Hidden in plain sight just west of the 405, this 1,500-acre piece of Santa Monica Mountains wilderness is accessible from both sides of the hill. The MRCA-managed park is also one of the only trails where you can let your dog walk off-leash (assuming your pup can be recalled on demand, and you’ll still need to carry a leash with you).
The 7.5-mile-round-trip West Mandeville Fire Road trail starts on the northern edge of Brentwood (at the end of Westridge Road) and about faces at San Vicente Mountain Park’s Nike missile tower. Alternatively, the three-mile out-and-back Upper Canyonback Trail is easiest for Valley dwellers with a trailhead in Encino (17024 Mulholland Drive).