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Dark Canyon Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 89 Google reviews · Running trail in Glendale, California · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Dark Canyon Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Dark Canyon Trailhead
“It is also beautiful almost from the start, with a piney yet desert-like feeling during the first leg.”
“At the south end of the parking area the trail starts to the right of a large oak tree, hidden in the shade of California bay Laurel trees.”
A hidden gem. You cannot see the trail entrance from Angeles Crest Highway; a small turnout (which also serves as a parking lot) is the only marker, about 5.5 miles up the highway from Altadena.
Beautiful trail, I took the way up, I'm not sure if the canyon was the way down, or crossings the street, so I didn't saw the canyon, but the way up have Beautiful views, is easy trail a little be steep, good for work-out your legs, there is not that much shade but is enjoyable. The entrance was behind the tree.
The trailhead was challenging to locate. I used Siri to find the small roadside pullout parking area on the west side of highway 2. At the south end of the parking area the trail starts to the right of a large oak tree, hidden in the shade of California bay Laurel trees.
Awesome hiking trail with great views. Steep ascent with tight tracks until you get a third the way up. It then ops up into wider tracks with many great viewpoints. Watch out for mountain bikers.
Trail conditions & character
“The first half-mile of the trail is very steep, but it almost immediately affords you dramatic views of the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains.”
“The hike is a steep, wooded path with a few short cuts all leading to the same junction with the fire road that comes up from the grizzly flat parking lot.”
“The hike is a steep, wooded path with a few short cuts all leading to the same junction with the fire road that comes up from the grizzly flat parking lot.”
“The hike is a steep, wooded path with a few short cuts all leading to the same junction with the fire road that comes up from the grizzly flat parking lot.”
“The hike is a steep, wooded path with a few short cuts all leading to the same junction with the fire road that comes up from the grizzly flat parking lot.”
Plan your run at Dark Canyon Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Glendale
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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