Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve
DETAILS:
Location (to Victory trailhead): 23000 Victory Blvd, Calabasas, CA.
Note: You can also access the Preserve at the northern end of Las Virgenes Canyon Road in Calabasas
Directions: (From Los Angeles to Victory trailhead) 101N > Exit 29: Mulholland Dr / Valley Circle Blvd. > Right on Valley Circle Blvd > Left on Victory Blvd. (Victory will then literally dead-end at the Victory trailhead)
Hours of Operation: Sunrise to sunset.
Parking: Free parking on Victory Blvd. (Please observes any street signs, however)
Cost: $3 if you choose to park in the Victory trailhead parking lot
Time Commitment: Variable. The Preserve is almost 3,000 acres large and the main trail through the Preserve (Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve Trail) is a loop that spans almost 9 miles. But I’d recommend spending at least an hour or two here.
It’s amazing how much open space there is just outside Los Angeles. A stone’s throw from the 101 freeway along the western edge of the San Fernando Valley (in the general Calabasas area), you’ll find the Upper Los Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. It’s hard to imagine that any place this large (it’s absolutely massive!) could be considered a hidden gem, but I would dare say that, outside from neighborhood locals and hardcore hiking enthusiasts, the Preserve has gone fairly unnoticed by the general public. Better late than never, I am now one of the newly initiated to the wonders of the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve.
Thanks to the recent rains this year that have turned most of Southern California into a hue of green that hasn’t been witnessed for years, one could almost mistake the Preserve for the rolling fields of Ireland with just the right amount of squint. From the Victory trailhead, you are greeted almost immediately with this sprawling view thanks to the perched entryway and the landscape grows more impressive as you travel deeper into the Preserve among its many undulating hills.
As mentioned in the details, the main trail through the Preserve is a 9 mile loop, so you could definitely spend an entire day here. I was only able to devote several hours during my visit but I feel like that was more than enough time to gain a true appreciation for the Preserve in lieu of a longer hike. While the main trail offers more than enough scenery, I highly recommend exploring any one of the countless side trails that wind up the surrounding hills. It’s a great way to add a little extra burn to your legs and the elevated views will reward you plenty for your effort.
