Old Youth Camp Loop

The Old Youth Camp Loop is a 2.6-mile loop with over 700 feet of elevation gain that can be ran, hiked, or even mountain biked if you prefer. While not completely empty the area receives very little visitors and is a great place to enjoy a little more solitude than near by hiking locations. The loop begins at Stough Canyon Nature Center, a free and easy parking area, located a quarter mile north of the Starlight Bowl Amphitheater. 

The loop starts off as a series of switchbacks climbing over 200 feet in the first half-mile to the first junction, Old Youth Camp Loop to the left and Stough Canyon Trail to the right. It is possible to do the loop in either direction but I recommend going left, stopping at the View Point, and continuing to the camp ruins before following the loop up and around for an enjoyable trek back down along Stough Canyon Trail.

Another 500 feet west (left) of the first junction you will see a second sign pointing left to the View Point and right to the Old Youth Camp, going left will take you to the top of a hill known only as “The View Point”. Here there are 2 benches looking North and West. With panoramic views of the entire San Fernando Valley including Griffith Park and downtown Los Angeles, this is a spectacular place to take a short breather, watch the sunset, or enjoy a nice picnic.

From the View Point turn around and continue on the Old Youth Camp Loop, backtracking down to the second junction and head north up the ridge where the path begins to narrow. Follow the trail for one quarter of a mile and you will reach the remains of a Boy Scout camp, now only a concrete foundation and a large brick chimney.

To complete the loop continue traveling north past the camp for one tenth of a mile, here the trail will meet with the Verdugo Fire Road. Turn right and following the dirt path until you reach the junction for Stough Canyon trail. Following Stough Canyon will lead you back down to the first junction you came across and back to the Nature Center parking area. But for those who wish to continue the adventure you can follow the Verdugo Fire Road for as many miles as you wish, the large dirt road traverses nearly 20 miles along the spine of the Verdugo Mountain range.