Just Over A Half Hour From LA Is An Outdoor Haven With Mountain Trails, Diverse Wildlife, And Scenic Views

Every city has its go-to, overcrowded hike that provides a solid workout, but can start to get ho-hum. In Los Angeles, that's the trail at Wilacre Park, commonly known as Fryman Canyon in Studio City, where finding parking is an experience in frustration. If you're willing to go a little further afield, you can enjoy a more peaceful outing at Rocky Peak Park in Simi Valley, known as one of California's safest cities. This sprawling, 4,800-acre landscape of fantastical rock formations, unexpected caves, and ridgeline views meanders through challenging trails shared with wildlife. Here, you'll summit the hilly climbs of the Santa Susana Mountains — bordering both Los Angeles and Ventura counties — which makes for changes in topography that keep hikers huffing and boredom at bay. 

Rocky Peak's weathered sandstone wonders didn't get here overnight. Their story evolved over millions of years when seismic activity pushed up layers of sedimentary rock buried below water. Jutting through crevices at angles, they eroded to reveal sandstone. These rocks can get slippery at times, so wear good shoes.  

About 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the park offers trail adventures that can be completed in a few hours, making for a great early morning outing or a way to unwind later in the evening. Aside from a few short, canopied portions, shade is minimal, so it's best to avoid peak-sunshine hours. Yelp reviewers note that hikers share the trail with mountain bikers, so stay alert and listen for their bells. Leashed dogs are also welcome on the trail. And lest you worry about soreness or blisters, check out this lightweight Dollar Tree buy before your trek.

Don't let the park's location north of the 118 Freeway deter you. Yes, you will initially be mere feet from an off-ramp, but it will soon be in the rearview mirror. There's a small parking lot at one trailhead and a larger lot across the busy highway, so look both ways before crossing back to the trailhead. The popular hike in this outdoor haven is the Rocky Peak Trail, a 2,700-foot climb that's about 5 miles roundtrip. It starts off on a fire road, then leads to a dirt road, winding through native chaparral. Along the steady climb, you'll pass by massive sandstone boulders that look like they're extraterrestrial and a shady, wind-formed cave to explore. Red-tailed hawks may even keep you company, per one AllTrails visitor. A panoramic view of Simi and the San Fernando valleys awaits at the top.

A tunnel and pocket caves line the steep Hummingbird Trail, accessible off the Rocky Peak Trail. This tricky path with boulders to scale and a bolted-down rope to grasp can lead you to the graffiti-covered, so-called "swing cave," where there's netting and the occasional hammock. Another option is the moderate, 3-mile Chumash Trail. It starts further west, then intersects with the Rocky Peak Trail. You may pass crater-pocked rocks, which were the original kitchens for the native Chumash tribe to grind up acorns. 

Bursts of vibrant wildflowers are common during spring, including the California poppy and lupine.  Along the way, you may see turkey vultures, deer, and possibly rattlesnakes if it's extra toasty, since the park itself is an important wildlife corridor linked to the Simi Hills. If these wide-open spaces suit you, immerse yourself in more nature by visiting nearby Thousand Oaks, one of the country's greenest cities.