Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Stough Canyon Nature Center

    4.6 (102 reviews)

    Stough Canyon Nature Center Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Stough Canyon Nature Center

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Vichea C.

    We hiked to Verdugo Peak, so many pretty workers along the trail and at the peak. The fork where you take to Verdugo Peak, you'll find the tree of life and tower as well. For the avid hiker this is a moderate trail, slow steady incline all the way. Very nice view of the valley when the marine layer clears up. The tree of life has a swing on it, nice spot to enjoy the view. Good warm hike for me.

    Zipporah M.

    This is a moderate-advanced hike. You definitely want shoes that grip or hiking boots; dirt path with a good amount of rocks. Small parking lot but there's street parking a little further down the hill.

    Amy L.

    Truly a nice hike but not good for someone who is experiencing back pain or someone who cannot handle elevation. I came here around 7am after dropping off my sister's husband at the Burbank airport on a Saturday. My boyfriend was experiencing some back pain prior to the hike and I just brushed it off and told him to just walk it off. This hike is not meant for someone to "walk off pain" because there is so much incline. With incline, there is also decline which really destroys your already fragile body because you are walking at a consistent unfamiliar forward angle. The hike itself isn't too long and you can turn back whenever you want. It does loop around and it took us around an hour and a half to get down. The best thing is there are restrooms that are open early next to the nature center (even though the nature center opens at 9am). Plenty of street parking right with a bit of a walk then there is also actual parking at a lot which wasn't open when we got there at 7am (so it probably opens at 8am? Maybe). Overall, great hike, great views, and I would love to come back again!

    Sunset hike JUL2025
    Franklin M.

    This is a moderate trail where you can bring children or the elderly since it's not too difficult to get to the BUR airport overlook. The parking is free but there aren't too many spaces but we've never have had trouble finding a spot. If you love plane spotting then you will enjoy the overlook and see the flights take off and land.

    Looking down at DeBELL
    Mario Fierro P.

    It was a beautiful warm day, perfect for a bike ride! I rode my mountain bike from Vicory and Buena Vista up past DeBELL Golf Course . I rode my bike up to Strough Canyon Nature Center. After checking out the beautiful facility, I continued up the nature trail that starts there by the parking lot. The trail starts out with a gradual incline, then starts getting steeper as you go through the switch backs. I made it up to the first stop at the Half mile point. There is a bench there and a great view of DeBELL Golf Course. It was my first attempt to make it to the top. So I decided that would be a good first ride up the trail.

    Double-Date Hike
    Diana A.

    This hike is NO joke (especially the initial starting portion which is a bit of a climb) but it's a beautiful and well-maintained trail (all dirt). The trailhead has a nice restroom and a decent parking lot. The views of Burbank are unmatched at the top and there are some picnic tables to sit at to enjoy a snack or meal. I would definitely recommend this hike to others and I don't think you need a whole bunch of hiking experience to do this one. It's more of a decent walk on dirt with incline at a very points.

    Luke L.

    Stough Canyon Nature Center is a nice little getaway spot located just 15 minutes away from Hollywood Burbank Airport. It is also happened to be an entrance of the Stough Canyon Loop (2.4-mile loop trail). [Hours]: Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM, Tuesday to Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and closes on Monday. [Parking]: There's a small designated parking lot and there were empty of spot when I got here on Sunday. [Activities]: The center offers docent led hikes such as Moonlight Hikes and Wild Creatures Walk. Other activities include Woodcarving Workshop, Story Owl Hour, and other recreational classes. [What's inside]: You will get to see western hognose snake, a touch table of tortoise shell/rabbit fur/t-rex tooth replica/deer fur, and information displays. I did not have any cellular reception, but luckily the center offers free Wi-Fi. The staff was friendly and I had a friendly & quick chat too. A great stop to check out for 15 - 30 minutes. P.S. - Restroom is available just outside of the center. P.P.S. - There's a short & hidden trail called Shane Colin Proffitt Trail and it's a nice 5-minute walk. The entrance is located right next to the center (just off the parking lot) and the trail loops back to the driveway entrance of the Stough Canyon Nature Center.

    Andishé F.

    Beautiful, clean and with lots of parking available. Come during the week if you can. The trails are less crowded and you can enjoy it all to yourself.

    Rachel S.

    Been hiking here twice now, both times with my husband and our doggies. The first time we went up close to the top - not doing the full loop as I think its a 6+ mile loop. We went back down but took a narrower path that was a bit scary. This time we went back down the wider path - this was a nice 3 mile hike. I like this place because - one, there's a restroom there, two, if you can get there around 10am, it's not super crowded, three - the views are amazing, and lastly - it is dog friendly - dog bowl at the restroom area. There is a parking lot but we usually just find parking on the street right before.

    First view : towards downtown LA
    Orsolya D.

    This is one of those reviews that almost pains me to write. Why? Simply because I don't want people to find out about this spot. I am VERY anti-social when it comes to hiking. Not only do I take it seriously in terms of exercise but it is also when I meditate and reflect so I don't like to hike with others and that includes not liking other people on the trails. I am not a Runyan Canyon "be seen" sort of gal. All of my secret hiking spots always get discovered after a few years and I am pushed away. Hopefully, that won't happen here as, Stough Canyon is MINE. Stough Canyon is located in the Verdugo Mountains and has a sort of nondescript entrance past a golf course. There is an actual small nature center building which I can't speak on because I haven't been inside (I have seen children attending birthday parties here so I think it can be rented out). The hike and trails themselves are probably my favorite in the Valley due to the mixture of the scenery/views and the energy in the mountain. Laurel Canyon on the Valley side has odd vibes and has become "stuffy" but you won't find that at Stough Canyon. Stough Canyon is best described as an intermediate hike. There is an immediate incline of 2000 feet and all the trails continue upwards past that. There really aren't that many flat portions. The trails are wide but very rocky: this is the type of hike NOT good for children/strollers/dogs because there are loose rocks everywhere. You will be transported into imagining what life was like when California was discovered. Make sure to wear proper supportive shoes or you will hurt your ankles and gets sediment into your shoes. Not to mention, there is little shade aside from the natural shading from trees and sides of the canyon. Therefore, this isn't as "easy" as some reviews state but perfect for hiking aficionados such as myself. Lovely views hit you instantly with a nice look during the first incline at downtown LA. Once you bypass this and hit the first fork; left takes you to the Old Youth Camp outlook which has a tree and picnic table and the most amazing views of the entire Valley. Are you a plane lover? You are right above the Burbank Airport and can just sit and watch planes take off or gaze at downtown LA. In fact, in the far distance (a bit difficult to see because of our lovely smog); you can even see the ocean! You can see the barges and boats! This is definitely the spot for all of you trendy folk who like taking photos in yoga poses with a great view in the background. Making a right at the fork is the more common path. You will get all up in the Verdugo Mountains like girls at a Bachlorette Party on Channing Tatum. This trail is rockier but also has a more lush scenery and with really neat rocks (you can collect and find awesome river rock/gems perfect for collecting or jewelry making). The wonderful thing about these trails are that there are so many options. Aside from the main trails, there are many offshoots which mountain bikers zoom past on. I have spent 2 hours at once at Stough taking a 12 mile hike and there are still more paths to explore! It is amazing and SO perfect without all the kids and unleashed dogs you find on other "hikes" (those are called "walks", people. You aren't hiking!). There are snakes, lizards, and coyotes so be careful with that especially those who hike at night for the views. The major downfall? Parking. The parking lot is very small so you usually have to park along the road leading up to the canyon so basically you are already hiking up before you even begin the hike! Annoying. I could rave about Stough Canyon all day. But I won't because it is my spot and I don't want it bombarded. Long story short though, this is an intermediate hike with great views and a very natural, rocky setting. Definitely the best in the East Valley. Now go away!

    free, limited parking
    Melanie D.

    What a gem of a nature center in Burbank. Driving up to the parking lot, the roads are well maintained and the layout is orderly. Restrooms are clean, and they have toilets and sinks. The start of the running/hiking trail head is easily located as well. The only negative is that cell reception is very spotty and difficult to access, even at the parking lot. parking - free lot

    Great views from the look-out
    David L.

    Great hikes for beginners and moderate-types alike. Plenty of parking and road-side parking in case the lot is full.

    Eve D.

    I have been hiking this trail a few times, and today I made it to the tower. I was feeling very accomplished especially hiking up from Stough Cyn to the Vital Link and going down and out at Wildwood Cyn. Brutal, I made many rest stops as I felt my knees are giving up. I took nice photos & videos. Not sure when or if I will do this again. Glad I did though.

    See all

    23 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Troy H.
    1228
    1320
    1332

    3 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Amy L.
    643
    524
    2658

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Diana A.
    2070
    559
    1237

    4 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jane L.
    1209
    729
    2123

    5 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rachel S.
    1378
    2650
    6053

    6 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jo S.
    665
    2430
    15370

    8 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Orsolya D.
    1063
    1176
    2708

    11 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 17
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David L.
    41
    12
    19

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eve D.
    1
    18
    40

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ali K.
    244
    143
    66

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Viv N.
    6
    32
    105

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elvi T.
    1255
    758
    1743

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vazgen K.
    13
    121
    529

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fiona H.
    203
    278
    466

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S Alicia S.
    2356
    1020
    8620

    8 years ago

    Helpful 42
    Thanks 0
    Love this 40
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rob Y.
    1
    14
    11

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kubo K.
    179
    952
    1270

    11 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ursula N.
    72
    179
    755

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Stough Canyon Nature Center

    Is this hike okay for a 4 year old and 9 year old?

    It's a pretty tuff trail the best thing to do is try it before taking them. Unless there up for a challenge after the heat goes down.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Stough Canyon Nature Center

    I thought that I had a very long way to go because I thought the chair was at the radio tower!!

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hiking 13,126 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    PlanetBravo

    PlanetBravo

    5.0(8 reviews)
    3.3 miNorthwest District

    I can't speak highly enough about PlanetBravo. My 12 year old son has gone the last 4 or 5 years…read moreand his summer time at PlanetBravo is the highlight of his year. Summer trips are planned around PlanetBravo. Summer events are planned around PlanetBravo. Everything during the summer is planned around PlanetBravo The owner Danny is amazing and incredibly responsive. The camp director and camp counselors are amazing. The other campers are great, and my son has made year-round friends every summer. The tech curriculum is current and always interesting. And, the non-tech time is healthy, active and fun, so I know that my son is not sitting in front of a screen all day. I also love the daily photos from camp that we can look at with our son to talk about his day. My son comes home from camp motivated to continue to do what he did at camp. One week he worked with drones, and the drone-flying was non stop at home. Another week he worked on Python programming, and after that he couldn't stop looking for things to program. Don't even get me started on 3D printing..... Last year, my son was more upset the last day of camp then he was for the first day of school. I can't think of a better indicator of how great this camp is than that....

    Our son has been going to PlanetBravo Technocamp for 4 years, and he requests attending year after…read moreyear. The Beverly Hills staff, which is now Beverlywood, has been incredible. The curriculum is fantastic, and after taking this camp, my son wants to explore coding and computer science as a possible profession. And there are also so many great real-life courses you can take like Photoshop and video editing. But above all, the staff is phenomenal. They are smart, well-educated instructors who make the day fun for the kids, and they really care about each and every camper. Go to PlanetBravo Technocamp! You'll see why we sign up every year!

    Photos
    PlanetBravo
    PlanetBravo
    PlanetBravo

    See all

    Camp Adventurewood - Archery is always one of the campers' favorite activities at Camp Adventurewood.

    Camp Adventurewood

    4.8(42 reviews)
    11.5 mi
    79 years in business
    Locally owned & operated

    My son attended his first season at Camp Adventurewood in 2023 - it was his first experience at a…read moresummer camp and he was a little nervous and shy but all his counselors made him feel so welcome and comfortable and after the first day he was hooked! He loved the variety of activities and made so many new friends. He came home with fun stories each day. I loved that they offered a variety of options from 2 days/week to 5 days. We returned last summer and an unexpected and sudden medical event threw our summer for a loop. They were beyond kind and accommodating. Michael, the owner, personally made sure we were taken care of at a very scary time and was just incredibly kind and communicative. I can't thank him and his staff enough for the support. I would recommend this camp for any family. Its like a classic, old-school summer day camp experience!

    My son attended Adventurewood camp for the first time this week. For the most part he enjoyed…read morehimself -- particularly the characters they introduce throughout the week. However, we decided to pull him out for next week because of a very disturbing situation. He shared that a counselor had pushed him with both hands on his shoulders during a capture the flag activity. He had dropped his flag and was putting it back on when a counselor (he didn't know her name) pushed him back hard enough to make him lose his balance and fall. She also barked "you need to reset!" She didn't ask if he was ok or help him up. You'd think if this was an accidental push and he fell over she would say something like "sorry bud are you ok? Here let me help you up" but nope, not a word. A friend he's attending camp with witnessed the whole incident. Since I pick them both up in the afternoons they both recounted this situation to me and both of them noted how inappropriate her behavior was. I immediately reached out to Michael, the owner of the camp. He said he wanted to identify this counselor and get her side of the story. Understandable. My son felt uncomfortable going back the next day but I reassured him it would be handled and offered to drop him off in the morning and stick around to talk to Michael and the counselor. I wanted him to feel safe. Michael identified her (her name is Carson) and said he wanted to talk to her first, which he did a few feet away from me. I heard her say she didn't push him. They then walked over to me and she again denied everything. So we asked both kids to come over and recount what happened. They both did -- in front of her -- and reiterated she pushed him. She denied even touching him. So Michael suggests at this point that perhaps it was an accident and my son responds by saying "how do you push someone like that by accident?!" No response. So I ask her, are you saying these kids are lying? She again said she didn't touch him and at this point we send the kids away. I'm incensed because not only does she gaslight both of them to their face but tells this bold faced lie to her boss in front of the campers and me. I tell her I believe them and I think she's the one lying. At this point she gives me this dirty look - angry, irritated and almost rolls her eyes at me. I turn to Michael and say "and now she's giving ME an attitude?!" Unbelievable. In a follow up call, he tells me how good of a person she is and that this is shocking for him to hear but that she doesn't seem like someone who would do something like this...that she's getting her teacher credentials and he knows her really well. I am getting the vibe he doesn't actually believe any of this and he sounds very skeptical. I respond by telling him that it's almost always surprising when people exhibit bad behavior and that even teachers do bad things...that doesn't make her any more credible in my eyes. He acknowledged that. In fact, it's worse because I would be really concerned to have someone like that teaching a kid. Lack of empathy, accountability, and integrity. I mean, I think it's great he's trying to have her back but there are moments in life when you need to draw a line and act swiftly...these are one of those moments. Because ultimately, this impacts the reputation of your camp. I told him that it would be good to offer training to his staff in case this ever happens again in the future and honestly he sounded baffled and asked me to clarify...I said well maybe tell your staff not to give dirty looks to a mom who's clearly upset that her son just got pushed by a grown adult at summer camp?? I told him that the response to this situation could've resulted in a totally different outcome. Had she said something like "I really don't recall pushing you but if I inadvertently did and made you feel bad I'm sorry - I didn't mean to do that" - I would've went home that morning feeling fine about the situation. When I told him this he said that he's not going to police all her reactions, that she's still young, that she's still learning and made all kinds of excuses for her. Exhausting. Apparently she got a "warning" and will sit out of the flag activity (umm, ok...). He seems like a smart guy and wish him nothing but success in the future and I was earnestly trying to offer advice for how to handle a situation like this better but it fell on deaf ears. I really hope that some kind of learning comes out of this for both of them. Oh and to top it off, my son's friend told her mom that Carson was giving her looks several times throughout the day today and when she asked what kind she said "side eye" looks. NOT COOL. My son also said she was kind of mean to him but wondering why they were even in close proximity when Michael said they'd absolutely be separated and would not see each other? Validates we both made the right choice by pulling them both out. He offered a refund but I'm still pissed about the situation.

    Photos
    Camp Adventurewood - Campers row their canoes in search of battery-operated fish.

    Campers row their canoes in search of battery-operated fish.

    Camp Adventurewood - The campers erupt in cheers at Camp Adventurewood!

    The campers erupt in cheers at Camp Adventurewood!

    Camp Adventurewood - Megan and Giovanni's Troop of campers arrive at the campsite.

    See all

    Megan and Giovanni's Troop of campers arrive at the campsite.

    Inspire Martial Arts & Fitness - A group moment on the mat with Inspire students and instructors.

    Inspire Martial Arts & Fitness

    4.8(149 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Inspire Martial Arts is the MECA of places to choose if your goal is to be a amazing confident…read moreperson. Highly Recommend for All Ages! ​Inspire Martial Arts in downtown Burbank is fantastic! From the moment my wife, son and I walked in, Donna was welcoming and positive. Master Winkle, Master Kati and the entire team are incredibly dedicated, focusing not just on physical techniques but also on character development, like discipline and confidence. ​They offer a huge range of classes for all ages, including my 13 yr old who is loving the core martial arts program. It is truly a supportive community, not just a martial arts studio. If you're looking for practical self-defense and a place to truly grow, this is it! We've been with them for almost 7 years now. We couldn't thank Master Winkle Master Kati, Chief Donna and Chief KJ and the entire staff for making one of the greatest differences in our lives!

    Inspire Martial Arts has been a consistent, supportive, and important part of our lives for the…read morepast four years. My 13 year old daughter is testing for her Black Belt, which is an extraordinary accomplishment for her especially given that after only a four months at Inspire she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, an autoimmune disease that requires near constant monitoring. The team at Inspire is incredibly open to making accommodations for her, educating themselves about T1D, and always encouraging her to prioritize her health and to trust her body. My daughter has learned how to advocate for herself, communicate her needs, and most importantly she feels incredibly SAFE with her instructors and fellow students. We have watched her push through struggles with perfectionism and anxiety, embrace leadership roles, and gain confidence. The lessons my daughter has learned have carried through into all others of her life. I highly recommend Inspire, especially if you have a child that needs a bit more attention.

    Photos
    Inspire Martial Arts & Fitness - Partner practice at Inspire Martial Arts: working on technique, focus and control.

    Partner practice at Inspire Martial Arts: working on technique, focus and control.

    Inspire Martial Arts & Fitness - Practicing a kick with a partner and a handheld target.

    Practicing a kick with a partner and a handheld target.

    Inspire Martial Arts & Fitness - One-on-one instructor guidance during martial arts practice.

    See all

    One-on-one instructor guidance during martial arts practice.

    Cultural Bytes - #NewLanguage

    Cultural Bytes

    4.9(98 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    We're so sad that the Saturday Spring 2026 camp is over--and we're really hoping they offer a fall…read moresession! My 7-year-old is in a dual-language first grade class and has had some exposure to Spanish, but Cultural Bytes truly sparked his interest in wanting to learn more. My son has Autism Level 1 and does need some support, so at first I wasn't sure how it would go. We decided to try just one class, and after that very first day, he was already asking to go back. That says everything. We've loved it so much that we enrolled him for the entire summer program. While he's sad that the Saturday class has ended, he's excited to return in the summer. Señora Jackie is wonderful with the children, and the rest of the teachers are just as amazing. I especially appreciate that they fully immerse the kids by speaking only Spanish--it really makes a difference. Highly recommend!

    We sent our son to the Spanish Summer Camp at their new location in Burbank and he learned so much!…read moreHe came home singing songs in Spanish to himself and talking to himself in Spanish. After 4 short weeks, the next time he met with his Spanish speaking tutor/babysitter, he was speaking so much more! He has always had good comprehension but hesitated speaking, but now no more! Thank you Cultural Bytes for this great program that you offer!

    Photos
    Cultural Bytes - Spanish Theatre Camp - Saturdays 12:30-3:30pm (Glendale)

    Spanish Theatre Camp - Saturdays 12:30-3:30pm (Glendale)

    Cultural Bytes - Virtual Language Camp for kids!

    Virtual Language Camp for kids!

    Cultural Bytes - Join a class and meet our amazing teachers.

    See all

    Join a class and meet our amazing teachers.

    Stough Canyon Nature Center - hiking - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...