San Vicente Mountain Park

DETAILS:

• Location: 17500 Mulholland Drive, Encino

• Hours of Operation: Daily - sunrise to sunset.

• Parking: There is a small free parking lot just before the trailhead. Free parking is also available on Mulholland Drive at the intersection with Encino Hills Drive.

• Cost: Free!

• Time Commitment: 1-2 hours

• Miscellaneous:

  • It’s approximately .8 miles from the trailhead to the park.

  • The trail to the park is on a slight incline, but not strenuous at all.

  • Bathrooms and water fountains available at the park.

  • Trail access into areas like Mandeville Canyon and Sullivan Canyon can be found on the west end of the park passed the yellow parking gate.

Located off Mulholland Drive above Encino, San Vicente Mountain Park just might be one of the most unique reclamation projects in the entire country. That’s because this park, with its picturesque views from its perched position in the Santa Monica Mountains, was once a United States military base during the height of the Cold War. From 1956-1968, this particular location, dubbed LA-96C, was one of sixteen Los Angeles area Nike-Ajax supersonic anti-aircraft missile launch sites intended to protect key urban and industrial areas from Soviet attack. (The name “NIKE” was derived from the Greek Goddess of Victory, not the shoe company) With that ominous era now thankfully behind us, the station was eventually incorporated into the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area and opened as a public park in 1996.

Complete with public restrooms, picnic tables, and a renovated radar tower that now serves as a stunning elevated observation deck, San Vicente Mountain Park still pays homage to its wary past with numerous displays sprinkled throughout the park explaining its initial role in history. The park serves as a solemn reminder of what war can beget. But even more so, it’s the perfect example of what can be created in the absence of war.

You can access the park off the intersection of Mulholland Drive and Encino Hills Drive. From there, a short access road will lead to the trailhead. The trail is approximately .8 miles to the park and will provide stunning views of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Encino Reservoir, and the San Fernando Valley as you make your ascent. Once you’ve reached the top, Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, Westridge Canyonback Park, and the 20,000-acre “Big Wild” wilderness area are all accessible if you want to adventure a little further.

 

RESOURCES:

• San Vicente Mountain Park website.