You’re driving up the 110 freeway, dodging aggressive commuters and white-knuckling the steering wheel, and you’d never guess that just a few hundred yards away, there’s a secret lake filled with turtles. Most people in Los Angeles default to Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon when they need a hit of nature. They want the Hollywood sign. They want the crowd. But honestly? Ernest E. Debs Regional Park is where you go when you actually want to hear the wind instead of a podcast blasting from a stranger’s Bluetooth speaker.
It’s about 282 acres of pure, unrefined "old Los Angeles" geography. You won't find manicured lawns or fancy statues here. Instead, it’s a rugged, hilly expanse of California black walnut and coast live oak trees tucked into the Montecito Hills. It feels like a glitch in the city's matrix.
The Mystery of Peanut Lake
The centerpiece of the park—and the thing people usually can't find on their first try—is the pond at the summit. Some call it Debs Lake; others call it Peanut Lake. It’s a man-made reservoir originally built to help fight wildfires, but today it’s a bizarrely peaceful ecosystem. You’ll see red-eared slider turtles sunning themselves on logs and, if you're lucky, some of the local bullfrogs.
Getting there isn't exactly a walk in the mall. If you park at the Monterey Road entrance, you’re looking at a steep, dusty climb. It’s a calf-burner. You’ve basically got to commit to the incline, but the payoff is a 360-degree view that hits differently than the ones in Hollywood. To the south, the Downtown LA skyline looks close enough to touch. To the north, the San Gabriel Mountains loom large, often capped with snow in the winter months.
📖 Related: Frances J. Mark Memorial Park: What Most People Get Wrong
There’s even a "secret" wooden swing hanging from a tree near the pond. It’s one of those Instagram spots that actually lives up to the hype, though the "secret" part is debatable since most locals know exactly where it is.
Why the Audubon Center is a Big Deal
If you enter from the Griffin Avenue side, you’ll hit the Audubon Center at Debs Park. It’s not just a gift shop. This was actually the first carbon-neutral building in the United States when it opened. It’s completely off the grid, powered by the sun.
✨ Don't miss: How to Fix Your Ten Days in Thailand Itinerary Before You Burn Out
For families, this is the best part of the park. They have a "hiking concierge" service where you can actually borrow binoculars and field guides for free. It’s kind of amazing. They even have all-terrain strollers you can check out. The center sits on 17 acres of the park and serves as a vital bird sanctuary. Over 140 species of birds have been spotted here, including the California Scrub-Jay and the Red-tailed Hawk.
A Rough History and Real Talk
We have to be honest: the park has a bit of a gritty reputation. In the past, there have been safety concerns, including a high-profile shooting in 2021 and other incidents over the decades. It’s the kind of place where you should definitely hike with a buddy and stay aware of your surroundings. Most locals will tell you to keep your valuables out of sight in your car—break-ins at the parking lots aren't unheard of.
But that edge is also why it remains so empty. It’s not "sanitized" like some of the Westside parks. You might run into a coyote. You will definitely see poison oak if you wander off the trail. It’s a real wilderness.
How to Actually Do the Park
Don't just show up and wander. The trails aren't always perfectly marked.
- The Scrub Jay Trail: This is the most direct route to the pond from the Audubon side. It’s got a decent incline, so bring water.
- The City View Trail: If you want the skyline shot for your phone, this is the one. It wraps around the ridgeline and gives you those wide-angle vistas of Highland Park and beyond.
- The Butterfly Loop: Best for kids. It’s short, manageable, and starts right near the Audubon Center.
The park is open from dawn to dusk. If you go on a Tuesday morning, you might be the only person at the summit. On weekends, it gets a bit livelier with families hosting piñata parties in the lower picnic areas, but the upper trails usually stay quiet.
Ernest E. Debs Regional Park is named after a former L.A. County Supervisor, but the land has a much deeper history. Long before it was a park, it was home to the Tongva and Cahuilla people. You can still see a Native American terrace garden near the base that features plants used by those tribes for centuries. It’s a reminder that this "urban wilderness" was here long before the 110 freeway carved through the valley.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
If you're planning a trip this weekend, do these three things to make sure it's actually fun:
📖 Related: Why Las Alcobas a Luxury Collection Hotel Mexico City is Still the Best Stay in Polanco
- Enter via Monterey Road if you want the quickest (but steepest) hike to the lake.
- Enter via Griffin Avenue if you want the Audubon Center, bathrooms, and a more gradual climb.
- Check the "Outfitters" shop at the Audubon Center before you head up; they have maps that are way more accurate than what you'll find on Google Maps.
Pack a sandwich, bring a pair of binoculars, and leave your car empty. It’s one of the few places left in L.A. where you can actually feel the scale of the basin without a crowd of people in your way.