate difficulty level.
The Summit Ridge trail hits its end by continuing straight up the paved path and into a small grove. The path loops around a cute little shaded area that features some stone benches and some views of the surrounding areas. It's a good place to rest before heading back down to the parking lot!
On the way back down the trail, we took a short break at Debb Lake. To get there, you just have to take the right-hand or counter-clockwise path at the roundabout. The lake (it's more of a pond) will be on the right. It's a cute spot with some benches and some shade, but the highlight of the pond is the turtles! There are a bunch of them just sunbathing on logs and floating in the water. I enjoyed watching the turtles as we circled the path around the water.
After you are done at Debb Lake, continue around the roundabout and down to the parking lot!
Bottom Line: A straightforward, well-established paved path up to a high point in Ernest E. Debbs Regional Park. Nothing fancy but good for families and just enjoying the outdoors.
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