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Where to Find Hidden Tree Hammocks Along SoCal Hiking Trails
Do you remember this amazing activity from your youth? You sit on a bench (or old tire), grab two ropes and lift your body back and forth.
correct. In today's newsletter, I want to cover flips and a couple Downeys have secretly put them on hiking trails across SoCal. In the past year, Jen Grosky and Keith Shelter have installed swings on countless different trails.
Now we can finally map their work. Times contributor Raef Harrison compiled a list of 15 SoCal hiking trails where the couple set up hammocks in trees.
After going for a walk near their home one weekday, the couple walked past a tree with a hammock hanging from its branches near the road. Her scene struck a chord of nostalgia and sparked the idea of putting twists on their favorite tracks.
“We wanted it to be a little surprise moment for people. There's something they can discover on the trails,” Grusky said.
The trick to finding perfect paths ready to swing? The Bureau of Land Management doesn't require permits to swing, so the couple focuses on the trails it manages. They also look for trails that aren't too challenging but are more difficult than an easy hike.
To help spread the word, drop location hints and share other hikers' discoveries about the swings, they've created an Instagram account, @HikerSwing.
She found a hammock while hiking in San Diego in 2021, but this was long before it became ubiquitous by the couple. However, I can assure you that jumping on the swing will bring you happiness.
Times multi-platform editor Kevinisha Walker sits on a hammock in Sunset Cliffs Nature Park in San Diego.
(Kevinisha Walker)
Here are some trails with hidden twists the pair has set around SoCal:
Cherry Canyon Park Trail
Photo of a tree with a hammock from the Cherry Canyon hiking trail.
(Jess Grusky)
Located in the San Rafael Hills near La Cañada Flintridge, Cherry Canyon Park Trail is perfect for beginner hikers or anyone just starting out. It is also the site of the first hammock placed by Grusky and Shelter! “We chose this trail for the great mountain views and nice paved paths at some points for an easy hike,” Grusky says.
Freeman Canyon Trailhead
Photo of a tree with a hammock on the Fryman Canyon hiking trail.
(Jess Grusky)
An alternative to the busier Runyon Canyon nearby, Fryman's is located in the Hollywood Hills above Studio City and West Hollywood. The trail is an easy loop, but does include some elevation gain.
Eaton Canyon Falls
Photo of a tree with a hammock from the Eaton Canyon Hiking Trail.
(Jess Grusky)
This Pasadena trail captivates with its diverse scenery, guiding hikers through shaded canyons and sunny slopes. As the trail unfolds, the majestic San Gabriel Mountains loom in the background.
Millard Canyon Falls
Photo of a hammock in a tree on the Millard Falls hiking trail.
(Jess Grusky)
Located in the scenic foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains just north of Altadena, this mountain trail is great for families and leashed dogs. As you make your way up the trail, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains before you reach the falls.
Biggest stories of the week
Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California.
(Ben Margot/Associated Press)
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First column
The First Column is the Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this week:
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
OUT OF SQUAT: Handyman Flash Shelton will squat with the squatters – until they leave. As squatting became a bigger problem in Southern California, a man named Flash Shelton took on the alias “Squatter Hunter,” offering to remove squatters using a variety of strategies, sometimes even sitting next to them.
More great reads
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For your weekend
Visitors on the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail were treated to a rare sight when Peninsula bighorn sheep came down the mountain to eat the growing plants and drink water from the fountain near the parking lot.
(Raul Roa/Los Angeles Times)
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Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team
Kevinisha Walker, multi-platform editor
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