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Brand Park

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Seaotter71
Seaotter71
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4 out of 5
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Brand Park

  • February 27, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Seaotter71 from Monterey, California
Brand Park

At the base of the Verdugo Mountains, the 31 acre Brand Park has something for everyone. It has a baseball diamond, library, playground, picnic area, hiking and biking trails, and several historic buildings.

The main building is the library. Originally named Miradero, it was the home of Leslie C. Brand, often referred to as the Father of the City of Glendale. Mr. Brand willed Miradero, and the adjacent grounds, to the city provided it was turned into a public library and park. Inspired by the East Indian Pavilion, built for Chicago’s 1893 Columbian World Exposition, the library is a popular place for wedding pictures.

The park also contains a historic home in the Queen Anne style known as the "Doctors House." The house was occupied by a series of early Glendale doctors, and was moved to the park in 1979. The house now serves as a museum and event facility.

There are several trails that loop the park and connect the park to the Verdugo Mountain ridge. Brand Trail is actually a fire road, and is an easy hike. Along the way you will see the Brand family cemetery marked by a pyramid. A steep offshoot from this trail leads to the Verdugo Mountain ridge.

A more challenging trail, starts behind the Save our Trees monument. The trail is steep from the start, and for a few steps before the first plateau, you might need to use your hands. At the second plateau the trail splits. The left fork takes you to the fire road mentioned before. To the right, the trail loops back and deposits you behind the library.

If you plan on attempting the steeper trails, make sure you are wearing appropriate shoes and are relatively surefooted. The first time I did the trail I was by myself and had no idea whether the trail was a loop, or if I would have to double back. The trail was so steep and smooth that I seriously wondered how long it would be before someone would miss me. As I sat there contemplating my options, my sweat reacted with the rosemary bush I was sitting against. To this day I connect the smell of rosemary with being stranded on the side of a mountain.

From journal Los Angeles: Food and Hikes

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