Beaudry Loop Hiking Guide
The Beaudry Loop is Glendale's big backyard climb, a roughly six-mile circuit up the Beaudry North and South fire roads into the Verdugo Mountains. It is wide, exposed, and steadily uphill in one direction or the other for most of its length, with views that open across the basin toward downtown and, on the right day, all the way to the ocean. Free parking and a trailhead minutes from the 134 make it one of the most convenient real climbs in the region.
Trailhead and Direction
The loop starts at the end of Country Club Drive in Glendale, where a gate marks the entrance to the fire road system. Parking is free along the residential street below the gate, and it fills on weekend mornings and weekday evenings. Most people go up Beaudry North and down Beaudry South, which puts the steeper sustained climbing early. Either direction works; the north side tends to be slightly steeper and the south side offers marginally better views on the way down.
The Climb
This is fire road hiking throughout — wide, graded, and free of technical difficulty, gaining roughly 1,500 feet to the ridge where the loop closes near a set of communication towers. The grade is honest without being savage, and the width means groups can walk together and talk, which is a large part of why this trail is so popular with running clubs and hiking groups. Footing is good with loose gravel on some of the steeper descents.
Views and Air Quality
From the ridge you look out over Glendale, Burbank, and the basin beyond, with the downtown skyline to the southeast and the San Gabriels rising behind you to the north. Visibility varies enormously with conditions — a clear winter day after rain delivers a genuinely spectacular panorama, while a summer inversion can reduce it to a gray soup. That variability is worth planning around: this is a trail to hike the day after a storm clears.
Heat and Timing
There is no meaningful shade anywhere on the loop. The Verdugos are low, dry, and south-facing along much of this route, which makes summer midday hiking genuinely unpleasant and occasionally dangerous. Locals hike it at dawn or in the evening through the warm months, and sunset from the ridge is a Glendale institution. Bring a headlamp if you are staying past dark — the fire roads are easy to follow but the descent is long enough that you do not want to be improvising.
Dogs, Bikes, and Fire Closures
Leashed dogs are common and the wide roads suit them, but there is no water and no shade on the entire loop, so warm-weather outings need real planning for them. Mountain bikers use the fire roads heavily and can carry speed on the descents. The Verdugos are also subject to fire-related closures during high-risk conditions and after burns, so check for current restrictions before heading out during Santa Ana wind events or late in a dry season.
Hiking tips for Beaudry Loop
- Hike this the day after a storm clears — visibility from the ridge swings wildly and the difference between a clear and hazy day is enormous.
- Go up Beaudry North and down Beaudry South to get the steepest sustained climbing done while you are fresh.
- Carry a headlamp for sunset hikes; the fire roads are easy to follow but the descent is long enough to catch you out in the dark.
- Plan around the total absence of shade and water, particularly if you are bringing a dog in warm months.
- Check for fire closures during Santa Ana wind events and late in dry seasons, when the Verdugos are frequently restricted.
Nearby trails to explore
- Verdugo Peak
- Brand Park
- Stough Canyon
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Beaudry is Glendale's most reliable climb and a natural group hike. Use TrailMates to find Verdugo-area hikers meeting at the Country Club gate for sunrise and sunset laps. Download the TrailMates app to connect.