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 Reporter |
Summary: This hike is a bit challenging, but rewards the hiker with some great scenery. The hike starts out following the Inspiration Point loop trail up a ridge line with great views of the ocean and city below. Just past the spur that leads up to inspiration point (at 1 miles), you will turn onto the Backbone trail. A quarter mike or so after you cross a bridge spanning a saddle, you will come to an unmarked trail on the right that drops steeply into Rustic Canyon. Once you're on the canyon floor, head left towards the Camp Josepho scout camp. This section of the trail is my favorite, with lovely meadow like areas shaded by giant sycamores. When you reach the scout camp, turn around and back head down Rustic Canyon. As the canyon narrows, the woods get quite dense and at times the trail disappears, forcing you to walk in the streambed. Watch for an obvious trail to the right once the canyon flattens out again, leading back to Will Rogers Park. I found a topo map and GPS helpful. Trailhead: From the San Fernando Valley, take the 405 south to Sunset, turn right (toward the beach), and in 7 miles turn right into Will Rogers State Park. Drive to the end of the almost 1 mile long entrance road. The trail head is behind the visitors center. (Lat:34.0545 Lon:-118.51181) Trail Guides for Rustic Canyon - Camp Josepho: Day Hikes Around Los Angeles by Robert Stone (Day Hike Books, Inc.) Afoot & Afield In Los Angeles by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers Ranger Contact: Will Rogers State Park (310) 454-8212 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 104 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 11 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by CK1 on 10/9/2009 Hiked once before with a large group of kids (a mistake) and left the trailhead at 3:30PM (another mistake)... Being overly ambitious, we took the group down into the canyon and almost missed the trail, if not for the cairn left by previous hikers (thank you). The trail was grossly overgrown and made for some nice bushwacking. Expect to wade through the water near the end of the hike to find the trail that "disappears" (yet again) back to the parking lot. Despite returning late (to the chagrin of the rangers), the hike had an adventurous feel. Just be prepared and observant!
Reviewed by MaryAndMike on 9/13/2009 We agree with the reviewer, this is a great hike, but here are a couple extra directions that may be helpful: If you choose to go left to Camp Josepho, the trail will disappear into the creek bed as well. It is only about a quarter of mile to the camp, and while the trail is pretty, there is not much to see at the modern scout camp. When you turn around at the camp to continue the hike, you will pass the trail that you came down, and continue south. You will come upon several dilapidated buildings. At the last dilapidated stucture, if you look ahead into the trees, you will see a small, unmarked trail. It is a very overgrown, slightly unused trail. Don't be confused by the path that veers left up to the road - this is NOT the trail. 
Reviewed by JZ on 8/10/2009 Wouldn't recommend, $8 to park and you better have cash! There is absolutely nowhere else to park. At least at Temescal you can park right on Sunset! 
Reviewed by Peter on 8/9/2009 Directions here were pretty good, although I wished the "camp" was something a little more remote (when I arrived there were a bunch of folks who'd driven in having a rock band practice I could hear half-way down the canyon). Greg H's comment about the dam is spot on, go right. And the bushwhacking here cannot be under-stated. I made the mistake of wearing shorts. There were also plenty of times I second-guessed myself wondering if I'd missed a trail, but keep on the stream-bed. The "obvious trail to the right" to exit the canyon is clearly marked with a "Will Rogers" sign. Nice adventure, but I can get better views and less rock band elsewhere.
Reviewed by Julie on 7/4/2009 I would hike it again now that I know where the "obvious trail to the right" actually is. There was a group of about 8 of us and every other turn someone found an "obvious trail to the right". I would suggest looking for the obvious trail to the right WITH a big brown fence built on it and houses in the distance, not a tiny little trail that was carved out just to see something from a higher view point. Overall this was quite the adventure and I must say I have yet to army crawl through brush on a hike since. 
Reviewed by Wei on 6/8/2009 Very challenging. Got lost onto the Sullivan Fire Rd instead of the backbone trail back to Will Rogers. Would definitely try again. Looking for a good map.
Reviewed by Hiker Chicks on 6/5/2009 6 of us went on a cool rainy day and loved this hike although at times we thought we had lost the trail just like all the other reporters here. Once in the canyon, keep by or in the stream/dry creek bed for the most part and you will find the trail leading to the polo grounds on the right. The structures along the way to the canyon bed are amazing and we could have spent hours just exploring them. Be sure to check yourself after the hike, I found 3 ticks.
Reviewed by Greg H on 5/3/2009 One more important note. When you get to the dam there is like a 30 foot drop to the bottom. You may be tempted to try to climb down on the left side. Do not do this. Someone needs to put a sign there as if you look to the right of the dam there is a trail that will easily get you past this. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Los Angeles County Hiking, Los Angeles County Trails, Los Angeles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||