I admit it: I continue to be fascinated that you can walk from the Valley to the coast.
In February of 2024 I went on a group hike up Santa Ynez Canyon, then set off on my own to do Eagle Rock and Temescal Peak. (A bim I met would later ghost me, but that's a separate issue.) I later looked it up and my mind was blown that you could also hike to those peaks from the Valley. "Wait, what??? I hiked those from Pacific Palisades, and I can also hike them from Encino?!?!?!" It must be some variant of a mental block or something.
In any case, I vowed to do that one of these days and Sep 21, 2025 was that day. I hiked from the top of Reseda Blvd to The Hub, then went to Eagle Rock, returned to the Hub, and then did Temescal Peak. The distance was either 9 or 10 miles roundtrip, with about 1500' of gain. Since those stats are rather anemic, I increased the difficulty by rucking it.
The trailhead is located in either Encino or Tarzana and just up the road from Caballero Canyon. I would have preferred to start from there but I was pressed for time so drove up the road.
Note that the final parking lot at the top of the road is administered by the MRCA, an organization that's less of a land manager and more of an extortion racket. They charge $5 to park in their lot and they have a camera to catch those who don't do a full stop at the stop sign before their lot. I avoided both by parking in the free area. It didn't add much distance and gain and if at all possible I urge you to do the same.
Note that, aside from the very last sections of the trail before each peak, I could have also biked it. About 98% of the route was on a very wide fire road. There are some junctions but there are also signs.
Also, if you're in the area, please bring a new register notebook, a couple of sturdy plastic bags, and/or an ammo box or similar. While the current registers are in surprisingly good shape for such a popular area, they fill up fast. And, as you can see, I had to correct some classless vandalism by adding "RIP" below what had been crossed out.
