Western L.A. County/Eastern Ventura County Trails?

[Shahram]

I live in the west end of the San Fernando Valley, and it seems like there's no more exploring the Santa Susanas or Santa Monica Mountains by vehicle any more. I used to drive the fire roads all over L.A. County back in the '90s, and found some amazing views.

I know I could drive up to Hungry Valley, but at an hour's drive, it's a little far and frankly a lot more crowded than I enjoy. Are there any more driveable dirt roads in my neck of the woods that are still open to the public? I'd like to be able to take my son (toddler) out for a morning drive, maybe get some dirt time, take in a view, a short walk or picnic, and be back by the early afternoon.

I've looked at the area between Simi Valley, Fillmore, and Piru, and it seems like that's all park lands, or at least it's restricted access. The Los Padres Forest to the north of Fillmore, west of Lake Piru, and northeast of Santa Paula also seems interesting, but according to the map, it's also restricted access. Is there access to fire roads in these areas?

I don't want to tear the ass out of the countryside, I just want to do a little exploring of what's left of the backroads of my area. Is there any place left to do that?

 

[D'Animal]

You mean that is not currently on fire?

 

[calstyl2]

Alot of the Los Padres is closed for a year after the Day Fire last year, the FS will close the trails for a year till the burn regrows. The upper LP is on fire and might just burn till winter.
Santa Monica Mountains are closed so some wack job does not burn down Malibu in the Santa Ana winds.
Try the Angeles NF above Newhall, there are some good trals there,

 

[D'Animal]

Get a hold of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

Senior Ranger Dave Updike is the man to speak with. They are always looking for people to volunteer to check out fire roads and trails.

Their main office is located Beverly Hills.

 

[Shahram]

Yeah, thanks, Dan. They're a client of mine, and one of their offices is around the corner from my office, at the LA River Center and Gardens in Cypress Park. Since I live literally at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, I'd love to be able to go back there and explore, especially if it involved volunteer work.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[PabloVTA]

We've (Gold Coast Cruisers) been working with the Ojai Ranger district and begging them to let us drive on any road available.

They're locked up tight in this area.

The Sespe is what you were looking at on the map between Fillmore and Santa Paula, and there's only a road up to the Condor sanctuary and then it's a 12 mile hike to the creek. no driving.

The Day fire let them make a few hundred miles of new roads, but they aren't about to let anyone use them.

Now the Zaca fire is tearing up No. Santa BArbara County at over 70K acres.
You won't see the Los Padres guys let any of us in that either.

Ventura County= Lockwood Valley, Miller Jeep trail/Gorman, or BC109 on the west side, that's about it.

I'd love for someone nea the Sant Susana Pass or Simi and Moorpark to open a park for wheelers on the private land, but that's just a pipe dream.

 

[D'Animal]

Yeah, thanks, Dan. They're a client of mine, and one of their offices is around the corner from my office, at the LA River Center and Gardens in Cypress Park. Since I live literally at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, I'd love to be able to go back there and explore, especially if it involved volunteer work.

Thanks again for the info.

I'm a volunteer for them and do training for them as well. I'll PM you Dave's phone number.

 

[calstyl2]

Starting late tommorow, the Zaca fire is gonna start operations to burnout the entire John Smith, and surrounding wilderness areas, the planned areas with the perameters to be, Hwy 33 to Hwy 166 North into New Cuyama, so dont plan on good air quatlity in the Kern Basin or the South.
could go down as the largerst fire in California history

 

[Slomo]

Starting late tommorow, the Zaca fire is gonna start operations to burnout the entire John Smith, and surrounding wilderness areas, the planned areas with the perameters to be, Hwy 33 to Hwy 166 North into New Cuyama could go down as the largerst fire in California history

That is scary, not entirely surprising but scary.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Yep, they shut down the 154 so we had to move to PLAN B for our trip (we were gonna camp at Lake Cachuma the first night). Even if the road was open and we could get into the lake, we wouldn't want too because of the horrible breathing conditions. We are leaving Thursday for Pismo.

 

[PabloVTA]

it's jacked up....

I understand how difficult it is, but still....just let 100,000 acres of national forrest burn?

one blast of wind and it'll jump into Ventura county and across gorman and then what?
what if a Santa Ana takes it over the ridge into SB?

another classic reason the budget needs to be passed, and more money has to be given to the FS and fire dept's in this state.

I've had a cough since it started, now it'll be a month before it's out.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/maps/full/770/0/

 

[calstyl2]

the south into Ventura part would slow down at the Day fire burn, the Zaca has turned into fuels reduction , they are burning off 50-100 year old fuel build up.
its a federal fire, the state budget hastle has no bearing on actions, CDF/Calfire is fully funded.

 

[D'Animal]

We got the smoke today from the fires all the way north of Fresno.

 

[PabloVTA]

I thought it was serious, but check out Montana!

http://eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3

 

[D'Animal]

Here is a worms eye view of the smoke while coming south through Chowchilla on hwy99.

 

[calstyl2]

boy Im sure thats making the south end of the Valley a real nice place to live these days, heard of ash fall in Bakersfield and Tehachapi yesterday

 

[D'Animal]

Arvin has the worst air quality in north america to begin with. I'll bet it's hard to breath there.

(Arvin is south east of Bakersfield)

 

[calstyl2]

yeah thats a real utopia down there