Challenger Park in Simi Valley, CA is located off first street. The park provides recreational…read moreareas and access to various trails that take you into the mountains and away from the traffic of first street. The trails provide some good elevation to get your heart pumping. In spring time, the trails are a great place to enjoy the beauty of the flowers abound. Plus the trails tend to be well groomed and wide in most of areas to provide ultimate safety during snake season. For trails routes, if unfamiliar with the area, its best to use Alltrails. The park does provide ample wildlife- so be aware. Within the park you can find deer, mountain lions, coyotes, snales and more. Plus a wide range of birds can be seen. Given the trails tend to be empty and remote in some areas- best to hike with somebody. Also, good if you have cell reception in case of an emergency. The park provides ample parking lot spaces. Note the parking lot does not open till sunrise. As an alternative you can park across the street in the subdivision-- Just be mindful of the neighbors and the traffic across first street.

So fun and naturally beautiful. My only gripe is that most of the trails are over grown and in…read morereally bad shape. I will be back with my pups and can't wait to explore more.

Las Llajas is such a great hike. Dogs are allowed. Not too much of an incline…read more Plenty of mountain bikers too. We usually go in 3.5 miles to the fork where the windmill is and back out for 7 miles total. You can keep going and connect to other nearby trails for added distance. There is not much shade so it's best to go early before the heat. The trailhead is in a residential area with plenty of parking.

This is always one of my favorite low key hikes in Simi Valley when I do not feel like hiking an…read moreincline. The trailhead is tucked away in a residential area. From the road to the end, is approximately 6.6 miles. Off the main trail, there are hikes that will take you into the mountains. You can also connect this trail to Rocky Peak Trail. On the trail you will find people hiking, biking, and jogging. From time to time you may encounter vehicles as at the end of the trail there is private property. You may also encounter cows along the trail. In addition, you may see a wide range of birds, including owls, bats, coyotes, snakes and frogs/toads. Be on the look out for rattle snakes- especially when its warm and the sun is out. As for parking, there is plenty of on street parking by the trailhead.

Great views for a 1 hour hike close by! A the end of Highgate road off of Triunfo Cyn. Park at end…read moreof road. Go thru opening..then a 1 min walk take steep dirt path on the right. There is a huge spot on left where they are perhaps building a large home. The path continues upward..not too tough. Then evens out. Great views of Westlake Lake on the right. Soon you'll see Las Virgenes Reservoir on your left.Such great views! Walk to the end when you see the back yards....then turn right and go up the hill .When you walk the loop back toward the left you'll see Eleanor Lake. The wild flowers are just beginning now...more to come.Super quiet, peaceful hike. Didn't see a soul! The hike took an hour. This is a kid friendly hike. Easy enough.. Best little hike in the area.

There is major construction, possibly of houses, at the recommended location to access this trail…read more I walked around for 20 minutes trying to find it. Then, when I found it, it was quite small, and narrow, and not of interest in the searing heat, especially with rattlesnakes right now. I would not have been able to see what was on either side of my feet with tall grass or brush. On the plus side (or negative side depending on how you feel about wildlife), several deer bolted out of the brush when I was walking around trying to locate this trail. Overall, I wasted a couple of hours trying to find this place and what I found (after searching around), was not worth it. Maybe that is the idea, so it stays wild. I should add that the pic with the wide looking road is where they are doing construction, not the trail.

This is an absolute gem tucked away in Thousand Oaks! If you're looking for a peaceful, moderately…read moreeasy hike with beautiful scenery and minimal crowds, this is the spot. The loop is well-maintained, clearly marked, and offers a great mix of shaded sections and open views of the surrounding hills. It's perfect for a morning or late afternoon walk, especially if you want to escape into nature without venturing too far from the city. It has an awesome natural vibe. Parking is easy, and the trailhead is conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood. Whether you're hiking, jogging, or just out for a relaxing stroll, Woodridge Loop is one of those local treasures you'll want to return to again and again. Highly recommend bringing water, wearing decent shoes, and just taking your time to enjoy the serenity. Loved it!

Great jumping off point for the trail system in TO. Great for mountain biking and hiking. Many…read moretrails to choose from. Everything is so green right now and wildflowers are seen passing along the trail.

Well-maintained trail system that allows you to hikes short or long as you want to make it. You…read morewent on the short hikes you will get some great views (especially outside of June gloom season). Parking is easy and it too far from freeway access. I've never seen any big wildlife out here so I'm not sure what locals might see who venture out here on a steady visitation cycle.

The first plus about this place is that they have a restroom. They are clean which is nice. We took…read morean impromptu hike and it was honestly so beautiful. At first it felt like a lot because I didn't know what to expect. They have a couple of different trails you can take and we took the easier one. It's still kicked my butt but it was definitely worth it. Now that I know what to expect I'd definitely come back on the regular. A lot of poison oak along the trails. So be aware of what plants you're touching. Some trails you go through some flower areas and there are a lot of bees but honestly they don't bother you. Make sure to take plenty of water. It's a beautiful view.

Off Erbes road in Thousand Oaks near the 118 freeway, you will find the trailhead for this quick…read morehike. This easy hike is only about three miles but provides views of Bard lake, a reservoir in Simi Valley. By taking this trail, you'll will be awarded with the best views and closest hike to this lake as reservoir protected from direct access. The hike is near a residential area. Also hike is not too far from a highway, so it not the most scenic hike at all times. Plus in July we experience a lot of gnats. Fortunately no mosquitoes while hiking. At the trailhead there is a small unpaved parking lot! Parking is always a plus! Happy Trails!

Hot in the Summer with little shade, best at sunrise or sunset. Winds up behind suburban…read moreneighborhoods.

Located in the Boney Mountain Wilderness is a monument dedicated to Richard Ely Danielson. He…read moregenerously donated his land to the State of California for us all to enjoy. It's also the site of some pretty cool hiking. Nearby there is a chimney, all that is left of his old cabin. This is also the site of a hidden trail that takes you up to Boney Mountain. I recommend coming early in the morning. When I went it was cool with a mix of fog and some light drizzle. The hillsides were also covered with tons of blooming wildflowers. The hike was pretty strenuous, 5.5-miles round trip. You essentially descend down one mountain just to hike right back up another one. I think my favorite part was seeing the fog-covered majestic boulders of Boney Mountain suddenly appear when I turned a corner. To get there, from the main parking lot of Rancho Sierra Vista/ Satwiwa in Newbury Park, walk 0.4 miles to the path that leads to the Native American Indian Cultural Center. From there you can either take Big Sycamore Canyon Trail (the paved road) south to Danielson Road and take a left or you can take Satwiwa Loop Trail and hang a right at the fork. From there you will be at the top of the mountain looking down the canyon. Take a left and descend into the canyon for 0.8 miles. When you reach the bottom nature seems to come alive in HD. You'll hear birds chirping and the sound of water trickling and, if you go at the right season, this is when you'll start to see all of the wild flowers. Continue past the creek and make a sharp right when you reach a junction heading back up the mountain for a grueling 0.9 miles. For a short detour, before hanging a right, you can continue on and walk an additional 0.1 miles if you want to see a small waterfall. After you reach the top of the mountain you can pause to appreciate the views. You'll come across a sign and from there you will go down a bit for about 0.3 miles where you will encounter the monument. The trail is somewhat overgrown but still clearly visible.

Wonderful wonderful hike. Parked right at end of Wendy and Potrero. Not crowded at all and good…read morehiker etiquette. Once passed Satwiwa fork and headed up to windmill, no bikers and no horse poop. Dog was on leash thank goodness cuz she wanted to chase a rattler. Of course very sunny and plants are dried out but i bet it was beautiful in the spring.

The path was easily accessible. I started near the Metrolink station and rode east. After a…read morewhile, I turned around and headed west, past the train station for a couple miles. The path is in great shape and area along the arroyo makes for a very pleasant ride. I plan to return and ride there some more.

I needed a flat course to do my training for an upcoming marathon while visiting family for the…read moreholidays. You have the water basin and along it are bike paths on the side. There is one side that is smooth and well maintained. The other side is a little rough (cracks in the road or tree roots). You figure out which side is which pretty fast. I loved that there were walkers, joggers, cyclists, and dog walkers sharing the road and greeting each other in the morning. Nice place and it's good there are parks along the path to stop and use the bathroom or water fountains. Parking is plentiful at the parks that have a pathway to the bike paths. Enjoy!