Coldwater Canyon facts for kids
Coldwater Canyon is a beautiful valley in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles County, California. Its name comes from Spanish, meaning "Cold Waters Canyon" (Cañada de las Aguas Frias).
This canyon runs across the middle of the Santa Monica Mountains. Part of it, south of Mulholland Drive, is also a neighborhood. This area is called Beverly Crest within the City of Los Angeles. A special spot called Hidden Valley is located here. It was once the home of famous actress Myrna Loy.
Exploring Coldwater Canyon
Coldwater Canyon is easy to travel through. You can drive along Coldwater Canyon Drive and Coldwater Canyon Avenue. These roads are connected by a short part of Mulholland Drive.
This route links different parts of Los Angeles. It connects the city of Beverly Hills and the Westside area. It also reaches the Studio City neighborhood and the San Fernando Valley.
Coldwater Canyon Creek
The canyon has a stream called Coldwater Canyon Creek. This creek flows into Ballona Creek. Coldwater Canyon Creek is an intermittent stream. This means it only flows sometimes, especially after rain.
The creek flows south and southeast. It eventually reaches an area once known as Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas. Other streams from Franklin and Higgins canyons join it near the end of its journey.
A Look at Coldwater Canyon's Past
Coldwater Canyon has an interesting history. In 1888, fishermen found many speckled trout in Coldwater Creek. This shows the creek was once full of fish.
In the 1890s, there was a rock quarry in the canyon. This was a place where rocks were dug out of the ground. For many years in the early 1900s, the canyon was known for its orange groves. People also enjoyed riding horses on its bridle paths.
Around 1908, only four houses were in the canyon. This shows how rural it was back then. In 1934, it even snowed in Coldwater Canyon! This is a rare event for Los Angeles.
In 1954, a brushfire broke out in the canyon. It burned 20 acres and destroyed one home. Luckily, it was put out. Actress Jack Palance's wife, Virginia Baker Palance, discovered the fire and reported it.
