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 Reporter |
Summary: After countless years of battling developers, the lovely Ahmanson Ranch area is open to the public under the care of the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy . The first part of our hike takes you through gently rolling hills dotted with huge, spectacular oak trees. After a loop around Lasky Mesa, the hike heads northwest to Las Virgenes Canyon where a small creek nurtures a more densely covered area along the banks of the stream. As time was running short, we didn't make it all the way up Las Virgenes Canyon. This is a popular area for bikers so keep a head up for them. All the trail junctions can be a bit confusing, so you might want to print out a map from the Ahmonson.org web site. Trailhead: From the 101 freeway near Calabasas, take the Las Virgenes Road exit and go north about 2 miles to where Las Virgenes dead ends at the trail head to Amhanson Ranch. (Lat:34.16847 Lon:-118.70321) Trail Guides for Ahmanson Ranch - Lasky Mesa: Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Bikes, Ranger Contact: Santa Monica Rec. Area - (310) 589-3200 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 104 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Ronit on 4/12/2009 Enjoyed the green hills! There are no helpful signs on the trail. Nice, easy hike. Next time we'll come earlier in the day.
Reviewed by Jennifer on 10/30/2007 Re-open for hiking 10/25 since the fires.
Reviewed by Bill on 12/28/2006 Below is a video clip I took in April 2006 of a coyote in Ahmanson Ranch. I really love this place. The scenery is incredible after a rainstorm. I recommended March through May as the best times of year to hike the area. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4915633092141581766 
Reviewed by BAsia on 11/13/2006 I live and always have lived just off this park. It is not your typical beautiful wilderness. It is a rugged beauty which one doesn't always appreciate at first glance. If there was one thing I could tell a prospective hiker, it would be to hike this park, listen to its words, hear its soft music, and look out for bears! Just kidding, but I hope you understand if you ever see this beautiful land, my inability with words to capture its grace.
Reviewed by Kev on 3/3/2006 Either hike the ridge trail directly to the left from entrance, or after the first stream crossing head left. If you follow this trail for a few miles(past iron gate), you will see some houses on a high ridge to your right. Here I have seen many mountain lions, bobcats, deer, and coyotees. Just a little further up there is a small single track trail comming off the left, take it for a little while and see an awsome meadow with deer mnt. lions bobcats, even a carcas sometimes.- just dont make tto much noise and you are almost certain to see something cool upt there. 
Reviewed by Samit on 2/2/2006 Went there last weekend. It's a boring trail if you want dramatic scenary. The main trail road is quite wide, even and smooth, good for families with kids. We ran into a pack of cayotes on the hill top.
Reviewed by Ridge Hiker on 12/29/2005 Check out the wildfire recovery - there is bright green new grass everywhere. You can still see blackened trees, but even the most charred oaks are now sprouting new green leaves. This is beautiful land - very "California". When you cross the stream and come to the "T" intersection, take a left - I think that way is prettier, since it follows the stream and has more trees. You can also hike from the west end of Victory Blvd - starting here gives you sweeping views of the whole valley and parkland as you hike along a ridge to Lasky Mesa. Great place for dog walking, just beware of coyotes. I see them all the time.
Reviewed by McJung on 10/20/2005 I went in here today. It's devastated by the brushfires this month, but there are signs of hungry life on the bare earth - a lot of ground squirrels (there probably always are, but how would we know), 17 hawks watching me hopefully, oak trees looking sturdy. It wasn't the kind of place I thought I was prospecting for - I'm a psychotherapist and always on the lookout for places to meet people that are more peaceful and inspiring than my office - but after the destruction and in the black mud of three nights' rain it seemed like a place of hope. There was something I liked about Ahmanson Ranch today and I'll be back to watch it regenerate. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Los Angeles County Hiking, Los Angeles County Trails, Los Angeles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||