Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park facts for kids
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park is a special place in California. It's a California State Park that covers about 670 acres. That's like 500 football fields! This park is in Los Angeles County, right on the edge of Ventura County. You can find it between the towns of Chatsworth and Simi Valley.
The park is where the Simi Hills meet the Santa Susana Mountains. Here, you'll see tall, narrow hills and deep valleys. Lots of different plants grow here. The park gives you amazing views of nature, which is a cool change from the busy towns nearby. This area is also very important for its old history and culture.
Contents
Exploring the Park's Past
Ancient Trails and Villages
The park holds a special 174-acre area. This part is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes old trading paths and village sites. These were used by the Fernandeno and Chumash people long ago.
The Old Santa Susana Stage Road
A big part of the park's history is the Old Santa Susana Stage Road. This road was super important from 1861 to 1876. It was the main way to send mail and travel between Los Angeles and places like Simi Valley, Santa Barbara, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Travelers used stagecoaches on this road. But then, in 1876, train lines opened. These new train routes connected Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area. After that, the stage road was used less often. The stage road is now a special landmark. It's recognized as a historic monument in both Los Angeles and Ventura County.
A Place for Movies
Some land in the park was once part of the Spahn Ranch. For many years, this ranch was used as a place to film movies. It was known as a "movie ranch."
What You Can See and Do
Park Creation and Trails
The State of California started buying parts of this park in 1979. They kept adding more land until the late 1990s. In 1998, it officially became a State Historic Park.
Today, the park has many trails and viewpoints. You can hike or ride horses here. These trails are part of a bigger plan called the "Rim of the Valley." This plan aims to connect hiking and horse trails. It would link the Santa Monica Mountains all the way to the San Gabriel Mountains.
Finding Your Way In
Current Entrance Information
The usual main entrance to Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park is on Devonshire Street. However, this entrance is currently closed. There is an environmental cleanup happening at an old shooting range nearby. This shooting range is within Chatsworth Park South.
Alternate Ways to Enter
Even with the main entrance closed, you can still visit the park! Here are some other ways to get in:
- From Larwin Avenue: This is often the easiest way. Go one block south of Devonshire Street. Turn left onto Larwin Avenue. You will see a chain-link fence on your right. There's a gap in the fence where you can enter the park.
- From Santa Susana Pass Road: You can find an entrance in the northwest part of the park.
- From Lilac Lane: Another entrance is in the northwest area of the park.
- Near Lassen, Andora, and Valley Circle: Look for an entrance southwest of the Oakwood Memorial Cemetery.
Saving the Park
Back in 2008, the governor of California suggested closing many state parks. Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park was one of them. This was part of a plan to save money. Luckily, people worked hard to keep the park open, and it was saved from closure.
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