Bell Canyon Park facts for kids

Bell Canyon Park is a big outdoor park located in the Simi Hills. It's found at the western edge of the San Fernando Valley in West Hills, Los Angeles and Bell Canyon, California. This park is a special "open-space" area, meaning it's kept natural for everyone to enjoy.

A stream called Bell Creek flows right through the park. This creek is an important branch of the Los Angeles River. Along the creek, you'll see lots of plants that love water, growing right by its natural banks. A famous landmark called Escorpión Peak, also known as Castle Peak, stands tall nearby in El Escorpión Park.

Exploring the Park: Trails and Activities

Bell Canyon Park has many trails that follow along Bell Creek. You can walk upstream, even past the Bell Canyon community. These trails connect to other parks like El Escorpión Park and Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. This means you can explore miles of different paths!

There's even a path from Bell Canyon Park that leads up to the top of Escorpión Peak (Castle Peak). This peak and the other two parks are right next to Bell Canyon Park, just to the south.

The trails in Bell Canyon Park are great for many activities. You can go for a walk, enjoy a long hike, ride your mountain bike, or even go horseback riding. Some areas might even be good for rock climbing.

Visiting Bell Canyon Park

It's easy to get to Bell Canyon Park. You can find parking off Bell Canyon Boulevard, close to Overland Drive. This is in West Hills, Los Angeles. There's also a parking lot inside the Bell Canyon community.

The park is open every day, from when the sun comes up until it sets. It's important to be careful when you visit, as Rattlesnakes live in the area. Always watch where you step and where you place your hands. Remember, only people and horses are allowed on the trails; no motor vehicles or motorbikes can enter the park.

Even though part of the park goes into the private Bell Canyon community, you can still access it using the trails. Bell Canyon Park is managed by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

A Look Back: History of the Area

The land where Bell Canyon Park is today has a very long history. For about 8,000 years, different groups of Native Americans lived here. These included the Chumash-Ventureño and Tongva-Fernandeño tribes. They lived and traded in the Simi Hills and along the streams that flow into the Los Angeles River.

One important village, called Hu'wam, belonged to the Chumash-Ventureños. It was located at the base of Escorpión Peak (Castle Peak), right by Bell Creek. This village was a meeting and trading spot for the Chumash with the Tongva-Fernandeño and Tataviam-Fernandeño people.

Later, in 1798, the land became part of the Spanish Mission San Fernando Rey de España. Then, in 1845, a Mexican land grant created Rancho El Escorpión. This rancho was special because it was one of the few given to Native Americans. The old adobe buildings of the rancho were located within what is now the park. These buildings existed from the 1840s until the 1960s. In 1912, George Platt bought the rancho, and it became known as the Platt Ranch.

Images for kids

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  This map from 1880 shows the Southwestern San Fernando Valley and Rancho El Escorpión.