WILDWOOD CANYON CALLS CITY DWELLERS IN GROWING NUMBERS DISCOVER HILLS OF BURBANK.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

BURBANK - Deep within the trails at the foot of the Verdugo Mountains, Mike McCorney took a break to offer a few quick lessons.

On a recent weekday, he led a group of children, six boys and one girl, on a nature walk through Wildwood Canyon Park, a sprawling 500-acre area just above the DeBell Golf Course and less than 20 miles away from downtown Los Angeles.

The young hikers, 6- and 7-year-olds, were constantly moving - squirming and wriggling, like insects in the afternoon sun - as they made their way up steep trails.

But they stood still long enough for McCorney to dispense some facts about the plant life lining the trails. To anyone else the brush looked like dry California chaparral, but for McCorney, a 60-year-old Burbank native who has hiked these trails since he was a boy, the plants line a valuable path to knowledge and history.

``See the wild cucumbers?'' he asked his group of hikers, pointing to a spiky lime-green fruit hanging from a shrub. ``We don't eat those. The Indians used to use them as scrub brushes. When they are ripe, the seeds will burst out and jump at least 30 feet.''

Although the boys had seen the plant before, they seemed mystified - touching the spikes and dramatically screaming ``Ouch!'' The lone girl behaved as calmly as when the hike first began.

McCorney has long been attracted to Wildwood Canyon's winding trails, which promise a good workout, a long view of the city and, more important, serenity far from the stress-filled world below.

On a clear day, hikers who reach various points of the hills can see the Pacific Ocean shimmering dozens of miles away and the glisten of tall buildings clustered in downtown Los Angeles.

Ten years ago the park, which is part of 2,600 acres of wilderness reserve in the Verdugo Mountains, underwent a $1 million upgrade that included the clearing of paths, installation of 32 picnic areas and more restrooms.

Two years ago, the city opened the Stough Canyon Nature Center nearby as a base for Wildwood Canyon hikers to meet and attend organized activities through Wildwood. Visitors can pick up trail maps, information on native animals such as coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes and deer and on plant life, and take in exhibits on insects, such as bees.

Since the center opened, recreation leaders of Wildwood and Stough have seen an increase in foot traffic from residents who call the parks one of Burbank's best kept secrets.

``The full-moon hikes are definitely the most popular,'' McCorney said. ``Last time we got 80 people, and it's still winter.''

Various trails loop around Wildwood, but one of the most popular is a 7-mile course that ends at the crest of the Verdugo Mountains and back to Stough.

In the near future, the city hopes to build a group campsite, if the appropriate grants from the Santa Monica Conservancy come through, said Mike Flad, the city's Park, Recreation and Community Services director.

``The goal is to open a group campsite after a 30-minute hike,'' Flad said.

Back on the hills, hikers climbed up and down on distant trails toward the fire roads, passing each other like lines of ants.

``It's so close to my house and it's a pretty strenuous hike,'' said Burbank resident Mike Bass, 34. ``Griffith Park is close, but I like it here.''

Tina Gonzalez, 34, said she likes to look at the plant life as she heads up the trail.

``I've definitely seen it get more busy here,'' she said. ``I see families bring children.''

Meanwhile, McCorney was urging his young hikers toward a ledge where park benches awaited, so they could rest.

Sometimes, if young hikers on the weekly outing are lucky, they will see a fuzzy tarantula the size of a child's palm crawling out onto the path. Or if they are luckier still, maybe a baby rattlesnake will slither from between two rocks.

But on this day, the children found what treasures they could - cigarette butts and a few cigars still wrapped in cellophane - causing McCorney to shake his head in dismay, that a smoker would dare light up in such a fragile area.

On the way back down, the children passed mustard trees, planted long ago by the Gabrieleno Indians to mark the path heading toward the Santa Barbara missions.

They also walked by a spiky plant, its sharp, pointed leaves lurching out into the trail.

``What's that? Remember what it is?'' McCorney asked his group. ``It's called a yucca tree. The Indians used the needles to sew.''

Hearing the word ``yucca,'' the children were inspired.

``Ewwww!'' they shouted in unison.

CAPTION(S):

photo, map

Photo:

Young hikers walk down the Wildwood Canyon Trail, near DeBell Golf Course in the hills of Burbank. Downtown Los Angeles extends beneath the mountain trail. One of Burbank's best kept secrets, Wildwood and Stough parks are reporting an increase in foot traffic.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

Map:

VERDUGO TRAIL