Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons in Agoura Hills
Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons cover 4,000 acres in the northernmost section of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, in the Simi Hills. Stroll to Sulphur Springs or hike to the top of Simi Peak for panoramic views of Oak Park, Agoura Hills and Simi Valley. The Chumash lived in these canyons for thousands of years. Many trails within the canyons may have originated with the Chumash and then were expanded by the ranchers who followed.
Cheeseboro Canyon has some of the best cycling and running trails in the area. The lower trailhead is accessed from Chesebro Road and there is plenty of parking.
On a side note, why is Chesebro Road spelled differently than Cheeseboro Canyon? CLICK HERE
Cheeseboro Canyon Trail (CCT) is a 4.6 mile, fairly easygoing main artery into the park, whereas the 4.4 mile Palo Comado Canyon Trail, which largely parallels the CCT, is much more challenging. The Cheeseboro Ridge Trail also parallels the CCT and seems to be favored by cyclists with its long, rolling hills, though distance runners also will enjoy this trail. Take CCT up through Sulphur Springs and you'll be running through a small (usually) stream bed and a brief rotten egg smell. Then soon the trail becomes more desert-like as you make your way up to the Sheep Corral Trail and the Shepherds' Flat area. It is really beautiful up there though it can get pretty hot, so carry some water!
While there are plenty of steep hills in this area, this is also a great place for strollers, as many of the trails are quite wide and flat.
The only bathroom that I'm aware of in these trails is at the Chesebro Road trailhead.
Visit www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/cheeseboropalocomado.htm to learn more. The trailhead is located at 5792 Chesebro Road. Contact the visitor center at 805.370.2301. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash at all times.
Excerpt of Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyon Map (Courtesy National Park Service)
The Morrison Ranch House in Cheeseboro Canyon was destroyed in the Woolsey Fire of November 2018. Rancher John Morrison and his family occupied this house in 1904 and lived and worked in the home for nearly 60 years. This original ranch house, modified over the years, dated back to the late 1800s.
The sign survived the Woolsey Fire but the house did not, except for a lone bathtub (hidden by the sign).