Leo Carrillo State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leo Carrillo State Park |
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View from Leo Carrillo State Park's sea cave
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 Leo Carrillo State Park
Location in California
Leo Carrillo State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Malibu, California |
| Area | 2,513 acres (10.17 km2) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Leo Carrillo State Park is a beautiful state park located along the coast in California. It's found where Los Angeles and Ventura Counties meet. This park is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It has about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of beach, perfect for exploring. The park also stretches inland into the Santa Monica Mountains. It even includes County Line Beach. A main road, California State Route 1, runs through the park. The park was started in 1953 and covers about 2,513 acres (1,017 ha). It is named after Leo Carrillo, an actor and conservationist. He helped protect many state parks.
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Park History and the Woolsey Fire
Leo Carrillo State Park was officially opened in 1953. It has been a popular spot for visitors ever since.
The 2018 Woolsey Fire
In November 2018, a large wildfire called the Woolsey Fire swept through the area. This fire started many miles away. It quickly moved through canyons and mountains. The fire reached the coastline, burning nearly the entire park. The Woolsey Fire burned over 96,949 acres (39,234 ha) of land.
Park Recovery After the Fire
The fire caused a lot of damage to the park. For example, equipment for the Junior Lifeguard program was destroyed. But people helped the park recover. A group of Australian surf lifeguard associations donated money. This helped replace the lost equipment. Work crews spent seven months cleaning up the park. They removed debris and made it safe again. The campgrounds were able to reopen after all this hard work.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Leo Carrillo State Park offers many exciting activities for visitors.
Beach Activities
You can enjoy swimming in the ocean. Surfing and windsurfing are also popular here. If you like fishing, you can try surf fishing from the beach. Many people also enjoy beachcombing, looking for interesting shells or rocks.
Exploring the Coastline
The park's beach has cool features to explore. You can find tide pools, which are small pools of water left behind by the tide. These pools are full of sea creatures. There are also amazing sea caves to discover. And you can see reefs along the coast.
Inland Adventures
Away from the beach, the park has a campground. You can stay overnight and enjoy nature. There are also many hiking trails. These trails go into the backcountry, offering great views of the mountains.
