Franklin Canyon Park, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

A lake tucked into the canyon serves as a permanent and seasonal stop for birds along the Pacific flyway. The grounds also trace pivotal forces in Los Angeles history: in 1914, William Mulholland built a reservoir here to distribute Owens Valley water, while the Doheny family grazed cattle and completed a 1935 Spanish-style home in the lower canyon. Saved from residential development in the 1970s, the park was acquired by the National Park Service in 1981. Today, features like the Sooky Goldman Nature Center and the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom host environmental education programs for schools and the public.