Boney Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boney Peak |
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The peak viewed from the trail to the northeast
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2828+ ft (862+ m) NAVD 88 |
| Listing | Sierra Club LPC |
| Geography | |
| Location | Ventura County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Santa Monica Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Triunfo Pass |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Old Boney Trail from Satwiwa |
Boney Mountain, also known as Boney Peak, is one of the tallest mountains in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's located in Ventura County, California. This impressive mountain can be seen from many areas, including Newbury Park, California. It stands about 2,825 feet (861 meters) tall.
Boney Mountain is made up of four high peaks. These include Boney Peak itself, Sandstone Peak, Exchange Peak, and Tri Peaks. Sandstone Peak is actually the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is very close to Boney Peak.
This mountain was formed about 15 million years ago. It started as volcanic rock that cooled and hardened. Over millions of years, this rock was pushed up to form the tall mountain we see today. It now stands high above the western Conejo Valley.
The Chumash Native Americans have a deep connection to Boney Mountain. They consider it a sacred place.
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Discover Boney Mountain
Boney Mountain is a very important landmark in Southern California. It is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. This area protects the natural beauty and wildlife of the mountains.
The mountain is also within the Circle X Ranch Park. A special part of the mountain is called the Boney Mountain State Wilderness Area. This wilderness area is inside Point Mugu State Park. It offers many trails for exploring.
Exploring the Trails
You can find many hiking trails around Boney Mountain. Some trails start from the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center. This center is in Newbury Park.
When you hike these trails, you can see amazing views. You might spot the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Baldy in the distance. Other nearby trails lead to the Danielson Monument and the Sycamore Canyon Waterfall.
A Special Place for the Chumash People
Boney Mountain has a long and spiritual history with the Chumash people. They have lived near and interacted with the mountain for thousands of years.
Around the year 1900, Chumash people shared stories about Boney Mountain. One story tells of an ancestor who went hunting on the mountain. From the top, they could see the valleys below, which looked like good places for animals to graze. This story might be about the Paleo-Indians, who were the ancient ancestors of the Chumash.
An old Chumash village called Satwiwa was located at the base of Boney Mountain. This site is still sacred to the Chumash people today. It is believed that people first lived at Satwiwa as far back as 13,000 years ago. It was still a Chumash home 2,000 years ago.
Winter Snow on the Peak
In 2019, something unusual happened. Photos showed that Boney Mountain was covered in snow. Many people who had lived in Newbury Park for a long time said they had never seen snow on the peak before. It was a rare and beautiful sight!
