A VOTE FOR MOUNT MCCOY SIMI TRAIL BOASTS PRESIDENTIAL VIEW.

Byline: William Toren Staff Writer

The crisp and clear winter days that tend to define January in Southern California make me long for high places and open vistas. The recent transfer of presidential power in Washington awakened thoughts of American history and its recurring link to the great outdoors.

Consequently, when I discovered the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District's Mount McCoy Trail offered a 360-degree panorama that included a view of the Reagan Presidential Library, I knew I had found my next hiking destination.

Residents of and frequent visitors to Simi Valley are no doubt familiar with Mount McCoy, capped with a white cross dating to 1941. And its location amid the quiet of suburbia makes it an easily accessible jaunt for even the most causal outdoor enthusiast.

In fact, the appearance of a fitness club just blocks from the trailhead made me think that body-conscious exercisers headed for the Stairmaster might give themselves a treat by turning right instead of left and seeking higher elevation instead of simulation. Reaching the trailhead myself, however, I decided my course this day would be more of the backyard-ranger variety than an attempt to hurtle myself straight into the sky.

Fortunately for those interested in a bravura Teddy Roosevelt-style charge straight up the hill, branch trails provide this opportunity. In fact, the trailhead off Washburn Street branches off in so many directions, it's almost difficult to find the . . . authentic McCoy (cheap pun successfully avoided). For those not interested in reliving the glory days of the Rough Riders, however, simply pull up your bootstraps Herbert Hoover-style and stick to the main, 1.3-mile path up the mountain by moving south on the most level route that presents itself.

Passing a surprisingly lush ravine, an initially gentle climb soon turns into a series of switchbacks. Keep in mind that the ultimate destination is the summit some 600 feet up, so be prepared for a little sweat, but the trail is not especially steep and there's plenty of shade on the northern turns to rest, take in the view and sip from your water bottle.

Before I knew it, I found myself looking down on a pair of hawks enjoying the thermal drafts funneled up the ravine, keeping them aloft without the hard work of flapping. I had a bit of work ahead of me, though, as I was about two-thirds of the way to the summit. Nevertheless, the view I had to this point promised a satisfying payoff, as on this particularly clear day I could see across Simi Valley itself, past the Santa Susana Mountains and on to the towering San Gabriels to the east.

Mere moments of further trudging and I was able to relax on the final approach to the landmark cross. From the summit, it is possible to see for miles in every direction, west to the Oxnard plain and a shimmering hint of the Pacific, east to the expanse of homes and boulevards that make up Simi Valley's slice of the American Dream.

And of course, to my delight, just a hilltop away is the stately campus of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. My trip to the top had taken a leisurely 40 minutes (hard chargers could easily do it in half that time), and it occurred to me that it would be a simple matter to incorporate a visit to the library with a hiking excursion (or vice versa).

In fact, heading west from the summit is a trail into the rolling open land that drew Ronnie and Nancy to build their personal monument in the first place. Setting out in this direction, I noticed that unlike the trail up the mountain, maintained with stones to shore up easily eroded areas, the route to Reagan's place required a little more sure-footedness. But then again, what better tribute to the rugged man the Secret Service code-named ``Rawhide'' than to arrive at his library on an overland trek through the rugged terrain of his backyard?

If you choose to take this path, keep in mind that if you parked at the trailhead, you'll have to make the trek back, so inexperienced hikers might be better off making the drive. Also, unless you're feeling truly intrepid, stick to the path that veers alongside the storage-tank facility, which is clearly marked and leads to the main road, rather than charging as the crow flies and the terrestrial must cross a few gullies in an emulation of the Gipper's exploits in ``Death Valley Days.''

Nevertheless, one need not feel that adventurous to get a full sense of enjoyment from the Mount McCoy Trail. For someone looking for a quick change of pace without straying too far from civilization, it's an accessible diversion from beating the treadmill in your cross-trainers.

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Map: (color) Mount McCoy Trail is a slice of the outdoors in suburbia.

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