Old Youth Camp Trail (Scout Trail)

This is a great alternative in Stough Canyon on the way back down from Verdugo Motorway. The upper trailhead is 0.25mi west of the Stough/Verdugo fire road intersection and begins with a steep but short climb taking you back towards the same intersection. At the top, the trail crosses a firebreak and stops climbing. From there, the singletrack winds downhill and is only broken up by the occasional gigantic rut, so have fun but also beware of your footing and loose sections around the ruts. Halfway down, you'll drop into a little plateau and see a tall brick chimney and the foundation of an old Boy Scout lodge. Enjoy the nice views across the San Fernando Valley and keep an eye out for the wildlife that haunts the meadow. Near the end, the trail widens to a fire road and heads back down into the canyon to rejoin the Stough Canyon Fire Road. These trails are multi-use as described here, so be prepared for mountain bikers heading downhill.