City To Trail | Forsake Adventure Blog

Looking to put your Peak-to-Pavement soles to the test? Here are some of our favorite hikes that will quickly take you from city street to mountain peak.

Charlie Turner Trail – Los Angeles, CA

The Charlie Turner Trail, also known as the Mount Hollywood Trail, is one of the country’s most iconic trails. Setting off from the Griffith Observatory, it leads up to Dante’s View at the summit of Mount Hollywood. Along the way, the trail gains 500 feet of elevation and offers phenomenal views of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Mountains.

One of the largest urban parks in the country, Griffith Park is comprised of over 4,000 acres of land in the Santa Monica Mountain range. The Charlie Turner trail begins at the north end of the parking area near a tree dedicated to the memory of George Harrison.

The wide dirt path sets out to the northwest while gradually climbing up the hillside before making a 180-degree turn and eventually going over the top of the Vermont Canyon Road tunnel. Along the way, the main attraction of this trail are the spectacular views of downtown Los Angeles, Griffith Observatory, the San Fernando Valley, and of course, the famous Hollywood sign. For a nice break, stop at Captain’s Roost, a great spot to enjoy the view of the Hollywood sign.

Apart from this trail, Griffith Park offers over fifty miles of trails, most with excellent views of Hollywood and Los Angeles. For a close-up look at the Hollywood sign, take either the Hollyridge Trail which takes you up behind the sign, or the East Observatory Trail that brings you around to the front.

Wheeler Trail & Crystal Lake Trail – Breckenridge, CO

Just outside of Breckenridge, tucked away in an unassuming subdivision, lies the trail head to two of Colorado’s most spectacular trails, Wheeler Trail and Crystal Lake Trail. Both have the same starting point, require some physical effort, and offer views that make them well worth the trouble.

To get to the trail head, take Highway 9 south out of town for about 10 minutes and turn onto Spruce Creek Road across from Goose Pasture Tarn. Follow the rocky road to Francie’s Hut parking and continue on foot over the bridge. This is where the trail begins.

The Crystal Lake Trail starts out with a pretty intense elevation gain. Take as many breaks as you need because the payoff is the view of the Crystal Lake system. Lower Crystal Lake is a beautiful glacier lake that lives up to its name. Looking back Northeast from here provides a spectacular vista over the Colorado Rockies. If you have more energy, circle around the lake to pick up the trail that leads to the upper lake. It requires another large elevational gain but again the views are hard to beat.

Wheeler Trail is a fork in the road back at Francie’s Hut. Make sure you’ve packed properly for this one, and get up early. The trail leads over the timber line and through the Peak 9 gap, where summer afternoon thunderstorms are common. You have little shelter above the tree line so the goal is to cross over the top before the storms roll in. The initial part of the trail is a relatively easy grade but the last third includes a series of switch backs that have a very steep grade and at this point the oxygen gets thinner with each step. It’s a tough go, take your time because once you reach the top the reward is a life-changing 360-degree vista. One tip: have someone drop you off at the trail head so you don’t have to worry about your car. The trail ends in Copper, CO, on the other side of the mountain, and from here you can get a bus back to Breckenridge.

Lunch Rock Trail – Asheville, North Carolina

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) runs across the entire state of North Carolina. Our trail runs along a part of it before branching off on a 4.9-mile section beginning at the Folk Art Center and leading to Lunch Rocks.

The trail begins at the Folk Art Center parking lot. Follow the white circle marks of the MST for 1.1 miles until it crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway. Continue to follow the MST posts until you reach a side trail on the left at 2.4 miles. Take this trail downhill to Lunch Rocks. This large rock outcropping has stunning views of the Haw Creek Valley and the Parkway. As its name implies, the large flat rock is the perfect place to stop for a picnic before heading back to the car.

The trail runs through beautiful forests, covered by wildflower in the spring and spectacular colors in the fall. Any time of year, the view from Lunch Rocks makes this hike one of our favorites. Final note: bears are frequently seen here so make noise as you hike to let them know you’re coming. If you do see a bear, don’t run. Clap your hands and back away slowly.

Sunset Ridge and Long Trail – Stowe, Vermont

Just outside of Stowe, Vermont, the climb up Mt. Mansfield on the Sunset Ridge Trail is a must hike for its one-of-kind views. The 6.5-mile hike runs through lush lands and over rivers on its way to the summit.

The trail begins just off the Underhill State Park parking lot and after a relatively easy hike alongside streams and over some footbridges, the incline begins, and continues through stands of mountain evergreens and up above the timber line. From here, the trail includes a lot of hiking on exposed rock faces until it eventually comes to its end near the summit of the highest peak in Vermont. From here you have 360° panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and down onto the charming ski town of Stowe.

This is where Sunset Ridge Trail ends, but we suggest you continue. From here you can pick up the beginning of the Long Trail. This trail adds a little over a half a mile but takes you to the true summit of Mt. Mansfield where you will enjoy an even more impressive mountain vista.

If you take any of these trails, be safe, have fun, and tag us on Instagram @forsakeco. And if you have another favorite Peak-to-Pavement trail of your own, please share it with us on Instagram or at socialmedia@weycogroup.com. We’d love to hear about it. Happy exploring!