Best Dam Ever

The backdrop for many films, it was at the Sepulveda Dam just south of Burbank Boulevard that an eye-patched Kurt Russell played Snake Plissken in the 1981 cult classic Escape from New York. Thousands of motorists catch a glimpse of the dam while madly weaving through the interchange of the 405 and 101 freeways, but few know that it's publicly accessible by foot and bike trails. One recommended route is atop a raised rock embankment paralleling the 405 for roughly half a mile. This stretch offers invigorating views of the undeveloped Sepulveda Basin to the west. When you reach the dam, a path down a grassy slope leads to a vast floor of concrete spanning out from the structure's façade. Famous for Escape from New York, this spot is today a playground for BMX bikers (and circular skid marks left mysteriously by cars that went feral are here too).

Exit Burbank Blvd. from the 405 Freeway in Sherman Oaks. Just west of the overpass, on the north side of Burbank Blvd., there is a small lot to park in. The embankment trail starts just across the street, heading south. Dog-friendly!