Huge area ! Parking around on streets…read more Swings and slides for kids. Sand area as well . There's some shade around, so that's good for hot days. The grass isn't maintained that well. Fox tails around, not safe for dogs. No bathrooms. Water fountain works , tastes okay.

A friend recommended this park for our doggy dates and honestly this is def a favorite…read more It's huge, clean, with the park establishment itself looking relatively new and modern. It is isolated in the residential area so there aren't many cars that pass through and parking is easy. It isn't entirely fenced all around, so dogs are meant to stay leashed (there are also several signs that state this). There are many dirt holes/mounds throughout the grassy area, so be mindful if you aren't wearing the right shoes. Also there are lil spiky balls that fall from trees so have ur pups be careful! Areas of suggestion for improvement: addition of park lights, doggy stations (e.g poop bags), stronger running water fountain

last Sunday me and my daughter for two hours spent in the this park and is so safe and comfortable…read moreis good place for kids

Always clean and no riffraff. Love that both playground structures are shaded (wish the swings were…read moretoo). However, no bathrooms unfortunately.

I've recently started coming to Shadow Ranch Park with my baby and it's quickly become one of our…read morego-to spots. The park has consistently been clean and well maintained, which I really appreciate as a parent. I also feel comfortable here. I haven't encountered any issues, and it feels safe and family friendly. I love that there are two separate play areas for different age groups, so both smaller and bigger kids have space to play comfortably. The only small improvements I'd suggest would be giving the grass a slight trim and possibly bringing back the tire swing or replacing it with another feature. Lots of open space and fields. Great for all sorts of parties. Overall, I'm very satisfied and happy to have found such a nice local park for our outings.

First time visiting and I have to say it was a nice park with a playground area for children. They…read morehad slides and swings for different ages. They also had tables scattered around for sitting. Overall it was fairly clean and restrooms are available. I just wish they had more shaded areas and a barbecue area for picnics.

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 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 clean, safe, and well maintained. It's a great place for families, walks, or just…read morerelaxing outdoors. The upkeep is noticeable and appreciated.

Brand new playground equipment! There are 2 structures- 1 for older children and 1 for toddlers,…read moreswing set and 5 picnic tables. This is a neighborhood park where people walk their dogs and take their children. No bathrooms. I didn't notice poop in the grass areas and they did post signs stating that dog poop must be picked up. There are beautiful trees and grassy areas to play in. The one thing I didn't like was that the larger play structure has a lot of climbing but no slide! That doesn't make any sense. Also there is no gate surrounding the play area for mom of multiple toddlers.

This is one of the best parks around, clean, big, and lots for the little ones to do.read more

Superb park for all ages even the little ones ages 1-2. Super clean and modern! Lots of details in…read moreevery corner of the park. So many activities for kids. Great for birthday parties! Also has an awesome sand pit!

This park is great! It has multiple basketball courts, a playground with sand, bars for the kids to…read moreplay on, 4-5 tennis courts and plenty of grass to run around on. It's pretty clean and never packed. It's in a neighborhood and surrounded by tons of trees, so it gets good shade.

Loved their baseball field. No open places elsewhere. My baseball team went to practice there.read more

It's a simple park hidden on top of a hill in the middle of the community, the play ground could…read moreuse some TLC but that's from a dads point of view , the kids won't care lol afternoons are better for shade since the two trees will cover the whole play ground, no bathroom, 2 picnic tables nice lil walking path around the playground.

This little neighborhood park consists of a hill with paths that wind up and around it. A…read moreplayground sits on the top of the hill. There are no restroom facilities. From the street, the playground as well as 75% of this park is obscured from street view. Behind the park lies private homes with the fences of the backyards lining the park on three sides. This is a nice little park but it has a reputation for graffiti, unsavory characters and activities. It is also used by homeowners who walk the hills, kids who play at the playground, dog walkers, and exercise groups. It really offers a lot of hill walking and challenges those who are looking for a workout. Being so small, I'm sure both the good and bad elements of this park collide at times. I suspect being in this park in the dark is not a good idea. The times I've been here are always daytime, usually late afternoon. Today around 6:30pm there was a man sitting at a table, a woman with two kids at the playground, and a person (homeless?) sleeping in a sleeping bag on the slope of the hill going towards the backyards near the back of the park. All was quiet and nothing was suspicious, but there are signs of the unsavory folk scattered around from the graffiti on the tables and benches and the sidewalk and trash consisting of of cigarettes and alcohol bottles. While I don't feel unsafe when at this park, I typically avoid it. It is a shame that such a nice neighborhood has this type of element frequenting the park. It isn't the residents of this neighborhood that trashes this park but because of the privacy that it offers, it just attracts the types who are up to no good as well as the wonderful residents who try to keep it from becoming trashy.

Beautiful location, must visit and enjoy this local park! Calling and relaxing…read more Will be back for sure!

This park is privately owned and has there for limited opening hours. It is fully gated and fenced…read moreso it looks more like a garden. It is absolutely gorgeous and a great spot for photo shoots.

'Happy Hikers' hikes are all led by Wendy Shugar...and it has been such an amazingly FUN and…read morelife-changing experience for me:) I am not really a fan of indoor gyms and I love being out in nature, so this is a perfect fit for me. I also don't want to feel I have to be a 'super-star' athlete and feel intimidated to hike, and Happy Hikers and Wendy's warmth and laid back but focused attitude makes ALL the difference in the world! She has built my confidence and continues to build such an important community!!! I also LOVE LOVE being motivated by people and having a good laugh with them, and with Happy Hikers I get both!!! We laugh so much together and motivate one another to get through our beautiful hikes. With the group and Wendy leading us, I feel I can really do anything!!! And the rest of the week I can really feel how important this is in my life. I have become so much stronger since I started, and confident!!! I really LOVE feeling like I'm part of such an important healing and spirited community where all are welcomed! And sometimes when we do hikes with the children my daughter has the best time. And we get to meet the most wonderful people!! Being in nature just changes you and when you combine that with a Happy Hikers experience, it makes you want to do more and more...you don't even realize sometimes how much you've actually exercised, but your body will definitely thank you for it!!!

Happy Hikers is an amazing group led by Wendy. Her passion and caring for her hikers are…read moreincredible. She does a great job making sure everybody can complete the hike safely and picks great locations every single week. Don't miss out on all the fun!