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

A great park at the north end of San Fernando Valley. So many areas to spread out and enjoy. 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" read more

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Love this place! Recently came here again in 2026. Went on Grotto trail by accident a year or two ago. Omg! It was so intense but so worth is at the top I saw some coyotes on the others side- like a pack but the stayed on their side. Some people bring their hiking sticks and whistles and some just brave the wild :/. While we made it out alive, won't lie. Seeing like 5-6 coyotes at once kinda scared me but they were pretty far off. They have a nice little park (not a kid park with swings) you can walk around for a calmer and easier walk. They have other trails there that I haven't been on. So I'd just say wear good shoes if you're gonna tackle the big trails and maybe there hiking sticks (I need to get one) and anything for safety. It has many signs that there are rattle snakes. I haven't seen one but I believe them lol. I prefer to go early because in my mind, they wouldn't be out and about yet ‍ since it's not too hot. read more

O'Melveny Park - Grotto Trail. I think that's what it's valleys I forget. - Parks Near Me - Granada Hills, California

I've been coming here for decades. This place offers beautiful views and walking trails, flowers and foliage, trees, rabbits, squirrels, and other animals (if you're lucky, you can see deer and coyotes). If you're into nature, this place is for you! They have drinking fountains, a nice bathroom, and picnic tables, so it's good for family outings. People love walking their dogs here, too. It's a great place to enjoy a peaceful day. read more

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Beautiful hike. A few different paths. Definitely a nice incline on the nature trail. Nice balance between exploring nature and getting a nice workout in. Love the wild flowers. read more

O'Melveny Park - Parks Near Me - Granada Hills, California

Love this trail. The trail from the parking lots is a gradual incline and about close to a mile, you'll hit the first hill, and there's a flat area then you hit the next hill, and it's hilly all the way. I turned around at 1.75 miles after seeing a baby Rattlesnake. Baby Rattlesnake: I almost stepped on it because it was in the middle of the trail. Its color blended perfectly with the color of the ground and it wasn't moving. Parking: Lots available in the parking lot. They close the gate on dusk, and opens on dawn. Restroom: Yes, and less than a quarter mile from the parking lot. There were some used tiissue and seat covers, but it was alright if you need to go. People: Lots of foot traffic even late afternoon so you I felt safe seeing them here and there. View: excellent view of the mountains and city escape. read more

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One of the hiking trails that I visited when I first started hiking. It is easy to find once you put it on your GPS. Parking gets a little more crowded and you can wait to find one. Starting the trail is easy for beginners but once you reach the uphill climb it is hard. But you're rewarded with the fantastic views though. I saw hikers walking back and they didn't continue going up. Make sure to bring enough water and wear a hat as there is no shade. Unless you just wanted to hang around near the entrance. *Public facilities are available. read more

This beautiful park is located off of Balboa Blvd. North of the 118. It's easy to find with GPS unlike many trails in the SFV that aren't clearly mapped out. There is a parking lot available but can fill up quickly on the weekends. Once you enter the park you will have the opportunity to choose a variety of trails depending on your level of hiking. Lots of nature happening here. Dogs are allowed but please clean up after them. They have several picnic areas, public bathrooms and even a vending machine:) Today we saw a huge raven but no snakes thank goodness! Everyone was friendly and courteous as we passed them. One lovely man in particular had hung a hammock and was enjoying the sun. We did about a mile then headed for some Boba:) *No Bikes allowed *Beware of rattlesnakes *Dogs allowed *Great for families. read more

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Beautiful trail although we only hung around nearby the entrance for some quick shoots. Love the amount of trees to give it a "forest" vibe and even a farm type setting with the wooden fencing. We've shot here a handful of times and looking forward to doing more! Still have a lot of spots on the trail to check out which I'm sure have some amazing scenery for different themes! This is located if you go up Balboa Blvd and turn a left onto Sesnon. Follow that path and you'll see signs and a tiny parking lot for this spot. Can't wait to be back! IG: @ammysalamii read more

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O'Melveny Park is a public park located in the Santa Susana Mountains, in the Granada Hills of San Fernando Valley, in the northernmost portion of the City of Los Angeles, California. It is the second largest park in LA after Griffith Park. This park has a large grassy areas, picnic tables, public toilet and is known for its hiking trails and horse trails and some impeccable views. Furthermore, you'll see orange trees around the park. I came late morning to hike which I found out it has multiple trails (i.e., Nature trail, O'Melveny trail, Equestrian trail, Bee Canyon trail, Grotto trail). Oh Blimey! This park has a modest size parking lot. Overall, this is a great park and hiking area. I recommend this park. read more

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O'Melveny Park Trail and Bee Canyon Loop Don't be fooled, this is a 3.2 mile intermediate hike with some steep long inclines from either approach. It's not insurmountable, so just take your time and stop when you need to. The downward exit can be especially slippery, so watch your footing. It was the low mid 70s today and since the hike is rather sun exposed, make sure you wearing sunscreen and brought a hat. Some breath taking views (especially in the morning), and you're not even 1/3 of the way done. Enjoy! read more

O'Melveny Park - 1/3 of the way up on O'Melveney Trail and Bee Canyon Loop - Parks Near Me - Granada Hills, California

This past summer I was on a mission to discover all the best hiking spots in the Valley, or near enough the Valley. My friend and I decided to link up here because we are both ravenous hikers. I will say that it has given me one of the best views of LA (well, the Valley) I have had in a while, and I was so pleased with how high up we were able to get. I will say that I think I neglected to eat before beginning which is one of my cardinal sins of hiking. We encountered so much nature, including adorably hilarious quails that thought they could outrun by staying on the hiking trail while doing so. They eventually flew away, but it felt like a cartoon scenario. We also saw some birds feuding in the sky. Beware of poison oak and poison ivy, as we did see some along the way. Thankfully my friend has a good eye for sensing danger. He is also allergic to bees, so we had to go quickly through some flower patches where bees were having a ball. This is a hiking trail worth revisiting. I will definitely want to keep doing this hike to build up my endurance. read more

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Why didn't I come here before? Such a beautiful park to take a walk in! Highly recommend! Loved that there was parking, the trees were beautiful, and you have options with trails if you want more elevation or just to stay within the park. 10/10 read more

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This is a beautiful park filled with nature. O'Melveny is the second largest wilderness area in Los Angeles. There are picnic tables, a beautiful meadow and restroom facilities close to the entrance. Many trails lead up the hills to much longer hikes. Bring your dogs, but make sure to clean up after them. read more

This was a very nice park with a beautiful view at the top of the San Fernando Valley. There is a path that is more open and paved for walking, but there is also a nature trail for the people looking for a good hike. CAUTION! There are rattlesnakes on the Nature Trail (not sure on the other path) that sneak up on you sometimes, so just be cautious. Nevertheless, I still recommend checking this place out. They have a decent amount of parking, so don't worry about that, street parking is available as well. read more

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What a nice hidden gem! I took my dog here to spice up his daily walk and I'm glad I did. This is such an easy hike with many different trails. I could have stayed for hours trying every trail, my dog could too. Unfortunately it started raining when we visited so we will have to come here again. read more

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I love coming here and now it's toasted. There was a fire here today and I've gone here numerous times. Very clean, beautiful inside and out. read more

I do love the outdoors, this trail It's a pretty long one. I suggest bring your hiking boots and your hiking stick. Springtime is the best so many beautiful flowers definitely go in a group is better for safety reasons as you might encounter and animal or so. I prefer to hike early morning!! read more

O'Melveny loop to Mission Peak is a 4.2 mile (elevation gain about 1,400+) very hilly trail that is absolutely gorgeous during the Spring time. I absolutely love the sight of all the different flowers blooming out here (see my pics). Once you reach the top, it's a 360 degree view of The Valley, downtown LA and views down to the Santa Clarita area too. I usually take the loop back down, after I reached the bench and the rock memorial to Dr De Campos (see my pic). If you aren't use to hiking, this hike can be quite challenging, so bring grippy good hiking shoes, enough water and the "ten essentials" (REI has a good list, if you aren't familiar with what i'm referring to). I hike with hiking poles, to further assist me with balance and speed up and down the hills (to each his/her own). Seemingly always windy at the top, so bring a windbreaker jacket too. Parking gate closes and locked around 7-8pm-ish. Free parking. Restrooms available here, but the women's toilets was clogged with toilet paper the last time I went. Lastly, dog friendly hiking area, as long as your furry friend is kept on a leash. Only negative, darn mosquitos here (ick!). read more

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I wanted to show my girlfriend the hiking spot that I went to years ago with some friends. We drove and got here around 1 PM on a Saturday. There was several families already coming down from being here and there was a lot of social activity going on. It was nice still because there were also many other dogs that were taken to go on a walk here. I brought my dog as well and he enjoyed it very much. We decided to trek all the way up the Melveny trail. It leads to the peak of the mountain. Over the course of the journey, there was a lot to see in terms of scenery. We enjoyed hiking and seeing such amazing views of nature. Before you start the incline to the mountain, you go through a park and come across areas with picnic tables and are practically in a large local park. We really enjoyed the sheer amount of large trees and also got to taking some really nice photos. We were there for at least an hour and a half. The track got difficult once you reach the area past the bench. There is a small, narrow path that brings you up even higher up, which was all of our first times exploring. It was definitely a course that got us catching our breaths multiple times. Would definitely love to come back here to enjoy nature while walking our dog! I definitely recommend! As always with all hiking trails, make sure to exercise caution and stay in the designated trails and be mindful of any wildlife animals that live around the area. Definitely a great hiking area in the San Fernando Valley. read more

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A great place for hiking any time of the year. I have been here twice with my family during the spring months and the scenery is beautiful. The trails are well maintained and has beautiful views from all around. There is a small parking lot, also some street parking. Lots of picnic tables and grass area. Clean restrooms. read more

O' Melveny Park is such a lovely trail to hike. It nice to hike especially during spring time when there's greenery all around & you get to see a variety of colorful wildflowers blooming. There are many trail options to hike that range from steep to moderate levels. You can find lots of picnic tables all around the park and there's also a clean & well maintained restroom inside the trail park. Parking lot gets filled up soon but there are plenty of street parking spots available. read more

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I mean a hike is nice and all, but is it really a work out if you aren't doing it in over 100 degrees??? My son and I have been on an over 100 degree hiking kick lately. We come prepared with sunscreen, hats, water etc. but boy these have been kicking my butt. We hadn't done this hike before but I think in the end we both were happy we did. It's not a long one but it is a burner. You are climbing nearly the entire time. I forget what his Garmin data read, but it's a climb folks! We parked in the front parking lot, and didn't really know where to go but followed our instinct and made our way to the back of the park. That's where the trail begins. There were so many signs for rattlesnakes and mountain lions I think we both thought we'd encounter something a bit more risqué than the dozens and dozens of cotton tail bunny rabbits, squirrels and birds we spotted all playing together in perfect harmony as if we stumbled into some version of the Snow White movie. It was all fun and games, cute furry friends while strolling through the park then then you hit the trail in 102 degrees and it's Game On baby! At one point coming back down I asked my son, how the hell did we get up here? To which he half jokingly replied "by the grace of God" lol, he wasn't lying. Shit is steep in some sections. This trail is probably still a decent work out in lower temps but take to it on a scorcher day and you'll have the thing to yourself. We spotted maybe 2 or 3 other people tops in about the 2 hours it took us. This was a fun hike to toss into our rotation and switch things up. The park itself is absolutely lovely and was completely empty. I'm not sure if it's always this way of if the heat kept people away. I'd say it's the perfect place for a special little picnic but with all the signs, I wonder if it's one of those places that you think will be lovely only to find out there are snakes in the grass. I'd say come for the hike! Burn some calories, get the heart rate up not knowing if you'll need to dodge a rattle snack without a venom kit on you or sprint in 100 degrees away from a mountain lion or a fire that could break out because of all of the dry brush. All in all, keeps it exciting ya' know! read more

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Favorite place for a walk / hike .. one of the toughest hikes for me but its worth the view. read more

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What a great park and hiking trail recessed in the middle of the city. When you first walk in through the park, there are a bunch of citrus trees with hundreds of fruit fallen to the ground. Then you are on the trail. It's an awesome escape from the city without actually leaving the city, and it's a great view from the bench where you can rest a little from the uphill hike. It was a little warm in the 90 degree weather; it's probably more enjoyable earlier in the morning or during spring. But you can definitely have a nice picnic in the park where the grass is green and shaded by the large trees. I recommend this place for both hiking and picnicking with the kids and dogs. Even though there are remnants of last year's fire, nature is doing a good job of repairing itself. And there's plenty of free street parking. read more

Beautiful easy hike, with a few offshoot trails to make it harder if you like. Use caution, the rattlesnakes are out, almost stepped on one behind the women's bathroom by a tree before the creek. lots of running water, three small water crossings read more

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Love this park for several reasons. It's close and convenient (to me). There is ample parking in the lot and surrounding streets. There are several hiking trails. There are maintained restrooms. There are several areas to picnic on tables or a blanket. There are Pokemon Go stops on several of the trails. The regular visitors are usually pretty friendly and respectful. My most recent visit was on a Monday at lunchtime. My bf and I came to hike the Three Trees trail aka DeCampos trail. It was almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit so needless to say, the trail was not crowded. We were basically alone the entire time. We started in the parking lot made it up to the "Three Trees" and came back down via Neon Way and Sesnon. The round trip total was 5.26 miles and it took us about 1:45. We only briefly stopped a few times to take photos and take in the view. The course was a pretty steep climb to the top. Coming down was easy. There wasn't much shade once we passed the 3/4 mile mark. Glad we brought a lot of water. Overall, it's a beautiful trail with great views of the city and nature. Along the way, we saw beautiful yellow wildflowers, squash, lizards, birds, and a variety of trees and plants. This, by far, is my favorite local park! read more

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I have been to O'melveny park on many occasions. Mainly to hike but I also do photography as a hobby and I have done several photo shoots for friends and family, here at this park. There are many lush areas and beautiful landscapes prior to getting to the main hiking trails. The main entrance (area) is paved but once you begin the trails the paths are all dirt. It's compact for the most part but there are areas that get pretty muddy during rainy season. Today there was a light drizzle and it was gloomy but it was actually perfect hiking weather. Trails were in good condition. Just FYI though, the trails aren't marked very well and there are several trails to veer off to. I personally just follow the crowd to be safe! Lol Also, it is a dog friendly park, lots of dogs every time I have hiked here :) AND they have many picnic benches/areas for a nice lunch/picnic! Lastly, there is a very small parking lot but there is also plenty of street parking directly across from the lot. In case anyone is wondering (due to covid) parking lot is open and so are the trails. Nice hiking option if you're in the area! read more

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O' Melveny Park has a variety of trails whether you're a hiking novice or pro. And if you have a keen eye you'll spot lots of wild life here: hawks, lizards, rabbits, coyote, and even rattle snake (wear long pants, and look where you step!), just to name a few. I've gone on the weekend, and during the week at various times in the morning/early afternoon and there's usually folks out on the trail. There's even a fancy vending machine with boxed water and herbal water near the restrooms. Bring water and sunscreen - there's shade along the way, but lots of unshaded areas too. read more

O'Melveny Park - O'Melveny Park, Loop Trail. - Parks Near Me - Granada Hills, California

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I've asked a question on yelp regarding if this place was open. And the answers came back no. Well, we've decided to drive by later to see and to my surprise, it's still open. The parking lot was open. Parking is limited in the lot but there's street parking outside. Arrived around 5pm, there's was a good amount of people parking in the lot. Didn't really see much people inside the park area. Give or take about 5 or so. Maybe scattered but most of the people were there for the hiking trails.... I've been here before but from a different entrance. More of where it was residential and that hike was a tough one. It was basically straight up the whole way to the top. But from the main park entrance, it was more pleasurable but still a strenuous hike. There was a good amount of people on the trails, passing one others but majority had mask on for safety. Which was nice. The start of the hike, the path was nice and wide but once you started reaching height elevation, certain areas became much or narrow. After all of the rain that LA has had, the trail was spectacular with all the lush plants and wild flowers blooming. Amazing view, the hills were covered in green and yellow and purple blooms. I would say, it starts off pretty easy, level with a slow incline. But once you start reaching middle, the incline does get a bit more harder. Once you reach the top, finally. The view of the valley is quite impressive. There's a bench at the top, which is odd as there's only one bench. Regardless, it was worth the hike. We've stayed on the main trail but there's others that in straight incline. So if your up for that, enjoy the kick ass workout. Just be cautious about timing. Once it gets dark, be careful as there's no lights and with all the tall brush, I don't know what's lurking behind it. read more

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Such a beautiful park. Drive here was really scenic. There are some streams flowing so it's very relaxing and a lot of walking/hiking that you can do. Bathrooms available but bring your own toilet paper. read more

O'Melveny Park - Park entrance - Parks Near Me - Granada Hills, California

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My go to park when I'm training for a Spartan or Trail race that has steep climbs or big elevation gains. I always do the Grotto trail here which is a little over a mile up hill and just over 1,000 feet elevation gains. Up there you'll get a great view of the San Fernando Valley. Once you're at the top you can take the trail down the O'Melveny to make a complete loop that's about 3.25 miles total. I usually hike up the Grotto trails, and run back down the O'Melveny trail but over the last 3 or 4 years the rain that the Valley gets for just one month during the fall/winter has left a lot of grooves in the trail which make it more challenging to run down. The Grotto trail is a tough climb, but it's only about a mile so it's doable for new hikers. It's also a good training trail for anyone that's trying to prepare for longer & similar steep incline hikes like Mt. Baldy. The park itself has a pretty big grassy center area, and a side near by with picnic seating areas. There area a few other trails around the park that aren't as strenuous as the Grotto trail. A note for the winter of 2020, a few months after the Saddleridge fire a good portion of the park has grown back some grass, and with most of the old dry weeds and tall grass burned out you can actually see the other trail routes in the park. Now is a great time to visit and see a nice green park before everything dries back up by the spring. read more

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Do not go down the grotto trail. We made the mistake of starting on the O'Melveny trail head and ending with the grotto trail.... We should have started with the grotto trail and ended with O'Melveny because the grotto is wayyyy to steep to go down, much easier to climb up, still challenging but more doable. It's not just steep there's a lot of loose rocky sandy bits so it's easy to slip. Beautiful views and fresh air. The park itself is very lovely with fancy vending machines, nice green grass, plenty of picnic tables everywhere. Parking is a bit limited on the weekends but there's always street parking. read more

Such a gem! Mostly known by locals, it is absolutely astonishing how magical this place is. 30 orange trees will come you in the front and white barn yard fences lead you to the small cute bridge. After that, it's just wide views and hills as far as the eye can see. Did the trek up the mountain once and walked back through the deafening frog concert. You can't beat that. read more

I love this easy going trail. Super easy, clean, and safe. Very nice during spring weather.

Lovely park with a bunch of trails and great views of surrounding area. Parking is easy and free. There are several trails to choose from some of them connect with one another. Some parts are very steep so I would recommend a better set of hiking shoes. read more

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On the north end of the SFV, O'Melveny Park has miles and miles of gorgeous hiking and acres of natural beauty. I came in search of butterflies and flowers; the butterflies did not disappoint, since my hike coincided with the mass migration of the Painted Ladies. (I am sure the flowers will bloom later in the spring.) The hike was beautiful, steep and with a lot of vista points perfect for pictures. I was fortunate enough to be in the path of hundreds of thousands of the stunning migrating butterflies for a truly unforgettable experience. The parking lot is small, so arrive early if you want a spot. Street parking appears plentiful as well. Restrooms and water fountains available, but bring your own water if you're hiking in the hills. Trails appear well-maintained but be safe. read more

O'Melveny Park - Couldn't make it to Ireland for Saint Patrick's Day this year but this will do - Parks Near Me - Granada Hills, California

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Nice park. Like to find a quiet place to sit and read. My dogs like it as well. It's a short drive from Valencia along the old road. Brings back memories. read more

My goodness! This park is beautiful! So green and lush. Parking: There is a medium sized parking lot. There's always a few parking spots open when I go (morning, during the week). When there isn't, you can park across the street. Bathrooms: the last time I went (during the week) the bathrooms were closed! Not sure if it was due to covid or if they were fixing them but they were closed. *tear* They had a working vending machine next to it though! Hiking: great place to go hiking! The view is beautiful. We've only gone halfway up the mountain but eventually I'd like to make it further. This is perfect for beginner to moderate. Extras: there are plenty of benches to rest on and picnic tables to eat at. We went to have a picnic after our hike, so we brought out the picnic blanket and just sat in the grass. It was extremely relaxing. It is in a quiet neighborhood. Lots of wild animals. We didn't encounter any dangerous animals but beware the rattlesnakes and mountain lions. We saw little hares, chipmunks, lizards, and lots of birds. Overall this is a great park! I'd recommend it to anyone. read more

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What an amazing challenging hike (heart rate when up really quick) with gorgeous views of the valley! The weather was perfect on Easter Sunday, there was a beautiful breeze throughout our hike. I just have to say there were so many friendly people on the trails either hiking, running or just walking their pups. Water fountains are located at the bottom of the hike for you and your pup (my pup appreciated this gesture). There is none during your hike so make sure you bring water. There is a cute little river running parallel to the trail at the bottom. They also have a park at the bottom for picnics and BBQ's for families to enjoy. You don't have to worry about parking because even though their parking lot only has a couple of spaces there is plenty of street parking. I did feel safe parking on the street but still lock your valuables. I am really glad I brought my German Shepherd here. I would say he was done after the first mile and half and let me tell you he has a lot of energy. If you want a hike that is gorgeous, challenging (steep) but also calm and serene this hike is for you. I will be bringing him and my other pups next time. . read more

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