Cross of San Ysidro

My kids decided they wanted to hike to the cross that we can see from our apartment window… When we arrived and the starting point we were a little confused because we did not see signs that lead us to the cross… We saw a fork in the road and since kids will be kids they decided on the tougher looking trail. Before reaching the cross we came upon what could have been a home some years ago… I could make out a chimney and cement walls that have been covered in spray paint. (empty spray cans and broken glass and beer cans all over the ground) We passed thru the «home» and continued to follow the narrow trail. We passed a lot of cactus and then finally arrived at the cross. What a beautiful sight! Too bad the base of the cross had some graffiti on it! We decided to take the road down instead of the trail. According to our NIKE app it was only .63 of a mile from the cross to the actual entrance of the trail. Very quick hike… we had fun and this trail is kid friendly!

The Cross of San Ysidro was declared a historic cultural monument in the City of Los Angeles on March 11, 2011.
The cross was constructed in 1923 and is located at the top of Mount McGroarty inside Pasko Park in the Verdugo Mountains.
Misc. Info on the Cross of San Ysidro:
* It is a 30 foot poured reinforced concrete cross atop a base made of native rock.
* Etched lettering on the base reads «Mount McGroarty»
* It is #993 on the Historic-​Cultural Monument List. See the website above.
* Mount McGroarty was named for writer, playwright, California poet lauretate and Los Angeles Times columnist Seven McGroarty. He made this object famous in his L.A. Times columns, «As Seen from the Green Verdugo Mountains.»
* It is the site of Easter Sunrise Service. The cross was erected in April of 1923. For the first Easter service trumpeters were stationed at different points along the road to sound their trumpets at the first rays of the rising sun.
Directions:
* If you are heading west of the 210 freeway exit at Lowell. Continue on and turn right on Tujunga Canyon Boulevard.
* Go up to Foothill Boulevard and turn left.
* A couple blocks past Commerce St. make a left on Hillhaven Avenue.
* Follow Hillhaven to the fork and turn right on Alene Drive.
* Turn left of Verdugo Crestline Drive.
* The fire road starts at the intersection of Verdugo Crestline Drive and Estaban Way.
* It’s about a mile and a half to the top and back down. There are a few little trails that leave the fire road and loop back into it.
The fire road can be steep, but you don’t need to wear hiking shoes. There is a little path you can take that begins on the left of the fire road that is really nice.
You’ll see the cross looming overhead, so just head toward that. There is another plateau to the west of the cross that you can walk to and another fire road that loops down below. This eventually connects to the main fire road that you entered on.
A few homeowners planted lots of cactus on the edge of the fire road which are really beautiful. See my photos.