BACKYARD ACCESS; VALLEY OFFERS LOADS OF MOUNTAIN-BIKING TRAILHEADS.Byline: Mark Langton ``I never knew this was here.'' Cliche as it sounds, I often hear that when I introduce a mountain biker to a trailhead in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Despite its image as the land of fast food, convenience stores The following is a list of convenience stores organized by geographical location. Stores are grouped by the lowest heading that contains all locales in which the brands have significant presence. and strip malls, the Valley has a proliferation of trailheads from which to choose. You can discover easy ingress An entrance. Contrast with "egress," which means exit. See ingress traffic. See also Ingres 2006. to the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. if you are willing to search for the backcountry back·coun·try n. A sparsely inhabited rural region. of our abundant public parklands. However, access can sometimes be elusive. To get you started on an off-road odyssey that can originate from your own backyard, we'll provide a glimpse at six trailheads south of Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. (from west to east), along with a few other nearby trails leading to remote locales in the Santa Monicas. And here's a novel thought: Pedal to the trailhead instead of driving. You'll get a good warm-up and add a few miles to your overall outing without wasting gas or polluting. Mulholland Drive at Canoga Avenue, Woodland Hills: (Los Angeles County Thomas Guide coordinates: Page 560/Grid B6) If you take Canoga west along the northern rim of the Santa Monica, it will wind its way to Dirt Mulholland - the unpaved section of Mulholland Drive. The riding is rolling with some moderately steep climbs and descents. It's about four miles to Fire Road 30 (Temescal Canyon Fire Road) and the entrance to Topanga State Park Topanga State Park is a California state park located in Los Angeles County. It is located adjacent to the unincorporated community of Topanga, California, within the city of Los Angeles, California. Covering 11,000 acres (45 km²) it is the largest state park within city limits. . Natoma Fire Road, Woodland Hills: (Thomas Guide 560/D5) Between Canoga and Winnetka avenues is a lonely stretch of pavement called Natoma Avenue. It is significant to the knobby-tire crowd in that it accesses Dirt Mulholland and, at the same locale, joins up with Santa Maria Road coming in from the south. Santa Maria Road leads to Topanga Canyon Boulevard and offers riders a cross-mountain route into Topanga Canyon. Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, Tarzana: (Thomas Guide: 590/G1). Another recent development, this well-groomed cul-de-sac at the southern terminus of Reseda Boulevard features restrooms and grassy picnic areas. A short quarter-mile climb from the trailhead gets you onto Dirt Mulholland. Travel west to Fire Road 30 and the entrance to Topanga State Park. Caballero cab·al·le·ro n. pl. cab·al·le·ros 1. A Spanish gentleman; a cavalier. 2. A man who is skilled in riding and managing horses; a horseman. Canyon, Tarzana: (Thomas Guide 560/H6) For a bear of a climb with scenery that makes the ride well worth it, start your day at the bottom of the Reseda Boulevard hill. The trailhead is an easy find - across the boulevard from Braemar Country Club. Proceed up Avenida Oriente Fire Road (a.k.a. Dirt Reseda) to Dirt Mulholland. The trip back down can be made over the dusty trail or down Reseda Boulevard. San Vicente Mountain Park, Encino: (Thomas Guide 591/B1) The recently renovated wayside situated about a mile west of the junction of Encino Hills Drive and Mulholland Drive features picnic tables and overlook facilities. It is also a centrally located access to Sullivan Ridge and Sullivan Canyon, which lead down to Sunset Boulevard between Brentwood and Pacific Palisades Palisades, cliffs along the west bank of the Hudson River, NE N.J. and SE N.Y., extending from N of Jersey City, N.J., to the vicinity of Piermont, N.Y., with a general altitude of from 350 ft to 550 ft (107–168 m). along mostly wide fire roads that feature some engaging side trails. Cross Mountain Park, Studio City: (Thomas Guide 562/G7) Just off Laurel Canyon Boulevard Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a major street in the city of Los Angeles, California. It starts off at Polk Street in Sylmar in the northern San Fernando Valley near the junction of the San Diego (Interstate 405) and the Golden State Freeways (Interstate 5). on Fryman Road, the trailhead accesses a fun and interesting trail system that winds its way through Wilacre Park, up to a nature preserve and across Coldwater Canyon Boulevard into Franklin Canyon and Beverly Hills. For other nearby backcountry entrees, consider these three trailheads: Malibu Creek State Park Coordinates: Malibu Creek State Park is a California state park near Malibu, in Calabasas. It opened to the public in 1980, using property purchased from 20th Century Fox that the studio had owned since 1946 along with adjoining properties. , Calabasas: (Thomas Guide 588/G5) OK, so it's not technically in the Valley, but it's close enough to be a great access point to one of the best parks in the Santa Monicas. Take the Ventura Freeway (101) north, exit at Las Virgenes Road and turn left. About a quarter-mile past Mulholland Highway, turn right into the park, which offers terrific picnic facilities, easy to moderate trails (with some killer climbs to ocean overlooks) and the famous ``MASH'' set site. Juan Bautista de Anza Juan Bautista de Anza Bezerra Nieto (July 1736 - December 19, 1788) was a Novo-Spanish explorer for the Spanish Empire. Life Juan Bautista de Anza was born in Fronteras, Sonora (near Arizpe) into a military family on the northern frontier of New Spain. Park, Calabasas: (Thomas Guide 588/G1) Nestled just off Las Virgenes Road at Lost Hills Road, it is the gateway to Lost Hills Trail, which picks up at the rear of the park. It's a nice spot to begin and end a ride, and includes full amenities. The tracks are well built and not too difficult. The adventurous can head over to Malibu Creek State Park on moderately hilly ranch roads. Trippet trip·pet n. A cam or projection in a mechanism designed to strike another part at regular intervals. [Middle English tripet, piece of wood used in a game, from trippen, Ranch, Topanga State Park, Topanga: (Thomas Guide 590/C6) This is a ranger station residence and the primary entrance to Topanga State Park. Take Topanga Canyon Boulevard south, turn left on Entrada Road and proceed to the hub of the park. From the trailhead the ride is steep and majestic on miles of wide fire roads. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos; Map PHOTO (1--color) no caption (Photo of mountain biker.) (2) Riders enter Topanga State Park just past Gateway Park trailhead. Bob Halvorsen / Daily News MAP: (color) South of the Boulevard |
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