A moderately challenging hike
through an oak-filled canyon and across an exposed ridge that straddles the
L.A. and Ventura County line. Birdwatchers, pack your binoculars.
Location: Santa Monica
Mountains Region: West Valley Distance: 6.5-mile loop Difficulty: Moderate with a short section of very challenging
bushwhacking. When to go: October to June Hours: Sun up to sunset Phone: (805) 370-2301 Elevation Gain: 850 ft. Are dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash. Restrooms: Yes, at the trailhead. Cleanest port-a-potties I've ever
seen. Parking: Free
Trail Information
Full Review: In the summertime, this hike is a dismal SoCal classic.
The mustard dries up, the purple sage shrivels, and the predominant
remaining colors are brown, brown and brown. Thankfully, the rest of the
year brings patches of green and explosions of wildflowers that light up the
valley and its resident oaks. Who says LA has no seasons?
From the parking lot, start down the Cheeseboro Canyon trail and veer left
at Sulphur Springs. Enjoy the shade of the oaks as you wind through the
canyon floor — it won't last long. After about 2.5 miles, turn right onto
the Baleen Wall trail. You will have seen this name before - you passed by
the other end of the loop on your way there.
The next stretch is a fine example of what happens to a trail when nature is
allowed to take its course: Total chaos. Don't get discouraged; just push
your way through the gnarly weeds for about a third of a mile and check
yourself for ticks when you reach the top. You'll know you're there when a
power line appears in a clearing on your right. Go left until you reach a
road. Then turn right and start your way around the exposed part of the
ridge that loops around a water tank and back down into the canyon.
When you return to the canyon floor, continue on the main trail until you've
back tracked a mile or so to the parking lot. Perform a tick check one last
time and remove the thistles from your socks. Congratulations, you can now
call yourself a rugged hiker.
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