Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve

great views and trails thankfully not creatures lurking and not crowded with people or dogs like Runyon Canyon

Absolutely stunning park!
I am most familiar with the park entering from the Victory trail head. You can park on the street where there are limited spaces, especially if you go at a popular time or you can pay $ 3 to park at the actual park where the money goes to good use toward the park’s upkeep.
Once you step foot in this park, it’s hard to believe you are right next to Los Angeles. It’s so wide open and vast, rolling hills as far as the eyes can see. The trails are wide and easy to traverse. It’s a great place for horse back riding and mountain biking too. This place is so incredibly big that there’s no way you’ll see it all on your first visit. The only signs of civilization you’ll see are other hikers and the occasional plane overhead.
I love going in the evenings and just listening to the crickets. It is bliss.
You can also view some terribly impressive sunsets here too. Be aware they you’ll hear coyotes howling!

Loved this hike! Kid friendly, rolling hills we’re golden and gorgeous, serene and also got a good workout in. Definitely going back soon!

Great place to hike! It has a lot of trails you can go to, but be on the lookout for snakes sometimes. Other than that, the view is absolutely breathtaking!

Harder than it looks, it gets pretty lonely because not too many people know about this place. Gets pretty hot and not too much shaded area. I will do it early morning next time. Bring enough water and remember the way back is harder so save your energy.

What a great day of hiking and I had no idea it was 5 mins from our house!
A couple tips:
Park on the street before the entrance
Parking is only $ 3 so if you pay, the donation is surely appreciated
Please don’t scream when having conversations with friends. Some of us are trying to enjoy nature.

I usually access the Upper Las Virgines Open Space via Victory Trailhead, at the western end of the San Fernando Valley. Some logistics about the trail:
— Parking: Ample street parking on Victory Blvd. or the dirt lot at the trail head. As of this writing (March 2015), parking is $ 3.00. If you choose street parking, it is a 3 – 5 minute uphill walk on the paved road leading to the lot.
— Open: Sunrise to sunset (if you get locked it and do not have a dog, you can jump the wall on the north side of the street relatively easily). Security patrols the area and will open the gate for you without incidence.
— Other: Outdoor restroom in the corner of the parking lot. Dog pick up bag dispenser, which is always restocked and full based on my experience.
I have been using this space for many years now, but my outings have been limited to hiking /​dog walking, using the Ahmanson Ranch House and Laskey Mesa trails. I say «limited,» because this space is more of a mountain biker’s haven. The paths are wide enough to accommodate the wide range of walkers, hikers, runners, dog walkers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers, but to really take advantage of its vastness, you need wheels.
For the most part, users abide by the rules of the trail (picking up after pets, allowing room for riders to pass, etc.) and are generally friendly. Locals are abound especially during the dawn and dusk hours, as there is an affluent community that hugs a portion of the trail. My personal rating for the trail is easy to moderate.
For photographers, the space is a little limiting. Due partly to the lack of rain in Southern California, fields are usually burnt and wildflowers are in short bloom. You may catch decent shots of hills or the San Fernando Valley from one of many overlooks, but this is really only worth it during the «magic hours.» Wildlife is comprised of coyotes and birds, as far as I have come across personally.

Not worth the drive! There is no shade, no water, a web of confusing trails, and sea of hills to climb up and down. Small insects (possibly baby grasshoppers) were attracted to my blue shirt the entire walk. The view of the distant cliffs was inviting along with a variety of rocks, grass and a few flowers.

Best month of the year is February~April
Summer time is too hot but early morning will be ok.

Beautiful trail, on a cloudy day it feels like you’re in Ireland. It’s quiet, vast, and allows dogs :) my new favorite hiking spot.

I’ve been on this hike several times but haven’t gone all the way around until today. I typically hike up to the houses and return back, which usually takes about an hour so. Taking the road back beyond the houses takes much longer than returning back to the entrance of the trailhead. It takes you through a residential area and ends up being about a 4.5−5 mile hike! If you’re ready for a longer hike, try it out. If not, just head back to where you started.

Love this place! It’s the closest hiking trail from our house! We just go to Vanowen and walk up from there. It’s about a mile and a half to the Victory trail head and it goes on for miles. I’ve done over 10 miles round trip going all the way to Cheseboro. I’ve seen deer, coyote, cotton tail rabbits, red tail hawks, golden eagles, bull frogs, California tree frogs and so much wildlife here. Definitely the best hiking in the West Valley!

This trail was pretty nice, the scenery in the valley is quite peaceful and serene. There are many scenic large green hills that stretch off into the distance. It’s not too strenuous of a hike, but parts of it are steep. There are several different routes you can take that vary according to length.
Watch out for rattlesnakes though! These things sometimes wander out onto the trail itself, so always pay attention to the grounds as you walk. Also take extra care if your bring children or pets along.

Victory Trailhead is the best place to hike in the valley! With all the shopping centers and residential areas in the valley, its refreshing to get away from all of the noise.
When you are hiking up here, all you can hear is the wind, birds and your own steps. There are hills for as far as you can see, its beautiful.
The path is even and wide, which makes it ideal for walking or jogging. There are steep inclines and declines as well. If you stay to the left, it will loop around and take you back to the beginning. Its about 3.5 miles, and a great workout.
Park at the top of Victory, on the street just before the park. You wont have to pay. There will be a big white house overlooking the street, you will know you’re at the right spot when you see it.
*Tip-​You most likely wont get service up here, so its best to bring a phone or ipad with music already downloaded. Streaming Pandora is a fail.
Overall this trail is a great place to go to exercise and get away from everything.

Came here in the night when they had the eclipse it was crowded but really nice views! Had to park in the street in residential because the parking lot was full! Can’t wait to come during the day or early morning to get my hike on!

I love this place for a great hike. The trails from low to steep will get your legs a proper workout. The views that you are rewarded with are well worth the sweat. The best part about this area is you can bike, hike or run to get a great workout. There is not that much available as far as shade, but as I said the trails from running to hiking to biking will have you pleased in the in end.
Parking is on the side street or inside the gate.

Hidden gem! Victory Trailhead is located on Victory off Valley Village. There’s a $ 3 parking lot at the top of the hill or street parking. There’s tons of street parking. We found a spot no problem.
Hot! It’s the Valley folks. I went at 10 am and it was already 85 degrees. There was absolutely no shade on the trail we took. We walked until we hit an intersection with 3 different trails. One person in our group had been before so we took the one to the left that goes up a slight incline. The trail itself was dirt but not rocky. And very wide. Since it wasn’t a loop trail, after walking for a hour we turned around and headed back. We passed a lot of hikers & mountain bike riders but it never felt crowded. Everyone we passed was very friendly and said hello. As you can see from my pics the views were stunning.

This hike begins in West Hills where the west end of the San Fernando Valley meets the Simi Hills. Basically take Victory Blvd all the way to where it ends. Parking fee is $ 3.00 if you park inside. You may park your car on the street, this is what everyone does. Las Virgenes Canyon Opens Space Preserve, passing between Los Angeles County and Ventura County at the same time. Therefore, this fun hike reaches two attractions in two parks in two counties all in just over two miles. Because you will be trekking off trail for much of this hike, it is important to familiarize yourself with the area before you start.
This hike is fairly easy for beginners. There isn’t that much up hill, Pretty much a fun trail walking path. This place is really beautiful during fall season. Everything looks so pretty and green! If you come during sunset or sunrise you will definitely, see it before your eyes!
PS: Everyone says Hi!!! Very friendly and Pet Friendly! Don’t get scared if you hear «rattle snake sounds» It’s probably not a rattle snake it just a small insect called — Cicadas or Wind rustling dry leaves also sometimes sounds like a rattlesnake.

A hidden gem indeed.
Came here on a Saturday afternoon and under the sweltering sun, we trekked six miles out and back. Bring water.
The hike starts by Victory and Valley Circle behind multimillion dollar homes. Park on Victory for free. Remember to turn your wheels out up a hill and in down a hill when parking.
It would have been an easier hike if the hot sun wasn’t sucking out all my energy. We started on the main trail and then turned left when it started to divide and kept walking. We eventually turned around when we couldn’t figure out if the trail looped around or not.
It was a relatively flat hike with minor inclines. My only complaint is the constant rattling sounds in the bushes. There can’t be that many rattlesnakes around but the continuous rattling made me very paranoid that we might encounter one.
Go during a cloudy day because there is no shade on the hike whatsoever. It’s a dog friendly, horse friendly, and a bike friendly trail. There are also numerous trails to diverge on.
Happy hiking!

The Victory Trailhead is my most favorite hike in the Valley!
I’ve been wanting to visit this place for many years and finally made it out to watch the first sunset of 2015.
After the rain, I had a feeling hiking here would be a wonderful experience. This is one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve experienced so far in the city.
This location is a bit hidden behind multi-​million dollar mansions. I found myself the only one on the trail throughout most of the hike.
I loved that it wasn’t crowded and I felt like I was outside of Los Angeles in the countryside.
I couldn’t help but stand in awe of the view and scenery all around me, especially during sunset. There’s a gorgeous view of the San Fernando Valley on parts of the trail and the other side is a stunning view of miles and miles (3,000 acres) of unspoiled California landscape.
There’s a $ 3 lot right at the entrance or you can park in the residential area which is not too far from the entrance.
Highly recommended!