'Hood #14: The Northern Tip of LA—Sylmar—to Hike the Aqueduct

Now over a month into my challenge, I decided to tackle the north-most neighborhood in Los Angeles: Sylmar.  A quick look at my map showed that Sylmar is home to the Cascades of the California Aqueduct, where water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct spills into the San Fernando Valley.  If you've ever traveled the 5 Freeway just north of where it connects with the 405, you may have noticed the aqueduct on the hillside.  I have, and it's just the sort of thing I'm dorky enough to think would be fun to visit.

Unfortunately, my big chance to get an up-close peek was last November, during the 100-year anniversary celebration when the Department of Water & Power hosted a few tours.  Since it's again fenced off as usual, I'd have to settle for a walk in the general area—and, happily, I found a spiffy write-up in the Los Angeles Times for a hike offering views of the aqueduct and reservoir.

On a Saturday morning, it was just a quick half-hour jaunt up the 405 Freeway to the 5 to get to Sylmar.  I met my Aunt Marcy at the intersection of Foothill and Balboa boulevards (fyi, there was a bit of confusion because Balboa loops so the streets intersect in two places).  Once we got our bearings, however, it was an easy walk through partially-paved paths.

It's been so dry in Los Angeles that the hills were looking pretty brown, and we weren't holding out much hope for the aqueduct to actually be cascading. Let's just say, it was no Niagra Falls, but it did have a trickle going.  Near the bottom, it worked up to a good gush—which, for some silly reason, was pretty fun to see.