Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons Still Beautiful in Late Spring

Local resident Barbara Syfacunda enjoyed a hike in Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons yesterday and sent over these great photos via the CVG Facebook page. She remarked that although most of the green is gone back there, it is still beautiful. Indeed it is.

Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons cover over 4,000 acres in the northernmost section of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, in the Simi Hills. The Chumash occupied these canyons for thousands of years, until ranchers came into the area in the 1800s. The natural landscape changed as a result to accommodate the needs of grazing cattle.

The National Park Service (NPS) acquired Cheeseboro Canyon in the early to mid 1980s and Palo Comado Canyon (formerly known as the Jordan Ranch), in 1994.

Folks frequently ask, why is it called Cheeseboro when the road that gets you to the trailhead is called Chesebro? According to a knowledgeable NPS Ranger, the original owner of the land in the late 1800s was Oscar Cheesebrough (yet a different spelling). The NPS adopted the U.S. Geological Survey spelling, while Caltrans adopted the name Chesebro.

Check Out Tarantula Hill Trail in Thousand Oaks for Views of the Conejo Valley

Tarantula Hill is located off of West Gainsborough Road in Thousand Oaks, between Grand Oak Lane and Camino Manzanas. Over the years we've visited this conspicuous 1,057 foot tall hill dozens of times. A bit of a steep climb up the paved road (not really a trail) to the top, where you'll find a bench facing towards the west and panoramic views of the entire Conejo Valley and beyond.

In the summer 2014 time frame, we noticed a new sign at the bottom of the hill, plus something fun on the sign. I don't know if this tarantula is a permanent addition to the sign, but it was amusing.

It takes anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to walk up the paved hill to the top. If you're looking for some exercise but are lacking time, Tarantula Hill is a nice alternative to a stair stepper machine!

View facing east with gainsborough Road in the foreground

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Aerial Views of Dos Vientos Ranch in Newbury Park in 1956

Aerial View of Dos Vientos Ranch in 1956 (Photo Credit: Howard D. Kelly, Kelly-Holiday Collection of Negatives and Photographs/Los Angeles Public Library)

According to several Oxnard Press-Courier articles in September/October 1958, evangelist O.L. Jaggers purchased the 5,415 acre Dos Vientos Ranch from M.S. Clark Enterprises on June 21, 1957 for $2.9 million, with the goal of creating the "World Church City."

According to a 1994 L.A. Times article, Jaggers and his wife Velma talked about making Dos Vientos (now part of Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks) a 26,000 resident city, "situated under a perpetually hovering 'glory cloud' that would emit a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night. Airliners would be diverted so passengers could witness the phenomenon."

After years of lawsuits brought against Jagger and his World Church by investors in the project, the land was acquired in 1965 by Louis Lesser Enterprises of Beverly Hills.

Another Aerial View of Dos Vientos Ranch in 1956 (Photo Credit: Howard D. Kelly, Kelly-Holiday Collection of Negatives and Photographs/Los Angeles Public Library)

The Thousand Oaks City Council approved development of Dos Vientos Ranch as a 2,350 home residential project in 1988 and construction began after years of planning and lawsuits in 1997. At the time, the land was owned by Courtly Homes Inc. and Operating Engineers Pension Trust Inc.

A 1997 Los Angeles Times article noted that Dos Vientos was the largest residential project ever in Newbury Park and the third-largest in the city's history. Dos Vientos is surrounded by two connecting roads that form a loop: Rancho Dos Vientos and Via Las Brisas. Lynn Road fronts the development on the south and Borchard Road serves as its main artery.

A more recent view of Dos Vientos from one of the many trails surrounding the area.

There are some nice hiking trails in Dos Vientos, including Sierra Vista Trail, Park View Trail, Vista Del Mar Trail, El Rincon, El Cerro and Las Brisas Trails, El Encanto Trail and Conejo Mountain Edison Road Trail.

Also located in Dos Vientos is The Village at Dos Vientos retail/business center, Dos Vientos Community Park and the newer Del Prado Playfield.

Piuma Road Overlook Views in the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu

Most of us in Ventura County take Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road down to PCH from time to time.  We look up and feel dwarfed by the canyons of the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains. What do these canyons look like from the hills above? Well make your way up Piuma Road in Malibu to find out!

Views towards PCH and Malibu Canyon Road from first of two overlooks.

Piuma Road is the road we pass as we're driving to the beach, but rarely stop to think about....unless we're driving to Saddlepeak Lodge for a great meal. And daring cyclists and motorcyclists may know about this winding, hilly joy ride to the ocean. But rarely do the rest of us give it a thought as we're busily navigating our way down Malibu Canyon Road.

Views of Las Virgenes Canyon looking north from Piuma

Well if you're looking to take in some eye popping, panoramic views of Malibu Canyon down to Malibu Lagoon, towards Catalina Island looking south, as well as the Las Virgenes Valley on the other side, take a detour up Piuma Road. From the corner of Malibu Canyon Road and Piuma Road to several overlooks is about 4 1/2 miles. Whoever is driving better concentrate because, as you can see, the road is very winding, the elevation rises to 1500' and the views are jaw dropping.

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There are several overlooks where you can stop and park your car. The first one gives you a straight-on view of Malibu Canyon Road and the second provides views of the coastline towards Santa Monica.

Views from the second Piuma overlook looking down the Pacific coastline.

Deep Malibu Canyon Gorge below. A Gorgeous Gorge it is!

About a 1/4 mile before you reach these overlooks, you'll pass the Malibu Canyon Piuma Ridge area, which has a small picnic area. The views of the canyons will take your breath away. The map below, courtesy of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, shows this Ridge area in relation to the overlooks. Don't drive too fast as it is easy to pass by.

Piuma Ridge and Overlook Map excerpt courtesy of Santa Monica Mountains ConservancyAfter you take in the views at the Ridge and/or overlooks, you can either head back or drive another six winding miles to PCH via Las Flores Canyon Road, where you end up at Duke's Malibu.

If you can handle the sound of my noisy kids, here's some footage from the Piuma Overlooks:

Springtime Beauty at Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons in Agoura Hills

Cheeseboro Canyon Trail (CCT) is a 4.6 mile main artery into Cheeseboro Canyon with long flat sections surrounded by ancient oaks and flowing grasslands. Springtime is a great time to visit for a long walk the family, run with your training partners or cycling adventure with your buddies.

Take CCT past Sulphur Springs to the Shepherds' Flat area.

Once you reach Shepherds' Flat, you can take the Sheep Corral Trail north where it joins up with the Palo Comado Trail up to China Flat. Springtime colors abound after the winter rains.  Learn more about the trails of Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons at THIS LINK.

Cheeseboro Canyon Trail north of Sulphur Springs

Vintage items in the China Flat area

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Spring 2016 Has Arrived in the Conejo Valley

After off an on rains over the last several months, Spring has sprung in the Conejo Valley and wildflowers are beginning to make an appearance. Share them with us on the CVG Facebook Page when you come across some beauties in the Conejo Open Space. Check out some local trails at THIS LINK.

These wildflowers overlooking Ladyface MOuntain in the background were accessed from the hills above the new Westlake Village YMCA. The steep, unmarked trail can be accessed at Canyon Oaks Park, 6200 Hedgehall Drive, Westlake Village.

These mellow yellows were seen in abundance off of the Pentachaeta Trail in Triunfo Creek Park.

This pretty area can be found off the Westlake Village Trail, also in Triunfo Creek Park, adjacent to the Las Virgenes Reservoir.

Hike to Sandstone Peak, the Highest Point in the Santa Monica Mountains

Sunset views from Sandstone Peak toward the Conejo Valley

At an elevation of 3,111 feet, Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. It should be on everyone's "bucket list" of local hikes, with its sweeping views to the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands and inland to the Conejo/Simi Valleys.

There are some steps, then some trekking, to reach the top from this sign. You've made it!

The final ascent involves some rock climbing; not for everyone, but not too bad.

Sandstone Peak is also known at Mount Allen, dedicated by the Boy Scouts of America to W. Herbert Allen, who donated nearby land at Circle X Ranch used for campouts.

Plaque dedicated to W. Herbert Allen, along with logbook, is at the peak of the mountain

The hike itself is a challenge, about a 30 minute to 1 hour, 1 1/2 mile trek from the trailhead at a dirt parking lot off of Yerba Buena Road. For me, an even bigger challenge is the winding drive up Decker Canyon to Little Sycamore Canyon Road, about 14 miles from the heart of Thousand Oaks but about a 30 to 40 minute trip. If your kids get motion sickness, be careful!

After the tight curves of the 23 (Decker Canyon) you turn right on Mulholland Drive West to Little Sycamore Canyon Road, which connects to Yerba Buena. Get ready for some tight twists and turns. Drive carefully!

The trailhead is just west of Circle X Ranch, 12896 Yerba Buena Road, Malibu. More information and photos at this link. There are some other amazing things to see up here, including "Balanced Rock," "Split Rock" and "Echo Cliffs' from the Mishe Mokwa Trail up there.

Views from the peak towards the Channel Islands, floating in cloud cover.