Trail Review: Wildwood Canyon Trail/Vital Link Trail
Trailhead: Wildwood Canyon Park, Burbank, CA
Parking: Free parking lot on Harvard Road at Wildwood Canyon Road
Distance: 3.6 miles out & back
Even though it's on the shorter side, this trail gets the blood pumping. Due to its location on the Burbank-facing side of the Verdugo Mountains and its easy accessibility, it can get a higher volume of hikers so if you are looking for a more pandemic friendly hike, you may want to try a different trail (There are a couple of trails on the eastern side of the Verdugos that are much quieter).
We were there back when there were nearby forest fires raging so our view was abnormally smokey but on a regular day you'd get a nice clear view of Burbank below and even a peak or two of Downtown.
There are a couple turnoffs along the trail that will lead back down to Wildwood Canyon Road, but just stay to the left to avoid going down one of these. After three turnoffs, there is one fork that is totally up to you. At a very old-looking Vital Link Trail sign, you'll have the option to go right and take a longer, more gradual ascent, or go left and take the shorter, steeper ascent. Either option is fine and they meet back up not too far ahead.
After that, there's only one way to go: Up! There are lots of little switchbacks as you head on up the mountain side but no other forks or turnoffs until you reach the Willie Mann Memorial Chair and the end of this hike. There is also a communications tower at the top.
If you arrive here and feel like you haven't had enough, the trail does continue on and connect to the Verdugo Motorway. The Tree of Life isn't too much farther to the east and might make a good add-on. But otherwise, head back down the way you came and you'll soon be back at the trailhead at Wildwood Canyon Park.
Bottom Line: A popular, short but steep trail in the Verdugo Mountains. Nice views of Burbank on the way up and at the top.
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