Great place to take kids - especially between the ages of 2-8 years old. The Western buildings are very cool, but I don't think this place gets enough credit for the hiking options that it provides. All of the trails are easily accessible and can vary between shady tree covered strolling alongside a creek to uphill climbs in the sun. Nothing mind blowingly difficult about the hikes so the kids feel challenged without being discouraged, and there is a kind of figure 8 loop that you can do if you hike Coyote Trail and then the Run Trail. It's nice because at the halfway mark (about 1.5 miles) you can people drop out or join up for the hike. Very cool place to picnic and explore for young families. read more

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The Paramount Ranch is very unique and is a great place for a casual stroll, hike or picnic. The land is very well kept. Beautifully preserved it is straight out of a western movie with their dirt paths and wooden sherifs office. Last year my office hosted tbe annual company picnic complete with bbq, sports, relay races and a scavenger hunt around the movie set like town. If i remember correctly the old television show MASH was filmed there. There are water fountains and bathrooms, but be sure to bring food or snacks as they are not availble. It can be quite hot as there is not a lot of shade to hide under. This place is a definite must see for everyone, but especially for those visiting. read more

Beautiful hidden gem. I can't believe I didn't know about this place. It has old historic movie-set-like old bldgs. And a lot of ppl were doing photoshoots w their camaeras out. The trail is an easy hike too. And the nature out here is simply breath-taking. They also have horseback riding that takes you through the entire trail. I totally will come back here to try that. read more

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Very cool place really enjoyed bringing the kids to play , park rangers were vey helpful there are multiple restrooms that are very clean and well stocked. Loved that we could bring the dog too. We are coming back for our family portraits here now for sure :) read more

The Paramount Ranch is an old western town set that they used to shoot movies and television shows at. Now, it's open to the public as a park for people to enjoy. This is a nice weekend excursion for Angelenos since it's not too far, but also not so close that it still feels like suburbia. There was actually a wedding occurring there when we visited and also a horse riding trip in the area which starts at the ranch as well. People often bring their pets with them as it's an enclosed space away from the road. If you're looking for something unique and something that the kids of all ages will love, this is definitely one of those places that the entire family can enjoy and it's not so far away that it'll take up the whole day. read more

Paramount Ranch - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

So sad that its its gone! This was such a fun spot to bring the family. Hope they rebuild! read more

This is a really cool park that is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. I didn't have much time, but I stopped at the visitor center at King Gillette Ranch (which is very nearby) and learned that I could see the Western town quite easily without having to do any hiking. The Western town is right at the entrance, and not far from where you can park your car. I was completely alone there on a Friday afternoon (not unsafe, though - there were tons of park ranger cars at the office near the restrooms). It's a pretty neat fake town, I'm sure just about anyone would think it's cool. If I had more time, I would have loved to go on some of the trails. A great free park! read more

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I absolutely love this place. Hiking, horseback riding, movie sets, what's not to love? My boyfriend and I often hike with our dogs, and when we heard about Paramount Ranch, we just had to go. We came on a Sunday, which was surprisingly not crowded at all! And bonus, the sets are right near the parking lot for super easy access. (Baby strollers, wheelchairs, and those who can't walk long distances should be fine visiting the sets.) The coolest thing for me, personally, was seeing the "Town Hall" building, which was used as Mr. Chin's/Brother Justin's mission in the HBO series, Carnivàle. I definitely had a fangirl moment seeing that. Awesome place for a hike, or simply checking out the sets. Next time, I'm going horseback riding! read more

Paramount Ranch - The HBO series, Carnivàle, was filmed here! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

Beautiful trails be but advised WESTERN TOWN BURNT DOWN. There's no western town. Sorry.

A nice tranquil area where you can get away from the craziness of the city for a while. I almost talked myself out of visiting here but in my never ending quest to find new photo locations in the LA area I just had to go. In my last LA venture I decided to finally take a gander. It was a bit of a drive but thankfully traffic was on our side and we were able to zip over there with good timing. Upon entering the park grounds we passed a horse trailer that offers tours of the ranch grounds which seemed quite awesome. Parking was plentiful and FREE, made our way to the info board to read a lil info about the area. Much like what others have said this has been used for countless movies and T.V. shows. Made my way to the western "town" which area all shell buildings for the different backdrops for westerns. There area some shaded areas with picnic tables so you can have a nice lunch while enjoying the peace and quiet. When I went it was a lil crowded but not to the point of it being unbearable. Made my way around the lil town which takes only a short time, was in photo heaven as this would make a jaw dropping area for a country portrait session or stylized wedding.Just an FYI I had no reception while out here so keep that in mind because up in the hills there are different critters some that can be harmful if disturbed. Also please pick up your trash!! there are trashcans all around the area , I had a run in with a dope who after taking selfies decided to leave his soda and water bottles on the porch of one of the buildings after he starts walking off I told him to get back and throw it away unless he wants to be cited for littering. He gave me somewhat of a dirty look and reluctantly came to pick up his trash and throw it away. To which i applauded don't ruin a nice place by being a doofus and leaving your trash around. Other than that It's a nice lil getaway to visit , learn a bit about the ole westerns and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

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Goodbye Paramount Ranch. We hope you can be rebuilt. You have inspired so many and provided a backdrop for so much joy. Breaks my heart to see it gone. read more

Paramount Ranch - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

The park has been burned down and is no longer standing. You can still see the church but that is all.

Love this place! Came to visit once I found out that Westworld films here. Was not disappointed. It's a great little quiet and calm western town set against nice hills and pretty hiking trails. The parking is free as well as the entrance. Dog-friendly all around. Sometimes there is filming or private events like weddings and such, so the town is blocked off. I also know that Nike Run Club does running events here from time to time. It's a great place for personal photo ops. I come back when I can cause I enjoy the town and the backdrop scenery along with the trails to walk with my pup. read more

Took my family during the week. There was a film crew on site that did their best to allow us to see the sites while also providing us with a pretty neat opportunity to see them in action. I have not had an opportunity to see the area since then, but will definitely go back. read more

This is a good family day trip for the landmarks and trails. Fun place to pretend with the kids and run off some energy. They also host filming and other events. Beautiful setting and surrounding trails! read more

What more do you want? Free, takes you away into a distant land (literally), and an exciting place for any obsessive movie fan. I've heard of this place for the longest time and one evening, got into my car and drove off into the west, when finally coming here. Its was so picturesque, perfect time to hit this place is during the winter to get a glimpse of the winter sunset. Nothing like it in the world or maybe in make believe movies. At first you may be put off by the distance from civilization but its only 15 minutes from Calabasas. After a couple of miles of windy road, you will find a sign which is not hard to miss. Its a pretty safe area as there is a station right next to the ranch. Plenty of parking available. I saw allot of photographers doing photo shoots almost every corner. Don't worry the place is big enough that you kind of set up a rotation between spots without saying a word to each other ::weird yes:: It definitely gives you a ghost town vibe, only thing is it was never a real town but only in tinsel town. I wish I had more time, unfortunately I lost daylight and my photo taking was limited due to low lighting, plus it was an eerie night especially with the full moon peaking over the horizon. Great place, what more can you ask for, kudos to the state for buying the property and preserving all this time. read more

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Thanks to the Yelp Activity feed, I saw a recent review by Snow W. on Paramount Ranch. I know she loves to go to cool places to hike and gave it a read. This place sounded great for a visit with our Grand-pups & grouchy ol' Chihuahua! Bookmarked! Now this was a fun excursion! We went on a perfect morning. It was overcast and cool. Which meant that the bugs weren't out to feast on me and that the smell of the "road apples" wouldn't be as odorific. So much to recommend for a visit: No admission fees for parking or entry. Plenty of parking. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=Sye053ckHI9rSp6OnXy77A Clean restrooms next to the Ranger Station. (and a somewhat hidden one in the "town") https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=_7-pGepsXJ_fkAvUtw-3oQ The Western Town movie set. Recognizing buildings from familiar movies/TV was fun. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=oPrmLJ6G3XkiMEh_pOYarA https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=MicgEwCkyQFj9IX2ooto-A Photo ops. We saw folks doing professional family/baby/engagement shoots. A large covered picnic area and other picnic tables on the grounds. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=qcEctDApiECp2-HQw9RSkA Easy hiking trails. Lots to look at while strolling about. You could see why this valley is perfect for Western-type scenery. The natural foliage was lovely. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=QVkqu1k9ih3YW71xQg7qLw https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=EhD7dqGym2PVF5wtgybUCg Horse, bicyclist and dog-friendly! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=I3E-ir3Kgn6SElJwJiSVtA Some personal notes: If hiking, wear the proper shoes. The trails aren't paved. My Mary-Jane style walking shoes didn't cut it and I had to stop periodically to shake the pebbles out. My bad. There were quite a few people there, but it didn't feel like it. The area was spread out enough that we felt like we had the trails to ourselves. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=_7-pGepsXJ_fkAvUtw-3oQ Be aware that you'll come across horse poop on the trails. We were stepping carefully, but one of the Grand-pups loves to roll around on any surface and well....he stunk up the car on the long ride home and we had to give him (and the others) a bath the minute we got home. We really enjoyed ourselves out there. Stayed almost two hours wandering about and put in about 2 1/2 miles on my pedometer. The Grand-pups love nature walks and to our surprise, our old chihuahua wanted to stay down on the ground the entire time. He tuckers out easily these days & we usually end up carrying or putting him in a stroller. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills?select=7_yqethMZ_Zvd2f-_USSFA I wish we lived closer to this family-friendly ranch, it felt like a real outdoorsy adventure. We usually go to the urban parks closer to home so this was something different for us. Good times! read more

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Photo op? Yes. (need ith permit for professionals) Awesome western theme! Hiking trails! Lots of bugs! Clean air! Seriously awesome for photography. They have the studio western set up (used in Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman) and you can take photos there. Lots of parking and hiking! Downside: Bugs everywhere Must leave before sunset Bathrooms alright Upside: views and scenery I liked it but it's far. read more

This is a great place for an outdoorsy date. First comes the breathtaking drive up and down the curvy mountains of the Calabasas/Malibu Creek border. This is a favorite spot for bikers who like to hug the curves and rush along the roads past the rest of us in cars. I recommend pulling off to the shoulder at least once to snap some pictures and check out the gorgeous view. When you get to down to Paramount Ranch, the trails are super easy but take you through some pretty areas, as well as some land where various movies and television shows have been filmed. Since Malibu Canyon Creek State Park does not allow dogs, those of us who like to walk with our doggies should appreciate this dog-friendly ranch. Not much of a hike, but a nice way to spend an early afternoon. read more

This place is awesome. The other reviews have said it all - and a few of the photos of building are mislabeled, though. This place has changed a lot since Dr. Quinn was filmed, more notably the metal exterior on the barn (used to be wood during Dr. Quinn instead of sheet metal), and the saloon has a large porch now. I cannot believe that people are taking stars off because they have found ticks on their dogs. Only in California...(this is why you give your pets flea and tick preventative, and check them after every hike). This isn't a dog park, it's the real outdoors, get real, people! Additionally, there are actually hawks and real wildlife living here. There are a few places that are bigger (such as the M*A*S*H filming area) but they aren't free or dog friendly. Then again, it seems most people are intent on bashing the site due to ticks, so maybe it's best to leave Poochie at home. If that's the case, there are more interesting places to go without your four-legged friend. The maps for the trails are sort of useless and you can find your way around without them. Bring lots of water, a Camelback type thing would be the best. It's not like the trails are strenuous but the park can get pretty hot. All in all, there's enough here to spend the day if you're really into the shows that were filmed here - but if not, then it can be half a day if you walk everywhere and see everything. Personally, I think the park would be better off letting people stay an hour after sunset (vs at sunset) so people could enjoy watching the sun go down. But that's not enough for me to take off a star. read more

SUPER scenic and beautiful baby!! Great place to go with family and friends , nice picnic areas and tables everywhere , great hiking place , nice spot to take pictures, recommend!! read more

A beautiful park, set just outside of Agoura Hills, Paramount, as the name implies is owned by the studios, and was, and still is, used for many of their (and other's) outdoor and western themed films. There is still a "western" town set up at the entrance of the park. It used to be the shooting location for Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and was renovated for Carnivale. It's a great place to picnic, or take leisurely walks. Trails veer away from the central area, and park rangers maintain the location. It may be hard to get to off of a google maps or mapquest, but basically take the Kanan exit toward the beach, turn left on Cornell, and follow it to the ranch, which will be on the right coming from that direction. For more history about it, check this place out... http://www.seeing-stars.com/Studios/ParamountRanch.shtml read more

I was not that impressed with this ranch. It was a fairly long drive with not much to see besides a dusty road with a few oldish buildings. I spotted a few bloggers doing outfit shoots, but other then that, it was pretty dead. This area of Malibu is pretty and there are nearby hiking trails, so you could make a day of it if you wanted to check out the area. The only interesting thing was the ranch used to be a staple for Western shoots back in the day; Charlie's Angels, Dukes of Hazard, and CHIPs are just a few of the tv shows that shot here. While the ranch was eerily quiet while I was visiting, you could very easily stumble across a movie being filmed if you come during the weekdays. read more

You would not believe it until you see it. Stone throw away from the 101 freeway. If you want to take a one day driving vacation this place is perfect. The drive was breath taking and when I got there I felt the peace and quite right away. I felt the stress melt away as I stroll around the old set. It conjures images of old and simple times. There are activities in this park every month and it is worth while supporting. read more

Like nearby Malibu Creek State Park, Paramount Ranch has a history as a filming location for movies and TV. While Malibu Creek has some great scenery, this park is also worth a visit. It has several advantages over its larger neighbor: parking is free, dogs are allowed, and it's usually less crowded. It's a little bit of a drive from Los Angeles or the Valley, but for people looking for a new outdoor experience, it's worth the trip. It's not necessarily a place where one can expect a great workout, but it's certainly fun to stroll around the grounds. You can visit the former filming location known as Western Town; there are paths that follow the creek, climb hills and traverse the meadow. There are also nice views of the nearby peaks. read more

Alright. My review will probably be a bit unique because I just had my wedding at Paramount Ranch a few weeks ago. It was so wonderful, and exactly what I wanted for my wedding, but you really have to understand what you're getting into when you chose to have your wedding in a public, government owned park. It was difficult to get a hold of the rangers, and when I did, they weren't very responsive or helpful in answering my questions. The particular ranger I worked most with was not very clear on the process that I would need to go through to execute the paperwork for the wedding, so I ended up needing to do a lot of checking in with him to make sure things were moving along. Then, on the day of the wedding, there was a miscommunication and the rangers who were working that day told me that we couldn't have ANY alcohol at the event, when I had clearly discussed that we were having wine and beer months earlier. We were able to work something out, but it was nearly a huge disaster, all because their communication wasn't clear. I highly suggest getting a wedding planner/coordinator who has experience in outdoor/public weddings, especially with government employees. That being said, the rangers who were with us on the day were wonderful, helpful, and fun! They even joined in a dance or two! Aside from the logistics issues, I absolutely loved having my wedding at Paramount Ranch. The setting was absolutely beautiful, rustic, romantic, and everything we wanted. The perfect balance of nature and whimsy in the western town. It was unbeatable! read more

I probably should have mentioned this earlier but the day after our hike I found three ticks on my yellow lab. And we never left the trail! Make sure you check your pet after your hike and use flea/tick meds on them prior to. read more

We wanted to start the New Year doing something active but low-key. Hiking it is. Orange County parks are closer to us but most of them aren't dog friendly and we wanted to bring our yellow labrador retriever. We visited this park mid-afternoon on New Year's Day. It's a far drive if you're not from the area. We enjoyed checking out the beautiful custom homes surrounded by ranches on our way to the park. A small road leads to the park and then you'll see the park ranger's building with a huge unpaved parking lot around it. The other visitors were very friendly. They were mostly families with their dogs and children. Just to clarify, this was a movie set. It was never a real western town. It's like walking into a rugged version of the Universal Studios backlot Honestly, I thought it was going to be bigger, but it's quite small. Though the photos may give you the impression that it's located in a very distant area, it's very close to the main street. Visit this place if you: ...like movies, especially cowboy movies. Being there is like being transported to another place and time. ...like photography. You'll surely capture interesting shots. You'll come across rolling hills, wide open meadows, large oak trees, and a silent creek. Notice the change of temperature from hot to cold as you walk along the paths. ...are looking for a unchallenging hike. The trail only goes as high as 500ft. and is easy to follow. There are visible signs all around. ...want to walk your dog. There are trash bins, but bring your own poop bags. ...hang out with family. Picnic tables are available and the scenery if very calming. And what do you expect to find at ranches? Horses! That means this trail is riddled with horse manure so watch your steps (and your dog's!). What tripped me out was that one of the buildings on the set is actually a private residence. I saw a lighted Christmas tree and thought my eyes were playing tricks on me then I saw a sign that said, "Private Property. Do Not Disturb." It just seems like a creepy place to live at. But perhaps, they're the caretakers. This park looks well-maintained and cared for. We had a great time here but made sure to leave before it got dark. read more

My heart melted a bit because Paramount has western props and sets. I loved seeing the fake bank and stuff like that. After we got past that, the hike was okay. It wasn't lush... it was dry and yellow every where. Remember to get to your car before sunset because the patrol sends out helicopters to look for you! read more

This was a great stop on our Malibu adventure day. This would be especially great if you have kids, or as a neat date idea - bring a picnic and some beverages (you probably can't bring wine legally but that is what I would have wanted here). The town is still in very good shape and makes for fun picture taking. It looks like you can rent the main open pavilion as an event space. Parking was free. read more

I'm always looking for interesting things to see with my toddler, and this is a place we frequent. It is a park with many trails, but I haven't done those yet... The main feature to this place is the Old West ghost town movie sets!!! That's right, you can visit the town used to film much of Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman!!! If you're not hiking, this is a pretty quick visit, as you can't go inside any of the buildings, but that's okay. It's still super cool! My son loves running around in the gazebo! Taking pictures in front of the saloon or sheriff's office is very fun too! You'll probably see some folks taking a tour on horses! That is an option too. One time I went into the offices there to ask about it and the gentleman was very nice and able to give tons of info about the place! He actually took my son and I over to the fire station right in back of the office and showed us the facilities there! The fire station was actually built as a place to build sets for Doctor Quinn, and then turned into a fire house after filming stopped. They still film things here pretty often though. There's also a large structure with tables to rent this out for events. It's definitely a cool thing you should visit at least once if you live in LA or are looking of things to do with children. read more

We were drawn to this place because of HBO Westworld, and we were really impressed. Amazing scenery in town and on the trails, clean bathrooms, great history, free parking, free entrance, and the coolest part was being on the Westworld set. read more

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I am so happy I finally had the chance to visit this little western movie set! I learned of its existence last year and immediately put it on my "things to see" list. Last Saturday I finally had the opportunity to be in the area and loved it! There is a huge parking (free) and from there it's only a short walk to Western Town. The Paramount Ranch does not have many buildings (little more than a dozen) but it makes for a great photo-op and it's perfect for all ages. Many famous movies and television shows were filmed here: "Caught in the Draft" (1941), The Lake House (2006), The Mentalist, The Cisco Kid, Weeds... and, most recently, "American Sniper". The Paramount Racetrack, that only existed for little less then two years, was considered one of the most challenging in the U.S. and you can see a commemorative placard near the entrance of Western Town. The whole visit should not take more than an hour, unless you plan to hit the scenic hiking trails. Bring plenty of water, especially during the summer months. read more

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Really beautiful place here where you can do a nature walk by yourself or come with friends and family for a little exploring! You can do some sightseeing where they have filmed western movies here also there is a creek you can relax at with your pup or by yourself just be careful of all the horse poop especially in this area! You can't rent a horse and go on a guided tour also! The bathrooms are nice and clean! And the parking is big read more

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I had no idea this place existed. It is really in the middle of nowhere, but fun to visit. The friend I was with decided to visit this ranch, which is open until sunset. Now I do not feel the need to travel to Tombstone, Arizona immediately as this satisfied my thirst to see an old ghost town that looks pretty legitimate. read more

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I CANNOT begin to tell you the amazing experience my family and I had horseback riding with our tour guide Bea (I think that's how you spell her name) We spent the day there to celebrate my daughter's 7th birthday...we had a little picnic, hiked on the trail, then we rode on horseback! The day was wonderful already, but Bea definitely helped make our trip super memorable and FUN!!! My boyfriend, my future step son, and ex-husband, yes, we are a happy and blended family, were not terribly excited to be riding a large animal, all had apprehensions about riding. Bea made them feel comfortable and at ease! She had such an aura about her that they let go and just enjoyed the moment! You can totally tell she loves what she does and she is so good at it, too! Although most of the buildings were burned down in the fire, I still would highly recommend taking a visit to enjoy the serene landscape and time with Bea!!! read more

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For the fan boy, this is probably an awesome Western set that is open for roaming without being stuck on the tram tour and it's free! But as a jaded industry person who has worked on studio lots, this is a run-down, left-over film set. Not much of a park, there are only two picnic tables and the only recreation are some easy and short trails. read more

Wow! What a gem. A bit of accessible Hollywood history. As a fan of Western movies visiting this location brought a smile to my face and wishing I was 9 again to pretend I lived in the wild wild west. Don't expect to make a day out of visiting this place; most likely you'll spend 30-45 minutes here. However, you can follow any of the trails and make a hiking 1/2 day out of it. Visit the rangers station adjacent to parking for a map to the trails. And as always, bring comfortable shoes, lots of water, sunscreen and a hat if hiking on a sunny LA day. Oh, and watch your step as you walk through the structures. read more

Paramount Ranch - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

Fun fun fun!! If you like the show Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman you'll love this. Great park, relaxing and fun!!

Living in so cal my whole life I can't believe I've never known of this place til now! It's truly a neat spot to visit and a great spot to take pictures. We came here on a Thursday around 3:00 and it was empty. You do have to drive through a little windy roads to get there. Since its part of Malibu state park there are hiking trails and you're allowed to ride horses there. Its free to visit and walk around . The bathrooms were very clean. If you're looking for a rustic spot to take pics or a place to hike I highly suggest a visit here!! read more

Paramount Ranch - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

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