Address: 2600 Franklin Canyon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA

One of the most extraordinary nature parks in all of LA – located just 10 minutes up the street from The Beverly Hills Hotel.

A large, lovely lake lies in the park’s center, surrounded by an impressive collection of foresty trees and wildlife. There’s also a large duck pond off to the side filled with birds, turtles, and fish.

Most popular activities include walking the shaded shoreline pathway along the lake’s perimeter, jogging a loop around the park’s roadway, picnicking on one of the many public tables, hiking the many hillside trails – including the popular Hastain Trail in the lower region of the park called Franklin Canyon Ranch (GPS “Doheny Ranch Amphitheater” to get there). Lastly – for little ones – there’s also a Nature Center up by the lake that offers fun, interactive installations always interesting to check out and explore.

Scroll down to watch a video on Franklin Canyon Park, from KCET’s iconic TV show “Visiting with Huell Howser”.

Visit Wikipedia – Franklin Canyon Park for more info on the area’s rich legacy.

Make sure to properly stop at all the park’s stop signs, otherwise their cameras will mail you a $100 ticket.

While in the area, consider checking out these other Best Guide LA Beverly Hills sights.