Catalina Verdugo Trail

Went here today for the secomd time. Came at 730 AM tons of parking available, a few runners and bikers on the trail. Greay trail for beginners. Takes about 45 mins to 1 hour to complete. Will try to run it next time.

I’m running the Back on My Feet 5k challenge here sept. 14^th. My 1^st 5k and first time here. The run was great. Harder then expected but fun. Very steep and narrow path. Be careful. Easy to lose you footing

Bump into a snake on Catalina loop trail… It’s nice and cute walk but cars on freeway make crazy noise which kills the mood.

I really enjoyed this trail. It’s not
too difficult, and I enjoyed the couple posts that talked about the history of Glendale. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite, but I would most certainly do it a agin. It’s short and sweet.

A nice little hiking/​biking trail at the south end of the Glendale Sports Complex. It’s a pretty new trail — completed in May of 2013 — and connects with several trails in Glendale, Pasadena, and La Canada Flintridge. This trail circles the sports complex and features some pretty views, interpretive signage, and a couple of benches. It also connects with a fire road that you can take up Cherry Canyon and a lookout.
The grade is moderate and the trail is certainly doable by anybody in reasonable physical shape. This would be a good hike for families.

The Catalina Verdugo Trail is new to Glendale. I do not think many people know about the hike yet because in all the times I have been on the trail, I have only seen 2 or 3 other hikers. I also saw one mountain biker; that seemed like an intense workout.
This is a mild to moderate 2-​mile hike. It takes approximately one hour to do the complete loop. I take my toddler, and I wear him in a hiking backpack. Bring water– the elevation change is pretty significant. Beautiful views of the city and mountains. On a clear day, you can see the ocean.
And now for the most important tip– the main trailhead is to the right of the soccer fields (if you are facing fields). Do not enter soccer field area because those gates are locked. The first time we did this hike, we spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to enter because all we saw were locked gates.
I suggest a late afternoon hike because the sun bathes the mountains in light, and it makes for epic views.

Great little trail tucked behind the sports complex with fantastic views overlooking Glendale and the verdugos. Overall its a mild grade and is bike friendly, however the trail is only a few feet wide so be careful since there are many blind turns. There are also a few benches and posts with soon-​to-​be plaques. Only problem is that its very short (roughly 2-​miles) but I would certainly go again.

The Grand Opening of the Catalina Verdugo Trail is on Saturday, June 1, 2013. My friend Meg P., and I went hiking there today and we really liked it! It reminds me of the Rim of the Valley Trail at Deukmejian Park minus the radical, vertigo producing drop off on the side. There is a drop off, but the trail is wider. It just made me a little nervous when my friend Meg walked on the edge.
There are two entrances to the Catalina Verdugo Trail. The first one is right by the entrance to the parking lot on the north side of the complex. The marker is right next to the street on the left, so it is visible. The second entrance to the trail is on the south side of the complex to the right of the soccer field.
The website says the loop is 2 miles, but I used the Map My Hike ap and it registered at about 2.64. You can hike longer if you take the detour to the Ridge Motorway Trail. If you go that way you can hike all the way to La Canada if you head north or further down into Glendale if you head south.
The Catalina Verdugo Trail was funded by the 2009 Competitive Trails Grant Program. A lot of chapparal was chopped down to create the trail and it hasn’t been hauled away as of todays date. It was just thrown over the edge. Maybe they think it will turn into a natural mulch of some sort or perhaps they will haul it away. If I go to the Grand Opening on June 1, 2013 that question will be at the top of my list.
If you stay on the loop trail it is approximately 2.64 miles long. It meanders in and out of canyons at an easy grade. If you start on the south side you will see the intersection to the Ridgeline Trail on your way up the hill. Turn right when you see the trail marker. I love the trail markers on this new trail.
The trail will inperpret the history of the San Rafael Hills and the Verdugo Valley and is named after one of its earliest residents, Catalina Verdugo, the First Lady of the Rancho San Rafael. They have a few pedestals near the benches for some kind of informational plaques, but as of today they haven’t been installed. I am sure they will be by the time of the Grand Opening on June 1, 2013.