What we’re about
Welcome to Hiking With Dean. Be sure to visit our web site at https://www.hikingwithdean.com/
Our hikes are based upon a simple philosophy: You should be able to go out your front door and within a few minutes be on trails winding your way through the local wilderness. Thus, most of our hikes are found in the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, Simi Hills and Conejo Valley.
Since our founding in 2007, HWD has become the largest and most popular hiking group in the country and 2nd largest in the world (after Outdooraholics London Hiking)*. I have personally led about 900 hikes logging over 100,000 hiker-miles.
All of our hikes are free. Most of our hikes are MEDIUM to DIFFICULT. Because of my own limitations we'll refrain from any serious rock climbing and avoid precarious ledges and ridges. But we do avoid fire roads when we can. Watch for the "no fire road rule" in the hike descriptions. See our hike rating guide at https://www.hikingwithdean.com/hike-rating-guide/
Our hiking group is different from the others. Instead of looking through Alltrails and hiking books for a hike, I look through my collection of old maps and aerials for forgotten ranch roads and old trails that I can add to the book hikes. Once upon a time our "open space" was home to ranchers, farmers, movie sets, homesteaders, and other characters that have left behind their marks for us to discover and uncover.
Become a HWD VIP at https://www.hikingwithdean.com/vip-circle. Its not required to join, but to help support the group we welcome and appreciate your gift of an annual $20.00. As an HWD donor member you become a HWD VIP with many benefits not available in other groups, for example, breakfast at the trail head, free prizes and other goodies, exclusive outings, no waiting lists, etc. Sounds better than the usual "please donate" other groups use, doesn't it?
*HWD has the largest membership per leader
THE RULES
• Don't be a flake by signing up and not showing up
• Read the hike description
• No dogs unless indicated in hike description (our special dog-friendly hikes)
•The following is not a rule, but if you want to avoid being a victim of sarcastic remarks do not ask a question that is answered in the hike description
Proud Member of:
- Malibu Creek State Park Docents
- Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council
- California State Parks Foundation
- The Mountains Restoration Trust
- Montecito Trails Foundation
- Conejo Open Space Foundation
By joining you agree to the Assumption of Risk and Liability Waiver at https://www.hikingwithdean.com/liability-waiver/
A Few Testimonials
Dean is a wonderful leader. He really paid attention to the needs of the group. He facilitated the group, but didn't control the group. I will attend again -- Kimmy
If Dean [one of the original SoCal Meetup-ers mind you] would ever write a book on hiking SoCal [as he rightfully should] it would be a must-buy. Dean is both knowledgeable and adventurous. Conscientious and kind. I would have no problem hiking with Dean anywhere. - Les
Dean is a great hike leader. He knows the trails. — Lydia
The group leader Dean is very conscious of all of us hikers as a group. We all get to trek at our own pace comfortably and still stay together.He's got an agenda planned with an extra twist on where we are going to hike. — elyse
Dean is an excellent group leader who knows the trails very well. He is always looking out for the welfare of his hikers. The group attracts some of the most pleasant people you can hope to meet. — Bruce
What can I say? This group ROCKS!!! Some of the friendliest people I have met and the Organizer, Dean is a sweetheart! - Sara
Dean has organized the best group of hikers who like to hike and have fun. — Blake
Dean is extremely knowledgeable and serves up a seemingly endless array of hikes. A very pleasant and down-to-earth group of people who are easy to get to know ... and like — Drew
Dean is a strong hike leader with a friendly and outgoing group of people who know how to have fun while hiking - Laura
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Upcoming events (3)
See all- Franklin Canyon - Journey to the Center of the CityDoheny Ranch Amphitheater, Beverly Hills, CA
An HWD original hike. On this 6 mile hike I will take you through shady Franklin Canyon on a trek to the center of Los Angeles. It will make a great photo opp.
Franklin Canyon Park is one of the very few places in LA with a greenbelt filled with pines, sycamore, eucalyptus and cedars, most notably the Atlas Cedar and mature Coast Redwoods that are a rare site in most big cities.
🎥Lots of movies and TV shows were filmed there including Andy Griffith Show and Star Trek. See pics and videos at https://www.hikingwithdean.com/event/franklin-canyon
Highlights along the way include
- A lake
- A duck pond
- The Visitor Center
- Bathrooms and water
HIKE IS 6 MILES WITH ABOUT 1,000 FT TOTAL ASCENT AND IS RATED MEDIUM DUE TO TERRAIN. SEE THE HIKE RATING GUIDE
DIRECTIONS - 🖨️ Print this. Do not rely on GPS as you near the park entrance.
*See map and photos of parking lot entrance *here
From West Los Angeles:
Head north on Beverly Drive following signs to Coldwater Canyon. Turn left on Coldwater/Beverly Drive, and turn left again on Beverly Drive, at Fire Station No. 2 and continue through the neighborhood (gps may send you to closed service road – just stay on Beverly).Continue through the residential area on Beverly Dr to Franklin Canyon Dr and bear right.
- Do not make any turns until you get to Lake Dr...
Enter park and at the intersection of Franklin Canyon Drive and Lake Drive make a sharp right onto Lake Dr and head to the end of Lake Dr and parking lot next to large grass lawn.
(If you are coming down Sunset from east of Beverly Dr its probably easier to take Rexford to Beverly)
From the San Fernando Valley:
⚠️Note: At the time of this writing the north entrance to the park is closed to vehicular traffic. Use the directions belowHead south on Coldwater Canyon Blvd over the hill toward Beverly Hills. Make a sharp right on N Beverly Dr (at the little park) and follow Beverly Dr through the neighborhood.
Continue through the residential area on Beverly Dr to Franklin Canyon Dr and bear right.
- Do not make any turns until you get to Lake Dr.
Enter park and at the intersection of Franklin Canyon Drive and Lake Drive make a sharp right onto Lake Dr and head to the end of Lake Dr and parking lot next to large grass lawn.
╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤╤Trail statistics are approximate. For safety purposes always assume they are underestimated. But don’t be disappointed if they are overestimated.
Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need.
Trail descriptions are based on previous hikes. Current conditions are unknown until arrival. Expect the unexpected and plan accordingly.The Organizers and members of Hiking With Dean are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Hiking With Dean Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities per our ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER and Section 6.2 of the Meetup.com Terms of Service.
- Trailer Canyon to Temescal Lookout1798 Michael Ln, Pacific Palisades, CA
Another Palisades favorite. Our route begins on Trailer Canyon fire road providing broad views over Santa Ynez Canyon and the surrounding mountains. But like nature and vacuums, we abhor fire roads. Thus, shortly after the hike begins we will leave the fire road and take a small, slightly overgrown use trail that passes a clay gully and crosses a lush ridge up to the Temescal Ridge trail.
We’ll soon meet up with Temescal Ridge trail and head over to Temescal Lookout. Our "NO FIREROAD RULE" will be in effect. We’ll return along the fire road making a loop in the canyon.
We’ll find some comfy spots among the ruins of an old ranger station/fire lookout and have our snack break. Our destination awaits us!
Along the way don’t forget to check out an old quarry marked by a single out of place palm tree juxtaposed against the indigenous chaparral.
HIKE IS ABOUT 5.5 MILES WITH ABOUT 1,200 FT TOTAL ASCENT AND IS RATED DIFFICULT DUE TO TERRAIN. SEE THE HWD HIKE RATING GUIDE
DIRECTIONS
From Sunset Boulevard, half a mile east of PCH, head north on Palisades Drive. After 2.4 miles. Turn left onto Vereda de la Montura, (the same turnoff for the trailhead for hikes in Santa Ynez Canyon and Santa Ynez Falls) and make an immediate right on Michael Lane. Drive half a mile to the trailhead, which will be on the left (look for what looks like a private driveway). There is street parking available on Michael Lane.
Trail statistics are approximate. For safety purposes always assume they are underestimated. But don’t be disappointed if they are overestimated. Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need.
Trail descriptions are based on previous hikes. Current conditions are unknown until arrival. Expect the unexpected and plan accordingly.
✔The Organizers and members of Hiking With Dean are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Hiking With Dean Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities per our ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER (see https://www.meetuphikes.com/liability-waiver) and Section 6.2 of the Meetup.com Terms of Service.
