At the northernmost spot in Glendale, overlooking the foothill communities of La Crescenta and Tujunga, lies Deukmejian Wilderness Park, named after former California governor George Deukmejian. The park's 700 acres of chaparral-covered slopes are drained by two ravines with steep gradients: Cooks Canyon and Dunsmore Canyon.
Images in thiis gallery were captured on the Dunsmore Canyon Trail which is 0.9 miles long with a 705 ft. elevation change. The trail parallels Dunsmore Canyon Stream and has gentle grades that are ideal for the first time trail user. The trail is shared with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District which maintains the stream bed and a series of weirs controlling the flow of water and sediment in Dunsmore Canyon.
The snow-covered mountains were the result of a February 2011 storm that brought snow levels down to the 2500 foot level. A rare and magical event for this area with snow only lasting a couple days.
Due to above average rain fall in 2011 and cool to warm days, the hills are now covered with Lupine and many other wildflowers.
© James Mahan-Soto