Hellman Park Trailhead
The Hellman Park Trailhead can be found one block north of Beverly Blvd on Greenleaf Avenue, just a few blocks north of Uptown Whittier. There is a small parking lot next to the water tank and you can't miss the trailhead map that will be your guide as you hike through the many trails. Starting at Hellman Park you have options to hike Hellman Park Trail, Peppergrass Trail and Mariposa Trail to Rattlesnake Ridge Trail at the top of the hill. The trails intersect each other for a 2.9 mile loop.
Take a Hike in the Whittier Hills
One of Whittier's greatest assets is her hills. They are a beautiful indication of the seasons, with their changing colors – green in winter, yellow in the spring with the mustard blooms, and golden brown in summer. There is much to enjoy if you take a walk on the many trails. It's a great way to start your day, hiking in a natural environment only minutes away from home. There is no fee for admission or parking, it's great exercise, and you can hike seven days a week.
A Challenging Hike
It is perfect for a morning hike to start your day. It takes about 75 minutes if you walk the 2.9 mile loop at a steady pace. I suggest wearing shoes or boots that offer good support because the terrain can be very rugged at times. Some trails are more challenging than others; you can vary your speed to change your workout. Simply walk faster for a tougher workout. The various trails offer a different nature experience each time you go for a hike.
Lots of Birds and Nature
The Whittier Hills are natural paradise; there are lots of birds and occasionally you will see wildlife. I personally like the hawks; majestically spreading their large wings and gliding as they hunt. There are occasional deer, coyote, and raccoon sightings. Huge stink bugs are everywhere and I also saw this big flying bug with long legs that was actually a bit creepy! The plant life is always changing with the seasons. The spring flowers and succulents provide an array of color. Watch out for rattle snakes when it is dry and be careful not to get in any poison oak.
People are Friendly
From a social perspective, it's different walking in the hills than down in the city. People are very friendly and greet each other in passing, when just down the hill, in the business districts, often people walk right by and seem too busy to say hello. Not so in the hills; nature lovers seem to recognize their common interests and are usually happy to see others who are into walking their dogs, jogging, and biking.
A Bit of Nature in our Back Yard
In the early 90’s, the Friends of Whittier Hills, the Whittier Conservancy and Whittier residents managed to stop housing developers from building in our hills and preserved them for our recreational use today. Now we have a bit of nature in our backyard for everyone to enjoy. It's never crowded and though I like it that way, if this story inspires more people to become hikers, that's a good thing; we can always cut more trails. So take a hike; you'll be glad you did.This is another good reason to live in and “Shop Whittier”.
Story and Photography by Rick Elias
