The road signage needs to be addressed to stop visitor confusion; As soon as you get off the…read morefreeway you see a sign for the park and not far down the road you come across a sign that says "Bridge for use by Locals Only"... suggesting that since the bridge is the only way forward, that you're not allowed, but it's a public park, so no idea what that nonsense is all about! I've been looking at Oat Mountain (highest peak in the Santa Susanna range) for years now, but I've always avoided it because it's pavement from bottom to top (it was a Nike Missile Site), but it was a much better hike than I expected!! Deceivingly steep, but with some amazing views of the surrounding landscape. The summit is an active radar station, which IS off limits, unless you can't read signs (and don't get caught)! The Nike Missile Site was interesting to explore, but nothing extraordinary. It wasn't as isolated a hike as I'd read, but it was far from busy. I did have 4 pick-ups drive up the road to tend to the cows and a Police helicopter circled, landed and took off before I hit the forbidden zone.

This place is HUGE! There so many trails to explore. Unfortunately with the drought, the lush…read morefields in the lower areas are pretty dry. At the top there are challenging but paved or well defined paths with slopes. The coolest thing happened on our hike! We were having an Animal Planet evening. This included running into a goat soaking in the sunset atop his mountain. It was very cool. He let us get within 40 ft of him and let our dogs say hello from about 10 ft away. We also saw an owl perched high atop a single branch waiting to swoop in on his dinner.

The Santa Susana pass was once known as the Simi pass that connects San Fernando Valley to Simi…read moreValley. This pass has historical and cultural significance as once as Indigenous corridor. Now this park provides beautiful views of natural landscapes and overlooks multiple counties. A great place to catch a sunset or sunrise. The park offers various length and difficulties of hikes. The park can be accessed on the Simi Valley side off the 118 freeway at the rocky peak exit. Along the mountain there is a small parking lot. Be careful pulling in and out of lot as traffic whips around the corner fast. Happy trails!

Talk about history! The Santa Susana Pass area was a crossroads for the Tongva, Chumash and…read moreTataviam cultures for about 8,000 years prior to the Europeans' arrival and subsequent land grab. The Old Santa Susana Stage Road can still be seen here, wagon wheel ruts and all. There's a memorial plaque at the top of Devil's Slide and the Stage Road is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Santa_Susana_Stage_Road#:~:text=The%20precipitous%20portion%20of%20the,Passengers%20debarked%20and%20walked. If you want to see the memorial plaque, it's a pretty steep hike. Wear hiking boots and if you have any issues with balance whatsoever, a walking stick is highly recommended. Entrance is free. Street parking, also free. There are four different trailheads marked on this map: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/611/files/SantaSusanaPassSHPWeb2016.pdf Be advised that the trail signs don't always match the map. Take water and your camera/phone and your sense of adventure. A perfect pandemic outing!

4 stars because I'm a fan of old westerns. It is cool to walk where the Lone Ranger rode and…read moreimagine the ambushes and shootouts of countless films. But it is tiny and cramped. Not really a hiking spot and might be OK for Instagram, but not for the kind of photography I do. The worst part is that the movie ranch that was here has been replaced by a subdivision. Boring beige boxes of unremarchitecture that have become so emblematic of SoCal suburban sprawl. It is undoubtably cool to have this location in your backyard, but not so great to have those houses in your photo background. Worth a quick stop if you are in the area and a film buff.

What do you associate with the northwestern SFV city of Chatsworth? It's surely that it is known as…read morethe 'Porn Capital' of USA. Even non-Cali residents are aware of this scandalous 'fun fact'. But there is more to this city edging the 118-freeway than just a perverted satisfaction. Chatsworth is also the home to some of the most gorgeous geolithic structures in the Valley. Anyone who has driven on the 118 has seen these glorious rock structures comprising of Stoney Point, Santa Susana, and of course Garden of the Gods. What is Garden of the Gods? Garden of the Gods is located essentially in a Chatsworth neighborhood on Redmesa (a very aptly named street) and isn't a park in the traditional sense of having a lot or ornate entrance. Rather, this entire acreage of Chatsworth is basically one large rocky, cavernous, geographic wonder making Valley residents feel like they are at a national park in Utah. Okay, it isn't on the level of Utah but it is pretty damn good for Los Angeles. After parking on the street, a sign welcomes visitors to the glorious area. A plaque proudly boasts of the Hollywood history of Garden of the Gods: it was part of the ranch that filmed countless westerns on the grounds from Buster Keaton classics to the opening credits of Lone Ranger hence Lone Ranger Rock. Garden of the Gods can also be seen in several big-budget films creating either an African or desert backdrop. Pretty cool, right? The 'trails' (if we want to call them that) vary from light rock climbing to open spaces and from bushes/grasses to sand stone outcroppings. Garden of the Gods is simply breathtaking and you can't help but take a moment to truly think about the amazing-ness of Mother Nature and the age of the rocks. There are several cave-like spots, smooth eroded boulders and stunning views of the SFV and the neighboring rock formations. One can see all the way across to the Verdugo Mountains and the tip of the LA National Forest. I visited the Garden of the Gods with a crew for a lingerie modeling shoot. That's right: I was basically naked here (and actually completely 100% naked when changing). I suppose that is fitting for the Porn Capital? We didn't come across many people (golden hour on a Wednesday in November) so Garden of the Gods was peaceful, quiet and serene. This place is perfect for a modeling shoot or for your IG with various nooks and crannies that make love to the camera. Or perhaps that was me doing that. Be careful though, because there of plenty of snakes and mountain lions who call Garden of the Gods home. So why am I not giving this gorgeous wonder of the world (or at least LA) 5 stars? Simply because people are assholes and decided to use Garden of the Gods as a garbage can. You will come across a lot of trash, bottles, and broken glass EVERYWHERE! These losers also defaced some of the beautiful rocks with tags and graffiti. News stories run rampant in the Stoney Point/Garden of the Gods/Santa Susana area of murders, fights, drugs, etc. Geeze Chatsworth, calm down. I would suggest, for the ladies out there, to not venture here alone. Although Garden of the Gods was quite empty during my visit; we did come across some hikers, families with small children and even mountain climbers with legit gear practicing on the rocky faces. Garden of the Gods caters to a diverse cast of characters. Side note relating to Covid: some people wore masks and some didn't but obviously there is plenty of room here for social distancing. Chatsworth may be known for porn but the rocky topography of the area is much more orgasmic and certainly worth more of a visit than just from from your car window when driving on the 118. Hey you never know: you might see someone modeling in lingerie!

Soooooo many flowers. I loved it! There are not too many shaded areas on this hike so bring lots of…read morewater :).

M. DeCampos trail is a very popular area for hiking, mountain biking, and running. This trail is…read morelocated within the O'Melveny Park. This trail has an elevation gain of 1,227 ft has a length of 4.3 miles leading to Mission Point. Throughout the trail has no shades going toward the Mission Point. But you'll get to see birds, lizards and vole. I hiked on a weekday so there were very few hikers that I came across on the trailhead. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Once you've reached Mission Point which is considered the highest point in the SF valley you'll have a majestic view of the hills, the park and mountains. Overall, despite its steep trails I enjoyed my time hiking this trail.

This has been my home away from home for as long back as I can remember. Basically, the park…read moreencompasses El Escorpion Canyon, a sparely wooded canyon on the south side of Castle Peak along El Escorpion creek, Castle Peak and its ridge, and Bell Canyon north of the peak along Bell Creek, all up to the Ventura County line. It is attached to the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve via El Escorpion Trail. There are a number of trails through the park, the best being the entire Castle Peak loop. There is a naming issue with this place. Basically, the two canyons are sometimes called separate parks. But recently Google maps has been showing them both as "Bell Canyon Park," and although I prefer El Escorpion Canyon, I'm willing to swallow my pride and call it all one park. Be careful throughout the park as there is lots of poison oak, bee hives, and rattlesnakes. You can also find some tarantulas and quail if you are lucky! While it is closed from dusk to dawn, this is an excellent place to go chill and look at the stars. Many a meteor shower was seen from these trails. Also look out for a sick BMX area. One of the best things about this park is that it is close to the city, yet remote. You can go out here and no one will usually bother you. But in recent years, that has been its downfall as well. More and more people are retreating out here, and there is a lot more graffiti and trash as of late. The Castle Peak Loop begins at the gate where Vanowen turns into Sunset Ridge. From there, you start hiking up the canyon. The first little part is often called Dog Shit Canyon cause of all the people who walk their dogs on this little part that is closest to suburbia. From there you head right across the creek and then straight up Castle Peak on the south side. Castle Peak is a tough hike. You can do it in less than 30 minutes if you know the terrain and are in good shape. Other than that, take it slow. There are 5 phases up this side of the peak. The first phase is kinda slippery and very steep. The second phase has this red soil and is a little more uneven than phase 1, if not as steep. Phase 3 is basically large rocks and gravel. Very slippery. Phase 4 is the section after the big white chalk part at the end of phase 3. It is rocky and has lots of smaller intersecting trails and is fairly solid. The last phase is the approach, where it gets even more rocky before you hit the top. From the top of Castle Peak is the best view of the west valley you'll find. Watch for different birds over the seasons. The swifts and the hummingbirds both do awesome dive bombs and are my favs. Then head west along the ridge. There, you will meet a fork in the trials. Head straight along the most traveled path and bear right until you end up on a very well maintained wide trail that goes down into Bell Canyon. This part ends at a little park with a baseball diamond and some picnic tables. Get some water at the park and then head down the trail along the creek, this one being Bell Creek, down to the horse trail. This horse trail along the suburban streets will take you back to the gate for the full loop. This can be done in reverse as well, duh. Interesting tidbit, where Bell Creek and El Escorpion Creek meet is the official start of the LA river. Check it out, and please help pick up any liter you see. Let's keep this park clean for future generations. Hope to see you there!

This park is a spectacular place to spend as little as an hour, or the entire day in! The trail…read moreloops in Bell Canyon take you West into El Escorpion Park and South into the larger Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (a.k.a. Ahmanson Ranch) and provide miles of trails to walk, hike, and mountain bike among ancient oaks, mesas, caves, and chaparral. In the winter, the cooler temps make the breeze sing through the mesa along the Old Ranch Road trail. There are plenty of spots to stop for lunch, but please remember to pack your trash when you leave to keep it beautiful! Many hikers bring their leashed dogs through and the majority of trails are easy for young children as well. In the summer, don't forget your sun protection and plenty of water as there is very little to no shade on several trail loops. And of course, bring your camera for pics of your visit. I posted summer and winter pics so you can see the changes.

This is a great hike that will give you a workout if you hike, bike or run. The hike starts with…read moreflat areas but then you will have some inclines. The inclines are great as you continue towards the other trails you will be lead to worthwhile views. The views are enjoyable and you can take time to relax, read, or just enjoy nature. The dogs or kids would also enjoy this hike.

Great hike easy to find parking and lots of shade and grass area once you get to the bottom. They…read morehave many trash cans and is very clean. There wasn't many people I got there around 9:30am the sun was out so take plenty of water and sunscreen

It's pretty clean and many fun trails. Also pet friendly and worthwhile for family / partners who…read morewant a complete trail while being able to decide when they're ready to stop at any moment

Had pictures taken of me and my wife for our 25th wedding anniversary. Great place to have a picnic…read moreor a hike. Small park but way too many gopher holes. Dog friendly and the people kept an eye on their dogs.

This is actually a really nice trail. Yes, it's dry back there due to the weather not much rain…read more There are rattlesnakes. Yes you'll see some coyotes. They're not gonna bother you as far as the guy posting on her that there's gangs up in there in dead bodies, it's a bunch of crap. I ride my bike back there all the time I live right down the street from it at 5532 La Virginia Rd.. bring water with you and yes in the future you're gonna wanna keep your eyes open because now they've made it accessible for mountain lions. Otherwise it's a great hike always bring sunscreen and water with you and make sure your batteries good on your phone. You're all good to go.

Going in September during a summer drought and after recent wildfires scorched the parkland, the…read moreburned or dried vegetation created an apocalyptically ugly hike. The most exciting thing was the hairy black tarantula that crossed the path. Many dirt roads run through this nature area that mostly stretch north-south with smaller east-west connector trails. Also with multiple trailheads, I chose an 8.6-mile loop with a 1000' elevation change that started at the north end of Las Virgenes Road off the 118 in Calabasas. 0.0 miles: Park on the street and walk north past the aptly named Sulphur Spring (don't know how the nearby apartments handle the smell). Follow this dirt road and stay left. 0.8 miles: Left to go up the Las Virgenes Connector which is not a road but a wide trail. 1.3 miles: Right to Cheeseboro Ridge Trail under electrical lines because this dirt road services a series of power towers. The trail has views of the rocky Baleen Wall on the left. 3.5 miles: Reach highest point with outcropping of boulders with decent view. 4.5 miles: Right at marked sign to go down Sheep Corral Trail - a single track trail not a road. 6.3 miles: Right to the mostly flat Bell Canyon Fire Road at the valley floor with occasional tree shade and many signs warning of the underground high pressure natural gas line. We were among the very few hikers but encountered plenty of mountain bikers. I didn't see anyone with dogs but there was plenty of poop on the trail.