Santa Monica Mountains

Last updated

Santa Monica Mountains
Santa monica mountains canyon.jpg
Malibu Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains
Highest point
Peak Sandstone Peak
Elevation 3,111 ft (948 m)
Geography
Wpdms shdrlfi020l santa monica mountains.jpg
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Counties Los Angeles and Ventura
Range coordinates 34°7′13.023″N118°55′54.348″W / 34.12028417°N 118.93176333°W / 34.12028417; -118.93176333
Parent range Transverse Ranges
Borders on Santa Susana Mountains, Simi Hills and Verdugo Mountains

The Santa Monica Mountains are a coastal mountain range in Southern California, next to the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Transverse Ranges. [1] The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area encompasses this mountain range. Because of its proximity to densely populated regions, it is one of the most visited natural areas in California.

Contents

Geography

The range extends approximately 40 miles (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. The western mountains, separating the Conejo Valley from Malibu, suddenly end at Mugu Peak [2] as the rugged, nearly impassible shoreline gives way to tidal lagoons and coastal sand dunes of the alluvial Oxnard Plain. The mountain range contributed to the isolation of this vast coastal plain before regular transportation routes reached western Ventura County. The eastern mountains form a barrier between the San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles Basin, separating "the Valley" on the north and west-central Los Angeles on the south. The Santa Monica Mountains are parallel to the Santa Susana Mountains, which are located directly north of the mountains across the San Fernando Valley.

The range is of moderate height, with no particularly craggy or prominent peaks outside the Sandstone Peak and Boney Mountains area. While often rugged and wild, the range hosts a substantial amount of human activity and development. Houses, roads, businesses, and recreational centers are dotted throughout the Santa Monica Mountains.

A number of creeks in the Santa Monica Mountains are part of the Los Angeles River watershed. Beginning at the western end of the San Fernando Valley, the river runs to the north of the mountains. After passing between the range and the Verdugo Mountains it flows south around Elysian Park, defining the easternmost extent of the mountains.

Archeology

The Santa Monica Mountains have more than 1,000 archeology sites of significance, primarily from the Californian Native American cultures of the Tongva and Chumash people. [3] The mountains were part of their regional homelands for over eight thousand years before the arrival of the Spanish. [4] The Spanish mission system had a dramatic impact on their culture, and by 1831 their population had dropped from over 22,000 to under 3,000. [5]

Geology

Azimuth Marker, Mount Allen (Sandstone Peak), Southern California, USA. True North Mount Allen.fw.png
Azimuth Marker, Mount Allen (Sandstone Peak), Southern California, USA.

Geologists consider the northern Channel Islands to be a westward extension of the Santa Monicas into the Pacific Ocean. The range was created by repeated episodes of uplifting and submergence by the Raymond Fault, which created complex layers of sedimentary rock, some containing fossils of invertebrates and fish. Volcanic intrusions have been exposed, including the poorly named andesitic [6] "Sandstone Peak", which is the highest point in the range at 3,111 feet (948 m). Malibu Creek, which eroded its own channel while the mountains were slowly uplifted, bisects the mountain range.

Climate

Snow in the Santa Monica Mountains in 2007. Snow in the Santa Monica Mountains.jpg
Snow in the Santa Monica Mountains in 2007.

The Santa Monica Mountains have dry summers with frequent coastal fog on the ocean (south) side of the range and rainy, cooler winters. In the summer, the climate is quite dry (except for the coastal fog), which makes the range prone to wildfires, especially during dry "Santa Ana" wind events.

Snow is unusual in the Santa Monica Mountains, since they are not as high as the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. The lower slopes of the range average between 15 and 20 inches (380 and 510 mm) of rain per year, while the higher slopes of the central and western Santa Monica Mountains average 22 to 27 inches (560 to 690 mm) of rain per year. The bulk of the rain falls between November and March. The higher rainfall in the central and western parts of the range results in more widespread woodlands (with oak, sycamore, walnut, bay laurel, alder and other trees) than the eastern part of the range, where trees are usually restricted to the stream courses.

On January 17, 2007, an unusually cold storm brought snow in the Santa Monica Mountains. [7] [8] The hills above Malibu picked up three inches (eight centimeters) of snow - the first measurable snow in fifty years. Snow was reported on Boney Peak in the winter of 2005; and in March 2006, snow also fell on the summit of the mountain. Snow also fell on the peak of Boney Peak in late December 2008. The latest recorded snowfall in the area was in February 2019, when an unusual amount of snowfall accumulated in low passes in the mountains. That storm system also brought rare snowfall to the Los Angeles area. Heavy graupel was recorded in Malibu Canyon on January 23, 2021. It accumulated as low as 400 feet in elevation.

Deep graupel in Malibu Canyon in 2021. Graupel in Malibu Canyon.png
Deep graupel in Malibu Canyon in 2021.

Wildfire

In the Santa Monica Mountains, when the fuels, seasonal drought, wind, and terrain combine with an ignition, a major wildfire occurs. These fires are large, wind-driven canopy fires that consume the above ground vegetation and often cause major property damage and home losses. [9]

In 2018, the Woolsey Fire burned through 88% of the federal parkland resulting in trails being closed for months. [10] The fire, which was three times larger than the biggest fire ever before in the mountains, burned over 40% of the natural area in the Santa Monicas. [11] A restoration plan was developed to plant 100,000 trees, shrubs and grasses of 25 different species. [12]

Protected areas

Boney Mountain is sacred to the Chumash people. Boney peak.jpg
Boney Mountain is sacred to the Chumash people.

Much of the mountains are located within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Preservation of lands within the region are managed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the National Park Service, the California State Parks, and County and Municipal agencies. The Santa Monica Mountains face pressure from local populations as a desirable residential area, and in the parks as a recreational retreat and wild place that's increasingly rare in urban Los Angeles. In 2014 the California Coastal Commission and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the Santa Monica Mountains Local Coastal Program, a land-use plan that will distinguish between the private lands that need strict protection and property that could be developed in strict conformance with this detailed plan. [16]

Regional parks

Over twenty individual state and municipal parks are in the Santa Monica Mountains, including: Topanga State Park, Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Point Mugu State Park, Will Rogers State Historic Park, Point Dume State Beach, Griffith Park, Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, Charmlee Wilderness Park, [17] Franklin Canyon Park, Runyon Canyon Park, King Gillette Ranch Park, [18] and Paramount Ranch Park. [19]

Satwiwa

The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Newbury Park, California is located within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The area was purchased by the U.S. National Park Service in 1980. [20] The Rosewood Trail near Stagecoach Inn, which leads to Angel Vista is an access point in Newbury Park.

Griffith Park

At the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains are Griffith Park and Elysian Park. Griffith Park is separated from the rest of the Santa Monica Mountains to the west by the Cahuenga Pass, over which the 101 Freeway (also called the Hollywood Freeway) passes from the San Fernando Valley into Hollywood. Elysian Park is in the easternmost part of the mountains and is bordered by the Los Angeles River to the east and Downtown Los Angeles nearby to the south.

Rim of the Valley Trail

The Rim of the Valley Trail is a plan in progress for accessing and connecting the parkland and recreational areas of the mountains surrounding the Conejo, San Fernando, Simi, and Crescenta Valleys. With trailheads in the mountains and valleys, it would link them through existing and new: walking, hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking trails; parklands; and conservation easements. The Rim of the Valley project also has the goal to protect flora and fauna habitats and wildlife corridors between the Santa Monica Mountains and the inland ranges. [21] [22] [23] [24]

Flora and fauna

Fauna

Bobcat kitten 327, SMMNRA Bobkitten 327 SMMNRA.jpg
Bobcat kitten 327, SMMNRA

The range is host to a variety of wildlife. Common mammals in the range include mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, striped skunks, raccoons, several native bat species, brush rabbits, and many rodents including California voles, western gray squirrels, dusky-footed and desert woodrats, western harvest and California pocket mice, Botta’s pocket gophers, and pacific kangaroo rats. [25]

The mountain lions population is challenged because the Santa Monica Mountains are isolated and not big enough for weaned cubs to find their own territory. [26] [27] [28] [29] The primary cause of the decline is due to a combination of traffic-related mortality, [30] [31] anti-coagulants ingested from human poisoned prey, and attacks by other, more dominant mountain lions. [32] The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will bridge the Ventura Freeway which acts as a barrier in the wildlife corridor between the Simi Hills to the north and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south. [33] The National Park Service has recorded a dozen mountain lions struck and killed by motorists on this section of freeway since 2002 when they began a study. [34] Mountain lions approach this particular area and turn back without attempting the hazardous crossing of the freeway as shown by GPS tracking collars fitted to them by the researchers. [35] In 2020, wildlife biologists found the first evidence of physical abnormalities in the isolated population. [36] Newcomers would bring new genetic material into the mountains where the lack of genetic diversity is a serious threat to their long-term survival. [37] It would allow young mountain lions, born in the Santa Monicas, a chance to find a new territory before possibly being killed by one of the more dominant, older males. [38] P-22 was a wild mountain lion residing in Griffith Park in the eastern end of the range, until his death in 2022. [39]

A three to four year old black bear was captured, examined, and collared in 2023. Designated BB-12, he is probably the only bear in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and it is estimated that he has been living there for two years. [40] However, in July 2023, BB-12 was killed while crossing the 101 Freeway. This is not uncommon for animals living in and around the Santa Monica Mountains; a common cause of bobcat and mountain lion fatalities is being struck by vehicles. [41]

Over 380 native bird species call the Santa Monica Mountains home. [42] Abundant native song birds species include the Bushtit, California Scrub Jay, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cliff Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Oak Titmouse, Song Sparrow, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, House Wren, and Black Phoebe. Red-Tailed Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, Great Horned Owls, and Western Screech-Owls are among common raptors in the area. White-tailed kites, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, [43] [44] and Burrowing Owls have also been sighted. [45] In addition to these residential species, many bird species pass through the Santa Monica Mountains as they travel along the Pacific Flyway including Brown Pelicans, Rufous Hummingbirds, Canada Geese, [46] Bonaparte’s Gulls, and Elegant Terns. [47] [25]

Native fish found in the Santa Monica Mountains include tidewater gobies, arroyo chub, and pacific lamprey. Additionally, Malibu creek is home to the southern steelhead trout, which is an endangered species. [48] [49]

Snakes are common but only occasionally seen: the Southern Pacific rattlesnake (the only venomous species), mountain kingsnake, California kingsnake, gopher snake, and garter snake. The mountains are also home to the western fence lizard and the coastal whiptail. The population of red-legged frogs is small and isolated, and was impacted by the Woolsey Fire that swept through the area in November 2018. [50]

Flora

Heart leaf penstemon, Keckiella cordifolia, along the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains Heart Leaved Penstemon - Keckiella cordifolia - Wildflowers Santa Monica Mountains.fw.png
Heart leaf penstemon, Keckiella cordifolia, along the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains

The Santa Monica Mountains are in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, and includes the California oak woodland and southern coastal sage scrub plant community, and are covered by hundreds of local plant species, some of which are very rare or endemic, and others which are widespread and have become popular horticultural ornamentals. Dudleya verityi is a rare species of succulent plant known by the common name "Verity's liveforever". This species is endemic to Ventura County and is found only on one edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, where it occurs in coastal sage scrub habitat. [51] The most common trees in the mountains are oak and sycamore. The California black walnut, endemic to California, grows on the northern side of the mountains in the Valley and Griffith Park. Other species include willow and alder (along stream courses) and bay laurel. Several species of ferns (including large sword ferns) are found in wetter, shady areas throughout the range, especially near streams.

Invasive species

Many invasive weeds have colonized the mountain habitats which can bring about significant changes in the ecosystems by altering the native plant communities and the processes that support them. These non-native plants include annual Mediterranean grasses, Spanish broom (Genista juncea), and yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). In creekside riparian habitats are found plants such as giant cane (Arundo donax), German ivy (Delairea odorata), blue periwinkle (Vinca major), and ivy (Hedera spp.).

More frequent fires have created conditions favorable to invasive plants. The 2018 Woolsey Fire burned through 88% of the federal parkland. [52] The fire, which was three times larger than the biggest fire ever before in the mountains, burned over 40% of the natural area in the Santa Monicas. [53] The fire created a challenge to native plants as black mustard with bright yellow flowers quickly established itself as a wet winter followed the fire. [54] The mustard plants will also provide fuel for the next fires. [55]

The New Zealand mud snail is an invasive species found in the Santa Monica Mountains, that pose a serious threat to native species, complicating efforts to improve stream-water quality for the endangered steelhead. [56] Within a period of four years, the snails expanded from their first known population in Medea Creek in Agoura Hills to nearly 30 other stream sites. Researchers at the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission believe the snails' expansion may have been expedited after the mollusks traveled from stream to stream on the gear of contractors and volunteers. [57]

Roads and access

First mile of CA 23 and southern coastal scrub First Mile CA 23.JPG
First mile of CA 23 and southern coastal scrub

Cahuenga Pass, present-day site of U.S. Route 101, is the easiest pass through the range connecting the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley. In the 1800s, two battles were fought there, and the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed nearby. In Hollywood's heyday, movie studios were found clustered on both sides of the highway.

Sepulveda Pass is the main north–south pass to the west, connecting the Westside to Sherman Oaks via the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and Sepulveda Boulevard.

Minor passes between the Sepulveda and Cahuenga passes include: Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Coldwater Canyon Avenue, and Beverly Glen Boulevard. Further west of the Sepulveda Pass are Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR 27), Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan Dume Road.

Mulholland Drive runs much of the length of the Santa Monica Mountains, from Cahuenga Pass to Woodland Hills, although it is not open to motor vehicles west of Encino. The Mulholland Highway runs from Woodland Hills to Sequit Point at the Pacific Ocean.

Area communities

Haze in the Santa Monica Mountains near the west edge of Los Angeles County, 1975. Photo by Charles O'Rear HAZE IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NEAR THE WEST EDGE OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE MOUNTAINS CONTAIN THE... - NARA - 557558.jpg
Haze in the Santa Monica Mountains near the west edge of Los Angeles County, 1975. Photo by Charles O'Rear

The eastern end of the range, located in the City of Los Angeles, is more intensively developed than the western end. The city of Malibu runs between the coast and the leading mountain ridge, from Topanga Canyon in the east to Leo Carrillo State Park in the west.

Communities along the north slope of the mountains include (from east to west):

Communities along the south slope of the mountains include (from east to west):

Named peaks

Sandstone Peak Looking at Sandstone Peak from Inspiration Point.jpg
Sandstone Peak
Named peaks in the Santa Monica Mountains
PeakHeightNotes
USSI
Sandstone Peak [58] 3111 ft948 malso known as Mount Allen, rising nearly a kilometer high
Tri-Peaks 3010 ft917 m
Exchange Peak 2950 ft899 m
Conejo Peak 2854 ft870 m
Boney Peak [59] 2825 ft861 m
Castro Peak [60] 2824 ft861 mhighest peak in the eastern end of the range
Saddle Peak [61] 2805 ft855 m
Calabasas Peak [62] 2165 ft660 m
Temescal Peak2126 ft648 m
San Vicente Mountain [63] 1965 ft599 mformer site of a Nike missile base, now a Cold War park
Clarks Peak [64] 1965 ft599 m
Mesa Peak [65] 1844 ft562 m
Cahuenga Peak [66] 1820 ft555 m
Brents Mountain [67] 1713 ft522 m
Mount Lee [68] 1640 ft500 mthe Hollywood Sign is on the south slope, at exactly half a kilometer high
Mount Hollywood [69] 1625 ft495 min Griffith Park; Griffith Observatory is on the south slope
Mount Chapel1622 ft494 m
Mount Bell1587 ft484 m
La Jolla Peak [70] 1567 ft478 m
Laguna Peak [71] 1457 ft444 mthe instrumentation capping this peak serves Naval Base Ventura County below
Mugu Peak [2] 1266 ft386 mthe westernmost peak in the range, rising directly from the beach

Adjacent ranges

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agoura Hills, California</span> Incorporated city in the state of California, United States

Agoura Hills is a city in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 20,330 at the 2010 census, which decreased to 20,299 in 2020. It is in the eastern Conejo Valley between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. The city is in western Los Angeles County and is bordered to the north by Bell Canyon and Ventura County. It is 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Downtown Los Angeles and less than 10 miles (16 km) west of the Los Angeles city limits at Woodland Hills. Agoura Hills and unincorporated Agoura sit next to Calabasas, Oak Park, and Westlake Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malibu, California</span> City in California, United States

Malibu is a beach city in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles County, California, about 30 miles (48 km) west of Downtown Los Angeles. It is known for its Mediterranean climate, its strip of beaches stretching 21 miles along the Pacific Ocean coast, and for its longtime status as the home of numerous affluent Hollywood celebrities and executives. Although a high proportion of its residents are entertainment industry figures with million-dollar mansions, Malibu also features several middle- and upper-middle-class neighborhoods. The Pacific Coast Highway traverses the city and has led most residents to settle anywhere from half a mile to within a few hundred yards of it, with some residents living up to one mile away from the beach in areas featuring narrow canyons. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 10,654.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is an agency of the state of California in the United States founded in 1980 and dedicated to the acquisition of land for preservation as open space, for wildlife and California native plants habitat Nature Preserves, and for public recreation activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malibu Creek State Park</span> Wilderness park in Santa Monica Mountains of southern California

Malibu Creek State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving the Malibu Creek canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. The 8,215-acre (3,324 ha) park was established in 1974. Opened to the public in 1976, the park is also a component of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Newbury Park is a populated place and town in Ventura County, California, United States. Most of it lies within the western Thousand Oaks city limits, while unincorporated areas include Casa Conejo and Ventu Park. The town is located in Southern California around 8 miles (13 km) from the Pacific Ocean and has a mild year-round climate, scenic mountains, and environmental preservation. About 28,000 residents of Thousand Oaks reside in Newbury Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Peak</span> Mountain in southern California, United States

Rocky Peak, located in Rocky Peak Park, is the fourth-highest point in the Santa Susana Mountains, and overlooks the San Fernando Valley and Chatsworth, the Simi Hills, and the Simi Valley in Southern California. The peak, which is 2,715 feet (828 m) in elevation, sits on the Los Angeles County–Ventura County line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simi Hills</span> Mountain range of the Transverse Ranges in California, United States

The Simi Hills are a low rocky mountain range of the Transverse Ranges in eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County, of southern California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mulholland Highway</span> Road in Los Angeles, United States

Mulholland Highway is a scenic road in Los Angeles County, California, that runs approximately 50 miles through the western Santa Monica Mountains from near US Route 101 in Calabasas to Highway 1 near Malibu at Leo Carrillo State Park and the Pacific Ocean coast – at the border of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve</span>

The Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve is a large open space nature preserve owned and operated by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy spanning nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) in the Simi Hills of western Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Carrillo State Park</span> State park in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, California, United States

Leo Carrillo State Park is a state park in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Situated along the Malibu coast, the park is a component of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. With 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of beach, the parkland stretches into the Santa Monica Mountains. The park has expanded into Ventura County and also includes management of County Line Beach. California State Route 1 runs through the park, where it intersects with the western terminus of the Mulholland Highway. The 2,513-acre (1,017 ha) park was established in 1953. It is named for actor and conservationist Leo Carrillo (1880–1961), who served on the State Parks commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verdugo Mountains</span> Mountain range of the Transverse Ranges in California, United States

The Verdugo Mountains, also known as the Verdugo Hills or simply The Verdugos, are a small, rugged mountain range of the Transverse Ranges system in Los Angeles County, California. Located just south of the western San Gabriel Mountains, the Verdugo Mountains region incorporates the cities of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, and La Cañada Flintridge; the unincorporated communities of Altadena and La Crescenta-Montrose; as well as the City of Los Angeles neighborhood of Sunland-Tujunga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area</span> Protected area in Southern California, US

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a United States national recreation area containing many individual parks and open space preserves, located primarily in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. The SMMNRA is in the greater Los Angeles region, with two thirds of the parklands in northwest Los Angeles County, and the remaining third, including a Simi Hills extension, in southeastern Ventura County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backbone Trail</span> Long-distance hiking trail in the United States

The Backbone Trail is a long-distance trail extending 67.79 miles (109.10 km) across the length of the Santa Monica Mountains in the U.S. state of California. Its western terminus is Point Mugu State Park, and its eastern terminus is Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. The trail is open to hikers throughout its length. Dogs, mountain bicyclists and horseback riders are only allowed on portions of the trail as posted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malibou Lake, California</span> Small reservoir and community in Los Angeles County, California in the Santa Monica Mountains

Malibou Lake is a small reservoir surrounded by a residential development in the Santa Monica Mountains near Agoura Hills, California. Adjacent to Malibu Creek State Park and within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, it is situated between Malibu Beach and the Conejo Valley. It was created in 1922 after the Malibu Lake Club Dam was built at the confluence of two creeks. The lake, and community of 250 residents are private.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandstone Peak</span> Mountain in the Santa Monica Mountains

Sandstone Peak, also known as Mount Allen, is a mountain in Ventura County, California. It is the highest summit in the Santa Monica Mountains, with an elevation of 3,114 feet (949 m). Located near the western edge of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the summit provides panoramic views of Malibu, the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica, the Conejo Valley, and four of the Channel Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conejo Grade</span> Steep grade on US 101 Highway in Ventura County, California

The Conejo Grade is a 7% grade incline on a section of US 101. Also known as the Camarillo Grade, it links Thousand Oaks and cities of the Conejo Valley, with Camarillo and the cities on the Oxnard Plain. With a summit elevation of 841.1 feet (256.4 m), California Highway Patrol inspection stations for trucks are situated on both sides of the highway at the upper terminus of the grade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sage Ranch Park</span> Public park and nature preserve in Ventura County, California

Sage Ranch Park is a 625-acre park (253 ha) and wildlife corridor located at a 2,000 feet (610 m) height in the northwestern Simi Hills on the northwestern plateau of the Simi Valley, bordering Los Angeles County and its San Fernando Valley. The campground area used to be a cattle ranch and later a filmset for Western movies. Sage Ranch Park is today an intermountain wildlife corridor, which links the Simi Hills with the Santa Susana- and Santa Monica Mountains. The mountainous park is mostly known for its unique sandstone rock formations, maybe particularly on its western side where the Sandstone Ridge and Turtle Rock are situated. On its northern side, there are great panoramic rural and metropolitan views of the Simi Valley, as well as surrounding Simi Hills, Santa Susana Mountains and beyond. It is home to numerous sandstone formations, caves, outcroppings, tilted rock formations, several hiking trails, a camping ground, as well as native flora and wildlife. The area is lined with coastal sage scrub and other flora includes chaparral, bush lupine, California poppy, sunflowers, Cream Cups, bracken, sword fern, prickly pear cactus, eucalyptus trees, oak woodland of ceanothus, coffee berry, California buckwheat, sycamore, Walnut Tree, ferns, orange- and avocado trees. It is a critical cross-mountain wildlife corridor and is home to fauna such as mountain lions, bobcats, eagles, vultures, owls, rattle snakes, coyotes, hawks, grey fox, king snakes, and more. Bordering Sage Ranch to the south is the Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory, in which the nearby Burro Flats Painted Cave is located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing</span> Wildlife overpass spanning US Route 101 in Ventura County, California

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is a vegetated overpass spanning the Ventura Freeway and Agoura Road under construction at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills, California. The bridge will be one of the largest urban wildlife crossings in the world, connecting the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains over a busy freeway with ten traffic lanes, when including exit lanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Sycamore Canyon</span> Canyon in the Santa Susana Mountains in Ventura County, California

Big Sycamore Canyon, often shortened to Sycamore Canyon, is a major feature of Point Mugu State Park, in Ventura County, California, United States. Sycamore Canyon is situated in the northernmost region of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area below the 3,000 feet (910 m) peaks of the Boney Mountain State Wilderness Area. The canyon begins on the north slope of Boney Mountain and heads north down the slope. The canyon then heads southwest past Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa to Sycamore Cove on the coastline. The canyon in the park is one of the riparian woodlands along the California coast. It contains a number of California sycamore trees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woolsey Fire</span> 2018 wildfire in Southern California

The Woolsey Fire was a wildfire that burned in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties of the U.S. state of California. The fire ignited on November 8, 2018, and burned 96,949 acres of land. The fire destroyed 1,643 structures, killed three people, and prompted the evacuation of more than 295,000 people. It was one of several fires in California that ignited on the same day, along with the nearby Hill Fire and the destructive Camp Fire in Northern California.

References

  1. ↑ "Santa Monica Mountains". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Mugu Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  3. ↑ Carlson, Cheri (February 8, 2014). "Dozens of archaeological sites discovered in wake of Springs Fire". Ventura County Star . Archived from the original on May 5, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Prehistoric milling site found in California" USA Today March 4, 2006
  5. ↑ "Chumash History", Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Official Website 2009. Accessed February 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ Volcanoes - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Nps.gov. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  7. ↑ Bernstein, Sharon; Groves, Martha (January 18, 2007). "IT'S WINTER FOR A DAY AS SNOW DUSTS PARTS OF L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ice Storms Cometh". www.cbsnews.com. January 16, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Fire Regime & History - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. U.S. National Park Service. June 7, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  10. ↑ Wallack, Roy (April 19, 2019). "Hiking in the Woolsey fire's burn area: See photos of nature's remarkable comeback". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ Simon, Scott (May 5, 2019). "How Last Year's Massive Woolsey Fire In Southern California Impacted Wildlife". NPR News, Weekend Edition. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  12. ↑ Orozco, Lance (August 2, 2022). "Efforts to restore Santa Monica Mountains vegetation burned by Woolsey Fire hits 50,000 plants". KCLU. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ Riedel, Allen (2008). 100 Classic Hikes in Southern California: San Bernardino National Forest, Angeles National Forest, Santa Lucia Mountains, Big Sur, and the Sierras. The Mountaineers Books. Page 118. ISBN   9781594851254.
  14. ↑ Riedel, Allen (2011). Best Easy Day Hikes Conejo Valley. Rowman & Littlefield. Page 21. ISBN   9780762765812.
  15. ↑ Mallarach, Josep-Maria and Thymio Papayannis (2007). Protected Areas and Spirituality. Island Press. Page 109. ISBN   9782831710235.
  16. ↑ Newton, Jim (June 1, 2014) "The promise of a balanced future for the Santa Monica Mountains" Los Angeles Times
  17. ↑ Charmlee Wilderness Park
  18. ↑ King Gillette Ranch Park Archived October 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Paramount Ranch Park
  20. ↑ McKinney, John (1992). Day Hiker’s Guide To Southern California. Olympus Press. Page 92. ISBN   9780934161121.
  21. ↑ http://smmc.ca.gov/ROV%20Master%20Plan.pdf Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine rimofthevalleytrail-master plan January 6, 2010
  22. ↑ www.lamountains
  23. ↑ Rim of the Valley Trail-update 6/6/2010
  24. ↑ Kamal, Sameea (March 4, 2015). "Three lawmakers urge Park Service action on Rim of the Valley study". Los Angeles Times.
  25. 1 2 National Park Service. "NPSpecies". irma.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  26. ↑ Carlson, Cheri (April 24, 2015). "Young male mountain lion follows sister out of Santa Monica Mountains". Ventura County Star . Archived from the original on November 15, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  27. ↑ Hayes, Rob (September 13, 2019). "SoCal's dwindling mountain lion population sparks concern among wildlife experts". ABC7. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  28. ↑ Roderick, Kevin (May 5, 2015). "Secrets of the LA mountain lions". LA Observed.
  29. ↑ "Behind the scenes with a Los Angeles mountain lion expert". Phys.org . UCLA. May 5, 2015.
  30. ↑ Bloom, Tracy (September 4, 2019). "P-65 Becomes 2nd Female Mountain Lion to Cross 101 Freeway During Santa Monica Mountains Study". KTLA. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  31. ↑ Shalby, Colleen; Lozano, Carlos (September 7, 2019). "The mountain lion known as P-61 is struck and killed on 405 Freeway". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Simi Valley Man Charged After Allegedly Fatally Shooting Mountain Lion P-38 in the Head". KTLA. September 11, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  33. ↑ Guldimann, Suzanne (February 9, 2015). "Liberty Canyon wildlife crossing granted $1 million by SCC". Malibu Surfside News. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  34. ↑ Groves, Martha (September 2, 2015). "Caltrans proposes wildlife overpass on 101 Freeway". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  35. ↑ Smith, Sam Benson (April 22, 2022). "Here's How LA Is Going To Construct The World's Largest Wildlife Crossing". LAist. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  36. ↑ Carlson, Cheri (September 9, 2020). "Mountain lion found in Santa Monica Mountains might be first with physical abnormalities". Ventura County Star. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  37. ↑ Carlson, Cheri (April 23, 2022). "Hundreds celebrate Highway 101 wildlife bridge as first of its kind. Here's why". Ventura County Star. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  38. ↑ Goldman, Jason (October 7, 2016). "How to Design a Wildlife Crossing Wildlife Will Use". KCET. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  39. ↑ Gammon, Katharine (December 20, 2022). "'He changed us': the remarkable life of celebrity mountain lion P-22". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  40. ↑ Schlepp, Travis (May 3, 2023). "Black bear living in Santa Monica Mountains collared by biologists believed to be only bear in region". KTLA. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  41. ↑ Lloyd • •, Jonathan (2023-07-24). "Rambling bear who covered a lot of ground in SoCal's mountains killed on 101 Freeway". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  42. ↑ National Park Service (12 January 2022). "Birds - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  43. ↑ Cholo, Ana Beatriz (26 June 2019). "Golden Eagle Chicks Found in the Santa Monica Mountains for First Time in 30 Years - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  44. ↑ Díaz, Alexa (26 June 2019). "Rare golden eagle nest found in Santa Monica Mountains for first time in 30 years". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  45. ↑ National Park Service. "Raptors - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  46. ↑ "Plants & Wildlife". MRCA. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  47. ↑ National Park Service. "Species List for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SAMO)". irma.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  48. ↑ "NPSpecies Report Viewer". irma.nps.gov. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  49. ↑ Calabasas, Mailing Address: 26876 Mulholland Highway; Us, CA 91302 Phone: 805 370-2301 Contact. "Fish - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved October 24, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  50. ↑ PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from California Red-Legged Frogs: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. National Park Service . Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  51. ↑ Carlson, Cheri (September 29, 2013). "Scientists keep eye on rare plant burned in Springs Fire]". Ventura County Star . Archived from the original on August 9, 2014.
  52. ↑ Wallack, Roy (April 19, 2019). "Hiking in the Woolsey fire's burn area: See photos of nature's remarkable comeback". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  53. ↑ Simon, Scott (May 5, 2019). "How Last Year's Massive Woolsey Fire In Southern California Impacted Wildlife". NPR News, Weekend Edition. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  54. ↑ Orozco, Lance (April 19, 2019). "They Look Pretty, But The Yellow-Green Plants On Central And South Coast Hills Are Invasive Weeds". KCLU News. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  55. ↑ Panzar, Javier. "This super bloom is pretty dangerous: Invasive mustard is fuel for the next fire". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  56. ↑ "Exotic Animals - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  57. ↑ Leovy, Jill (March 30, 2010). "Hard-to-kill snails infest Santa Monica Mountain watersheds". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Sandstone Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  59. ↑ "Boney Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  60. ↑ "Castro Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  61. ↑ "Saddle Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  62. ↑ "Calabasas Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  63. ↑ "San Vicente Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  64. ↑ "Clarks Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  65. ↑ "Mesa Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  66. ↑ "Cahuenga Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  67. ↑ "Brents Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  68. ↑ "Mount Lee". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  69. ↑ "Mount Hollywood". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  70. ↑ "La Jolla Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  71. ↑ "Laguna Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 3, 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.