Verdugos on Draft

Test your vitality and revive your energy via a 3-mile (round-trip) out-and-back trek in the Verdugo Mountains and a hoppy reward at nearby Brewyard Beer Company and/or a sweet treat at Burbank’s Artelice Pâtisserie.

First, the hike. Park at the end of Wildwood Canyon Road in Wildwood Canyon Park in Burbank to find the trailhead for your high-rising, high-intensity hike. The trail immediately begins to ascend, and it’s just the beginning of the nearly 1,500-foot gain—challenging enough that hiking poles are a good option.

You will soon reach a plateau with a bench and your first sweeping views of Burbank, the Hollywood Hills, Griffith Park, and beyond. At just past the half-mile mark, take a sharp right at the marked Vital Link Trail, a perfectly named path that gets the heart beating. This narrow trail is a switchback-heavy, steep grind that has little shade, so it’s best to push through. The radio tower in sight is your goal.

The end of this journey is signified by the connection with the Verdugo Fire Road, where you’ll be grateful to find the Willie Mann memorial chair to enjoy the panoramic vistas in comfort. You can explore around the area, as the ridge provides great views of the San Gabriels to the north. Be careful as you head down (those poles would be extra useful) to your car—that yeasty treat is coming soon!

Cheers! Brewyard Beer Company opened as Glendale’s first microbrewery in 2015, but owners Sherwin and Kirk have already made it a perennial Angeleno favorite. Located in a hidden warehouse under the Western Avenue bridge, Brewyard is a bit hard to find, but incredibly easy to enjoy, with a vast array of delicious brews, bar games (darts, cornhole, board games), events, and warm hospitality.

Their focus is on a new category known as common lagers (or what they call the California lager)—hybrids that encompass myriad flavors. We love the Morning Joe (blonde common with coffee), Black Sunrise (black common), and Jewel City Common, but you can’t go wrong. Enjoy a flight or a pint and park yourself at their centerpiece—a working 1936 Ford Flatbed restored by Sherwin and Kirk themselves.

BONUS BAKERY: First comes the sweat, then comes the sweet! After your big workout (and maybe a couple of beers), you deserve a pat on the back, and a pastry too! Head down the street to Burbank’s Artelice Pâtisserie, a magical place where “art becomes delicious.” The slogan couldn’t be truer as you walk through the doors of the modern pastry shop (pâtisserie is a type of bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets). The eye-catching display of goodies greets you like a brilliant rainbow. From colorful macarons and radiant cheesecake fraise, to indulgent Saint Honoré and decadent roches, Artelice has all the classics. Admire the craftsmanship and pick out a few to share with friends (or eat them all yourself; you’ve earned it!). Just don’t leave without trying one of their croissants. The variety here is awesome—almond and Gianduja (chocolate and hazelnut) are standouts, but we love the uniqueness of both the matcha and the Persian princess, which features rose and orange blossom–infused dough and a delicious pistachio marzipan filling.

To get to the Wildwood Canyon trailhead, take the I-5 to Burbank Blvd. and exit east. Take an immediate right on 3rd St., followed by an immediate left onto Harvard Rd. Stay on Harvard Rd. for 1.5 miles, followed by a right onto Wildwood Canyon Rd., which ends in a roundabout and parking spots after 0.7 mile. The brewery is about 3.5 miles southeast: Head back down Harvard, turn left on Bel Aire, and then left on Western. After crossing San Fernando Rd., proceed left under the Western Ave. bridge to the 900 building. Brewyard is at 906 Western. Hike and brewery are both dog-friendly! Artelice is located at 117 N. San Fernando Blvd. in Burbank. Closed Mondays.