This park offers a plethora of hiking trails, picnic tables in an oak grove, and a large parking…read morelot. There is a $5 parking fee requested; but it seems like most folks, including me, park on the street for free and hike up to the trailhead. This will add about a mile to your workout (round-trip), but that's good, right? I completed the loop trail this time (trail map here https://trails.lacounty.gov/Trail/1833/wilson-canyon-loop-trail ) and really enjoyed it. There is a pretty significant altitude gain, so be prepared. The trail had definitely been affected by recent rains, with a lot of ruts in the road, but nothing impassable. You'll start out in chaparral, then go up through an oak/sycamore grove near an intermittent stream, and than descend on the north side back to the trailhead. There's also a year-round stream to the north of the hiking area; not sure if it's technically part of the park but it's worth seeking out. Hiking boots with good tread, hiking poles, and water are recommended. Hat, sunscreen and shades on sunny days. And don't forget snacks and a charged phone. Highly recommended.

Your mindset is what separates you from the rest. Let's begin this new trail adventure…read more WILSON CANYON PARK is a 2.8-mile loop trail at Sylmar, California. This trail is quite popular for horseback riding, hiking, and birding. It has an elevation gain of 705 ft.; trails were well maintained, however, there were sections of the Saddle Ranch trailhead that you go through a very narrow trench-just past the water dam structure- which doesn't look like a trail but it is part of the trailhead. You start with a very sandy trail and progresses to a rocky and then smoothed out as you ever to higher elevation. This trail has rich in flora and fauna, wild animals and insects. I saw a juvenile snake (not sure if it's a Sierra Garter snake) as I descend back. YIKES! I decided to hit the Pig Ranch trail as well. Both trails deemed Easy for experienced hikers. Fellow hikers were cordial and respectful. I even saw a male hiker, wearing plaid shirt and jeans, brought his 4 lil boys on the trail. Great family bonding. Anyways, this was a nice hike with great scenery even on a slightly foggy day. Parking has a $5 honor system as you drive inside the park. Overall, WCT is a good quick hike and I recommend it.

A great park at the north end of San Fernando Valley. So many areas to spread out and enjoy…read more O'Melvany is listed as the second-largest public park in Los Angeles(behind Griffith Park), but still seems a pretty good secret, for the most part. On any given day you may see dogs playing, or training in social skills, exercise classes, families picnicking and kids running around. BUT ALSO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WILDLIFE! Coyotes and mountain lions are very common, as are rattle snakes. But also bunnies, squirrels and an array of birds, for those who take the time to stop, listen, and try to identify. There is not a playground at this large park. Instead, the draw is toward it's many, well marked, hiking trails. This use to be John O'Melvany's ranch, until he deeded the land to Los Angeles(1976), with specifics for it to be used as a park. You'll still see orchards of grapefruit as you enter, with signs requesting you not remove the fruit from the area. The fruit has not been properly tended to in decades, so it's not really yummy grapefruit, but on occasion you'll see some people plucking and tasting to quell their curiosity. Mainly, to avoid the spread of fruit flies, the city requests that the yellow spheres be left in place. BUT OH THE AROMA OF THE FLOWERS FROM THESE TREES! And so many happy bees flitting about. Quite nice. This is also a park that allows access for equestrians. A very large dirt area for trailers to park and horses to be staged and prepped before heading off into the hills on the marked Equestrian Trail. If you do take the time to hike one of the many trails, you'll be rewarded with beautiful view of SFV. If you squint, you can almost imagine what it looked like pre-WWII, before the tract homes welcomed the veterans here. Many beautiful, very old, oak trees, eucalyptus and various maple species, along with a LOT of native shrubbery are found throughout the park and the one large bathroom at the center is well maintained. Hours are dawn to dusk, with gates at both the pedestrian entry and parking lot. Plenty of free parking in the lot and along the street. If you're up for an easy, but fairly long excursion, check out Bee Canyon Park. It starts just across the street from O'Melvany and DOES have a play area for kids. Also, it's trail runs all the way to Balboa. Cheers! "CC"

Great hiking trail! It is uphill the whole time, so it's a little harder, but take breaks as…read moreneeded. Nice hike to see nature!

When you're ending the year 2025 with a hiking adventure. Let's begin this banger review…read more Whitney Canyon Park is a 442-acre park known for its diverse trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, featuring oak woodlands, chaparral, and riparian areas with seasonal waterfalls. It is located next to the freeway in Santa Clarita. I have been eyeing this trail/park for months and I am glad I crossed this on my All trails hiking list. I came on a late Monday morning and it was bloody windy (~45 mph) with a cool temp of 64 degrees. This park has multiple trials including Elsmere Trail. WCP has a wide track trail through a canyon that was known for oil drilling and ranching some of its remnants are still visible. Its trail has little to no tree shade but the trailhead was kept clear. I have seen some hikers (family and kids) and bikers along the way; most are friendly and nice. Parking lot is huge with no shades. Trash bins are available. Overall, it's a nice easy park to go hiking. I recommend it.

A friend took me to Whitney Canyon Waterfall today, and wow what an adventure. The hike is…read moremoderate, about 3.5 miles, and parking is free. Reaching the waterfall is not for the faint of heart. You climb uphill, descend back down, reach a small waterfall, and then go through it to finally arrive at Whitney Waterfall. It's a bit sketchy, definitely thrilling, and absolutely worth it but only if you're prepared. Hiking shoes are a must. This trail is not recommended for kids or beginner hikers due to steep and slippery sections. It was 48 degrees and freezing cold today, so check the weather before you go and layer up. Also, there are no restrooms, so plan ahead. If you're looking for a raw, adventurous hike with a rewarding waterfall at the end, this one delivers.

Great place to hang out, have a party, or just walk around. Bathrooms are usually clean and stocked…read moreand you can usually find a nice place to sit and relax

Each visit to this park clears my mind. There is a calmness that always creates a relaxing…read moreexperience. Hiking, walking, meeting veterans and hearing their stories or taking in fresh air and enjoying the scenery, it's a great vibe. Looking forward to planning a picnic here, lots of shaded areas on the ground level. There is sun on the hiking trail areas, several paths to take. Not many play areas or apparatus for children but a great park overall.

Do you ever not realize you haven't heard a certain noise in years until you finally hear it again…read moreand it's like music in your ears? This is how I felt yesterday evening as I stepped foot into Limekiln Canyon trail! What was that noise? Frogs!!!! I did not realize that I haven't heard the sound of frogs croaking in years and suddenly it was the most beautiful noise so peaceful and serene I wanted to spend the night on a log just listening!!! I attended a meet up hike and I had no idea this trail existed! As a side note it was funny I didn't know this is the same hiking group my step dad attends so it was a fun surprise when we saw eachother and we hiked it together! I've lived around the area and explored all my life but this is the first time I heard of this trail or seen it!!! Parking is street parking off Tampa and across from the church. The entire path is dirt roads and very very well maintained brush on all sides. My step dad said he's had a run in with rattlesnakes on this trail and to be very careful on the parts of the trail that get narrow with bushes on both sides so close to where you're walking. All the trees are huge and give great shade and cover. We hiked at around 6pm and I did see people with dogs who were all on leashes which was good and the trail wasn't too congested so I do believe next time I come to this trail I can bring my dog along! When it gets dark the trees don't let in too much light from the sky so make sure you bring your flashlight. I'm really excited to have such a nice place to hike so close and, well, as I said the sound of the frogs has me hooked and you might catch me there just sitting on a log listening to the beautiful nature sounds!

This trail is a secluded escape tucked away in the hills of the Valley! If you're looking for a…read morehike that is low key & quiet, this is definitely the spot. Once you reach the top, you're rewarded with a wonderful panoramic view of the Valley. It's also quite interesting as you hike along; you get a bird's-eye view into various backyards with some truly beautiful pools & hot tubs. The day I went was overcast, which made for a very pleasant & chill walk. There is plenty of nature to enjoy, including lots of birds flying around. Also lots of street parking outside the entrance to the trail. One thing that caught my attention: lots of litter & beer cans everywhere:( very sad .

Such a beautiful park and easy trail! I love that it's shaded and that there's a creek that runs…read morethrough it. Restrooms are clean and there's plenty of parking.

Plenty to discover in this short and sweet trail. Our group tends to start away from the main…read moreentrance of the park. Instead, we would turn right onto Sesnon Blvd from Balboa Blvd, then head straight till the road ends. Oddly enough the two halves of Sesnon are separated by a ravine. From this starting point, there is a moderately steep decline heading down to the main trail. After this portion, the trail is a casual nature walk. The terrain consists of well-established stream crossings, clusters of old trees you can climb, eclectic art pieces made by local residents, makeshift swings made out of rope, and even manhole covers from India! Folks we meet along the way would say their hellos while riding their bikes and walking their dogs in the evenings. Every so often there would also be small frogs and worms squirming around. Once you get to the main entrance and parking lot, there are a few restrooms as well as resting/training areas for horses. As an out and back route, the incline back onto Sesnon gets the calf muscles working.

This park is large and spacious with plenty of free parking. There were kids playing at the…read morebaseball fields, soccer fields, and at the playgrounds. El Cariso Park hosts a regular farmer's market on Sundays. Stopped by for some coffee and pastries at E&V Kaffee! Such a delicious spot for raw honey lattes, chai teas, croissants and so much more. We had a great time perusing through the plants shops, fruit and veggie stands, and other local businesses.

El Cariso Park is one of the most beautiful and well kept parks in the Valley! Been coming here for…read moremost of my life. I cannot get enough of the fresh air, the cleanliness, the multiple recreational areas it has as basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields and of course synthetic soccer field. Perfect park for a bbq (Carne Asada) with the family. Walk your dog or go for a nice stroll with a love one. So luscious and green and big park great use of space here in the valley.

This nature center is located directly in the center of all the main activities for the park. There…read moreis free parking and many of the trails start right from the nature center. I thought this was a nice place to get an introduction to the wildlife, ecology and geography of the park. Admission to the nature center and the entire park is entirely free. The time I visited there was a docent on duty and a number of school children who were on day trips from the local schools.

What a great place to spend time with family and friends hiking, exploring and learning about…read morenature. I came here with my husband and son not knowing what to expect and was surprised to find this hidden gem. We had a wonderful time hiking by the creek which was active this time of the year. There are a few benches along the way to sit and take all the beauty around you in. We had to cross a few water streams while hiking which made our hike so special and beautiful. We had such a wonderful time. After the hike we had lunch at the picnic tables by the parking lot. So much to see and do here. A must visit for all nature lovers. Kid friendly. .... Love this place

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.

The park needs more care and educational signs so people do a better job at removing trash, but…read moreoverall beautiful native habitat in the valley made accessible to the public due to the leadership and advocacy from the local Tribes. Grateful for this and hope that people, animals and wildlife can continue to enjoy this waterway and the native habitat.

Oro Vista Park was recommended to us by a friend and it was spectacular. There is plenty of…read moreparking and it is easy to get to the trail head. You can go up the river or down. We went down the river and were very pleased with the life all over the river. There was plenty of ducks, birds, squirrels and all kinds of little critters. It is at the base of Angles Crest and a very nice hike. We will be going back and doing the hike upstream next time.