The stream begins just south of Interstate 210 in the Crescenta Valley.

It flows southeast along the eastern edge of the Verdugo Mountains, then south through a pass between those mountains and the San Rafael Hills, and finally west to ultimately join the Los Angeles River just northeast of Griffith Park.

With the exception of the free-flowing stream inside the Verdugo Wash Debris Basin Dam, Verdugo Wash is entirely encased in a concrete flood control channel.

Verdugo Wash Visioning Project will create a 9.4-mile long (15.1 km) linear park and nature trail for walking and cycling with access to neighborhoods that make up a large core of Glendale including its businesses, entertainment venues, city centers and services.

[3] Glendale's Verdugo Wash Visioning Project received $6 million in funding from Assembly member Laura Friedman in AB 179, the State Budget Act of 2022.