"Sunset over foggy mountains, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 2015." by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
National Park Service SitesCheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons |
Brochure for Cheeseboro & Palo Comado Canyons in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA) in California. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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Cheeseboro & Palo Comado Canyons
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The gently rounded hills and canyons of Cheeseboro and Palo Comado are
older than the steeper, more recently formed Santa Monica Mountains and
provide popular terrain for hikers, bikers, and equestrians.
An Altered Landscape
For over 150 years, ranchers made these canyons their home. Many of the native plants,
poorly adapted to heavy grazing, were replaced
with European annuals such as wild oats, mustard, and thistles. Despite numerous years of
cattle grazing, we can still find a variety of native
plant communities, including chaparral, coastal
sage scrub, and riparian woodlands.
You can stroll to Sulphur Springs or hike to the
top of Simi Peak to view the cities you’ve left
behind. Enjoy a picnic under the canopy of an
oak or take binoculars to go birding. Oak trees
and sedimentary rock areas provide excellent nesting sites for owls, hawks, and other
raptors. Keep an eye out for deer, bobcats,
coyotes, and rabbits.
Information and Safety
TRAIL ETIQUETTE Hikers should yield to
equestrians. Equestrians should communicate with passing hikers and bicyclists. Horses
should not graze or leave the trail. Remove
manure from parking areas. Bicyclists should
ride courteously and yield to hikers and equestrians; speed limit is 15 mph unless conditions
require a slower speed. Bicyclists and equestrians are allowed on designated trails only (avoid
social trails and fire lines). If listening to music,
bicyclists may wear only one earbud.
BE PREPARED by taking water, food, map,
flashlight, and first-aid supplies. Be alert for
ticks, bees, rattlesnakes, and poison oak.
NATURAL AND CULTURAL FEATURES including rocks, plants, and animals are protected by
law and may not be collected or disturbed. Do
not climb on structures. Weapons, nets, and
traps are not allowed in parklands.
FIRE is a year-round concern. Campfires and
barbecues are prohibited. During high fire
conditions, smoking and all flame sources are
not permitted.
TRAIL CLOSURES will be in effect during
and following extreme weather or hazardous
conditions.
PETS must be under control and on a leash,
not to exceed 6 feet, at all times. Pick up after
your pet. Pets are not allowed off trail.
VEHICLES are restricted to designated roads
and parking areas.
Cheeseboro and
Palo Comado Canyons
5792 Chesebro Rd
Agoura, CA, 91301
The main parking area is open
from 8:00 AM – sunset. Respect
private property and park in
designated areas.
Photo Courtesy of Herbert Petermann ©
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Santa Monica Mountains
Interagency Visitor Center
26876 Mulholland Hwy
Calabasas CA 91302
805-370-2301
www.nps.gov/samo
EMERGENCIES
Call 911. For a ranger, call Angeles Dispatch
at 661-723-3620.
Private
Proper t y
Alberson Mo
to
rway (trail open for public use)
To L an g
R an c h
Par k way
Sheep
Corral
Simi Peak Trail
Palo Co
mad
o
Can
yo
Shee
China Flat Trail
(unmainta
rail
nT
Simi
Peak
2403'
China Flat
p Co
rral
Trail
d
ine
)
Baleen
Wall
cto
ne
Ranch Center Con
L E T R EE R D
Y CR
SUNN
EST
SMOKE
Paved road
r
DR
TR
EE
AV
E
lo
Pa
Juan Bautista de Anza
National Historic Trail
n Trail
Trail
de
lo
Mo
ROAD
MAIN PARK
ENTRANCE
Restroom
es
eb o
ro
l o Sp
Mo de
Locked gate
Ch e
Historic Morrison
Ranch House
on
R an
ch Tr
ail
SE
BR
OR
D
Picnic area
Mo
rris
AD
S RO
Parking
Canyon Vi
ur
No Access
T
ew rail
Other Public
Parkands
LAS VIRGENE
KANAN
Trail
Can
yon Tra
il
Comado Can
yo
Fire road
National Park
Service Land
rail
on T
Cany
a il
eseboro Ridge Tr
Che
Private
Proper t y
D OUB
es
Virgen
Sulphur Springs
as
per L
Mountains Recreation
and Conservation
Authority Parkland
o
Trail
on
ny
Ca
ro
RO
DE
LIN
CANYON RD
seb
Up
Che
e
Rancho Simi Recreation
and Park District
Open Space
Upper Las Virgenes Canyon
Open Space Preserve
Shepherds'
Flat
VENTU
North
R A FR E E
Equestrian
Parking
CH
E
WAY
CHESEBRO RD
0
0.5 mile
PALO COMADO
CANYON RD
Trail Information
Directions to main parking lot (open
8am to sunset): Ventura Freeway (101)
to Chesebro Rd exit. Turn north on Palo
Comado Canyon Rd then turn right on
Chesebro Rd. Go north 0.75 mile to park
entrance. Turn right and follow road to
parking lot.
l Easy
n Moderate
t Strenuous
Canyon View Trail t 0.75 mile—This trail
splits to the east of the Cheeseboro Canyon
Trail and climbs to a knoll above the Calabasas
landfill. You can see most of Cheeseboro
Canyon by looking west.
Cheeseboro Canyon Trail l 4.6 miles—
Follow an old ranch road along a streambed
through a valley oak savannah and coast live
oak riparian zone. A picnic area is located 1.6
miles from the parking lot. At 3.3 miles, you
will smell the odor of rotten eggs due to the
sulphur present in Sulphur Springs.
Modelo Spur n 0.75 mile—This trail meanders
up from the parking lot through grasslands to a
lone coast live oak on the ridge. Follow the trail
east and join the Cheeseboro Canyon Trail.
101
Modelo Trail l 1.0 mile—Starting at the ridge
line of the Modelo Spur and continuing north
along the ridge, this pathway offers views of
both canyons. This trail ends at the Palo Comado
Connector Trail where you can turn right to
travel east towards Cheeseboro Canyon, or left
to travel west towards Palo Comado Canyon.
Palo Comado Canyon Trail t 6.0 miles—
For 1.2 miles enjoy a gentle stroll along a creek
to the old ranch center. A mile past the ranch
site, you will climb from 1,200 feet elevation to
the scenic China Flat at 2,140 feet elevation.
Simi Peak Trail n 0.75 mile—This trail winds
from China Flat to Simi Peak, the highest point
in the area. Enjoy a spectacular view of Oak
Park, Agoura Hills, and Simi Valley.
Ranch Center Connector t 1.1 miles—
This trail crosses a chaparral hillside and connects Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons.
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