One of my favorite trails in Simi. I like to park on the road that leads you the Reagan Library and…read morewalk up the side with the paved road. Great for beginners, and takes about 30 minutes to complete walking up to the cross and back down. The views are breathtaking! You can see pretty much all of Simi, and the surrounding mountains.

I had so much fun this past Thursday evening hiking up to the Mount McCoy cross! The meetup group I…read morejoined met at a parking lot where we walked across the street and then up a hill in a residential area which then led to the trailhead entrance. Once started, all roads lead up to the same place so you can go up steeper paths or stay on the lighter incline path and you will still come out at the top. I am still a beginner and I can't make it as fast as the group so I took my time feeling confident because I knew I couldn't get lost. The hike definitely pushes you and when you suddenly come out at the top you feel really great both physically and mentally. Apparently there's another trail near the Presidential library that's easier and paved, but I loved the harder path. At the top everyone likes to go up and touch the cross, at least everyone in my group did, and then there's benches nearby to sit and watch the sunset. Going down is easy and leads right back out. I loved this trail and I did bring my Foster dog Drew with me (he's still available for adoption if anyone is looking he's a Bone Face Shar Pei, sweetest boy ever and he loves adventures) and going past others is easy I didn't have any issues passing others with their dogs going the other way. I definitely recommend this hike at least even once just to see the sunset because it is very beautiful.

Unfortunately the hummingbird trail is not the same with the new housing development. And every…read moretime I visit these days the situation gets a bit worst: as the development limits entrance onto the trail. Once you get beyond the development you will be treated to some great hiking and boulder climbing if you choose. Still worth the visit: today I was in search of waterfalls after the rain storm, unfortunately just puddles of water. There were cute frogs though!

Parking: Looks like you can park on the street next to the…read moreentrance but not directly inside the culvasac. (This is what the locals do) Besides that, there is a gravel parking lot across the street from the new development, north west corner at the intersection of Mount Sinai and Kuehner Dr. Conditions: It has just rained and the trail was really washed out, there are a slew of mountain biking trails that are connected to the trail. All join about midway up the mountain. Definitely steep and requires some climbing. The rocks are a rough sandstone, so very grippy. Overall: Enjoyed it, views are great, it was overcast on my visit but could be very hot. You are in the direct sun for all of it. Would return, approximately 2-3 hours of hiking, depending on how curious you are.

I love this park. It's beautiful and full of history. You can hike the easy flat loop and read…read morethe plaques as you walk the path. It's a learning experience and an easy hike all in one. So much history here with the old tv and movies that they used to film. At one point they had a watering hole set up to film underwater scenes and you can see the remnants of where they did it. The one main loop is very shaded which is nice, especially if you want to hike on a warmer day. They have beautiful rock formations with some caves. They also have park benches and picnic tables along the way to sit and rest and take in the beautiful scenery. I found a nice shaded picnic spot and had a surprise Mother's Day picnic with the trees and stream as a beautiful backdrop. My mom really enjoyed our day here. The only downfall is what it used to be. It's sad that a fire went through here and burned a lot of the set buildings they used to have . I wish I had seen it before that all happened. Too bad they didn't rebuild it.

If you are looking to take in a causal walk, this park is always a good place to visit. Plus this…read morepark offers so much history from all the movies and shows that were filmed here. As you go through the park, you can find signs with information on movies filmed here. Most trails are short in this park but the trails connect to neighboring parks. The park has a large parking lot. Always good to have a parking lot.

A friend recently took me to Paradise Falls, and it was such a beautiful and peaceful experience…read more We started on the Teepee Trail where we saw a really cool teepee structure, then continued down to the bottom of the falls. The waterfall is stunning from below, and the view from the top is just as spectacular. Along the way we explored a small cave and passed two beautiful creeks. We even saw some ducks flying overhead, which made the whole hike feel even more special. After that, we hiked uphill on the Teepee Trail, stopped at Lizard Rock, and eventually made our way back to the parking lot. The views throughout the hike are wonderful and so peaceful there's nothing like disconnecting and reconnecting with nature here. Parking is free and the lot is fairly large (around 40 cars or more). There are bathrooms at the trailhead and also near the campground, which is very convenient. We ended up hiking about 5 miles. It took us 2 hours and 30 minutes of moving time, and about 3 hours total including breaks and photo stops. I highly recommend this trail if you're looking for a scenic and relaxing hike.

The hike to see the falls is well worth it. The trails are clearly marked There are many other…read moretrails in the area that can be hiked. .Some trails are easier than others some more difficult. I would write that I like to Paradise Falls as being very accessible.

Great place to hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. The trailhead is a bit harder to reach than some…read moreother trails in the area, as it's a one-lane rutted dirt road. $5 fee to park as of this writing. There's one main trail that heads up into the mountains, as well as an off-shoot that heads inland and maybe others. Well-maintained trails. This is a MRCA Park; thank you for your commitment to preserving nature and public access to beautiful spaces!

I always enjoy a great hike. This is an easy more of a beginner hike. It is great for a run or if…read moreyou would like to get in a good bike ride to burn a sweat or a quick run or jog.

My wife's favorite local hike. Hilly and can be slippery in some spots, but otherwise wide pa th…read more Nice views. Mile markers every quarter mile, bike tool station at fork to Butterfly trail. Nice rock formations ie Turtle rock and oven mitt rock.

One of my favorite short little hikes in the area. And if you seek a longer hike, this hike…read moreconnects to other routes. If you want a hike that goes straight up gradually with great views along the way then this is your hike. At sunset it offers great views of Simi valley and at sunrise you can see great views of LA county. Plus you get see cool rock formations and some caves a long the way. The hike does get busy on the weekends. It is a well traveled hike. The parking lot at trailhead is small but across the highway there is a larger parking lot. Just be very careful crossing the roads to the trailhead: the crossing are very dangerous with fast traffic.

4 stars because I'm a fan of old westerns. It is cool to walk where the Lone Ranger rode and…read moreimagine the ambushes and shootouts of countless films. But it is tiny and cramped. Not really a hiking spot and might be OK for Instagram, but not for the kind of photography I do. The worst part is that the movie ranch that was here has been replaced by a subdivision. Boring beige boxes of unremarchitecture that have become so emblematic of SoCal suburban sprawl. It is undoubtably cool to have this location in your backyard, but not so great to have those houses in your photo background. Worth a quick stop if you are in the area and a film buff.

What do you associate with the northwestern SFV city of Chatsworth? It's surely that it is known as…read morethe 'Porn Capital' of USA. Even non-Cali residents are aware of this scandalous 'fun fact'. But there is more to this city edging the 118-freeway than just a perverted satisfaction. Chatsworth is also the home to some of the most gorgeous geolithic structures in the Valley. Anyone who has driven on the 118 has seen these glorious rock structures comprising of Stoney Point, Santa Susana, and of course Garden of the Gods. What is Garden of the Gods? Garden of the Gods is located essentially in a Chatsworth neighborhood on Redmesa (a very aptly named street) and isn't a park in the traditional sense of having a lot or ornate entrance. Rather, this entire acreage of Chatsworth is basically one large rocky, cavernous, geographic wonder making Valley residents feel like they are at a national park in Utah. Okay, it isn't on the level of Utah but it is pretty damn good for Los Angeles. After parking on the street, a sign welcomes visitors to the glorious area. A plaque proudly boasts of the Hollywood history of Garden of the Gods: it was part of the ranch that filmed countless westerns on the grounds from Buster Keaton classics to the opening credits of Lone Ranger hence Lone Ranger Rock. Garden of the Gods can also be seen in several big-budget films creating either an African or desert backdrop. Pretty cool, right? The 'trails' (if we want to call them that) vary from light rock climbing to open spaces and from bushes/grasses to sand stone outcroppings. Garden of the Gods is simply breathtaking and you can't help but take a moment to truly think about the amazing-ness of Mother Nature and the age of the rocks. There are several cave-like spots, smooth eroded boulders and stunning views of the SFV and the neighboring rock formations. One can see all the way across to the Verdugo Mountains and the tip of the LA National Forest. I visited the Garden of the Gods with a crew for a lingerie modeling shoot. That's right: I was basically naked here (and actually completely 100% naked when changing). I suppose that is fitting for the Porn Capital? We didn't come across many people (golden hour on a Wednesday in November) so Garden of the Gods was peaceful, quiet and serene. This place is perfect for a modeling shoot or for your IG with various nooks and crannies that make love to the camera. Or perhaps that was me doing that. Be careful though, because there of plenty of snakes and mountain lions who call Garden of the Gods home. So why am I not giving this gorgeous wonder of the world (or at least LA) 5 stars? Simply because people are assholes and decided to use Garden of the Gods as a garbage can. You will come across a lot of trash, bottles, and broken glass EVERYWHERE! These losers also defaced some of the beautiful rocks with tags and graffiti. News stories run rampant in the Stoney Point/Garden of the Gods/Santa Susana area of murders, fights, drugs, etc. Geeze Chatsworth, calm down. I would suggest, for the ladies out there, to not venture here alone. Although Garden of the Gods was quite empty during my visit; we did come across some hikers, families with small children and even mountain climbers with legit gear practicing on the rocky faces. Garden of the Gods caters to a diverse cast of characters. Side note relating to Covid: some people wore masks and some didn't but obviously there is plenty of room here for social distancing. Chatsworth may be known for porn but the rocky topography of the area is much more orgasmic and certainly worth more of a visit than just from from your car window when driving on the 118. Hey you never know: you might see someone modeling in lingerie!

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.