The gently rounded hills of Cheeseboro Canyon in the Simi Hills is older than the steeper, more recently formed Santa Monica Mountains,
For over 150 years, ranchers made this canyon 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.
–Cheeseboro Canyon has the largest concentrations of birds of prey nesting areas in the U.S. outside of Alaska.
–The Valley Oak tree, the largest oak native to the United States and possibly the world, live in these canyons in what might be the largest southerly stand of trees left.
Our 9-mile journey starts on the Modelo Trail, ascending the western ridge separating Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons. After a few minutes we descend into Cheeseboro Canyon.
Then we begin a climb through a tributary of Cheeseboro Canyon, soon reaching the Cheeseboro Ridge Trail (about 2 miles from the start). This will be a nice place for a water break and enjoy the scenery before beginning the biggest ascent of the hike.
The Cheeseboro Ridge Trail winds its way up the canyon wall. As we climb, we’ll get views of the rolling terrain of the Simi Hills, the Santa Monica Mountains, and to the east, if the weather is clear, the San Gabriels.
After a couple more miles we will see the Baleen Wall, a geological formation that is one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks. Its rock outcroppings resemble the sight of a baleen whale rising from the ocean. We will take our snack break opposite the Baleen Wall overlooking the headwaters of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon creek
After the break we’ll stroll to Shepherds Flat and Sulphur Springs. We may catch a whiff of rotten eggs, indicating the presence of sulphur, and therefore some extremely minor volcanic activity, close to the surface.
We then continue down the Cheeseboro Canyon Trail making a big loop.
Hike is about 9 miles with 1,300 feet total ascent and is rated DIFFICULT. See the Hike Rating Guide: https://www.hikingwithdean.com/hike-rating-guide/
