Rocky peak
Encyclopedia
Rocky Peak, located in Rocky Peak Park, is the third-highest point in the Santa Susana Mountains
, and overlooks the San Fernando Valley
and Chatsworth
, the Simi Hills
, and the Simi Valley
in Southern California
. The peak, which is 2715 feet (828 m) in elevation, sits on the Los Angeles County–Ventura County line.
The nearest neighbor is Oat Mountain
, the highest mountain in Santa Susana Mountains
range, which lies east of Rocky Peak.
, Tongva, and Chumash people for eight thousand years. The Chumash Burro Flats Painted Cave
is just to the west in the Simi Hills
on the Santa Susana Field Laboratory
property.
Historic Santa Susana Pass
is at the foot of the mountain, with the Old Santa Susana Stage Road located in the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
nearby. Rocky Peak has been prominently featured in many classic Hollywood films, being next to three major Movie ranch
es; the Iverson, Spahn
, and Corriganville
Ranches; and its evocative 'Old-West Frontier
' landscape scenery.
, includes the 4400 acres (17.8 km²) Runkle Ranch formerly owned by entertainer Bob Hope
. The park reaches five miles (8 km) northward from Simi Freeway to Las Llajas Canyon. Rocky Peak Park forms the most critical wildlife habitat linkage between the Santa Susana Mountains and the Simi Hills and on to the Santa Susana Mountains
.
There are miles of trails, including the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor, in Rocky Peak Park with panoramic views that are popular for hiking
, mountain biking
, and equestrian rides. They connects with other preserves to the northeast in the Santa Susanas. Sage Ranch Park is to the west with trails and camping. The Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
and trail system is just to the south across the highway.
Santa Susana Mountains topics index
Santa Susana Mountains
The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
, and overlooks the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
and Chatsworth
Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
Chatsworth is a district of Los Angeles, California, United States; in the northwestern San Fernando Valley. The district is bordered by the Santa Susana Mountains and unincorporated Los Angeles County lands to the north, Porter Ranch to the northeast, Northridge to the east, West Hills, Canoga...
, the Simi Hills
Simi Hills
The Simi Hills are a low rocky mountain range of the Transverse Ranges, located in eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County, of southern California, United States.-Geography:...
, and the Simi Valley
Simi Valley
Simi Valley is a synclinal valley in Southern California in the United States. It is an enclosed or hidden valley surrounded by mountains and hills. It is connected to the San Fernando Valley to the east by the Santa Susana Pass & 118 freeway, and in the west the narrows of the Arroyo Simi and 118...
in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The peak, which is 2715 feet (828 m) in elevation, sits on the Los Angeles County–Ventura County line.
Geography
Rocky Peak also marks the point where the county line changes direction from true North to a more North-Westerly direction. A large railroad spike driven into the rocks mark this exact spot on the county line. Rocky Peak, which gets its name from the many large craggy boulders that dot its surface, can be viewed from several locations along Topanga Canyon Blvd., and from the Hwy 118 Freeway, also known as the Ronald Reagan Freeway.The nearest neighbor is Oat Mountain
Oat Mountain (California)
Oat Mountain is a peak of the Santa Susana Mountains overlooking the San Fernando Valley to the south and southeast. Oat Mountain is the highest peak in the Santa Susana Mountains of California. The Los Angeles district of Chatsworth is to the south of the mountain.- See also :* Mission Point*...
, the highest mountain in Santa Susana Mountains
Santa Susana Mountains
The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
range, which lies east of Rocky Peak.
History
The area was part of the homeland and trading crossroads of the TataviamTataviam
The Tataviam , were called the Alliklik by their neighbors the Chumash , are a Native American group in southern California...
, Tongva, and Chumash people for eight thousand years. The Chumash Burro Flats Painted Cave
Burro Flats Painted Cave
Burro Flats Painted Cave is in the Burro Flats area of the Simi Hills, located between the Simi Valley, and West Hills and Bell Canyon, in Ventura County of Southern California, United States. It is a Cave containing Chumash Native American pictographs...
is just to the west in the Simi Hills
Simi Hills
The Simi Hills are a low rocky mountain range of the Transverse Ranges, located in eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County, of southern California, United States.-Geography:...
on the Santa Susana Field Laboratory
Santa Susana Field Laboratory
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory is a complex of industrial research and development facilities located on a 2,668 acre portion of the Southern California Simi Hills in Simi Valley, California, used mainly for the testing and development of Liquid-propellant rocket engines for the United States...
property.
Historic Santa Susana Pass
Santa Susana Pass
The Santa Susana Pass is a Southern California mountain pass in the Simi Hills connecting the San Fernando Valley and town of Chatsworth, to the Simi Valley and city of Simi Valley.-Natural history:...
is at the foot of the mountain, with the Old Santa Susana Stage Road located in the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park is a California State Park of approximately located on the boundary between Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, between the communities of Chatsworth and Simi Valley. Geologically, the park is located where Simi Hills meet the Santa Susana Mountains...
nearby. Rocky Peak has been prominently featured in many classic Hollywood films, being next to three major Movie ranch
Movie ranch
A movie ranch is a ranch that is at least partially dedicated to being used as a site for the creation and production of motion pictures, and television productions...
es; the Iverson, Spahn
Spahn Ranch
Spahn Ranch, also known as the Spahn Movie Ranch, was a movie ranch used for filming generally Western-themed movies and television programs. With mountainous terrain, boulder-strewn scenery, and an 'old Western town' set, Spahn Ranch was a versatile filming site for many scripts...
, and Corriganville
Corriganville Movie Ranch
Corriganville Movie Ranch was a working film studio and movie ranch for outdoor location shooting, as well as a Western-themed tourist attraction...
Ranches; and its evocative 'Old-West Frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
' landscape scenery.
Rocky Peak Park - recreation
Rocky Peak Park, a 4800 acres (19.4 km²) regional open space preserveNature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, includes the 4400 acres (17.8 km²) Runkle Ranch formerly owned by entertainer Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
. The park reaches five miles (8 km) northward from Simi Freeway to Las Llajas Canyon. Rocky Peak Park forms the most critical wildlife habitat linkage between the Santa Susana Mountains and the Simi Hills and on to the Santa Susana Mountains
Santa Susana Mountains
The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
.
There are miles of trails, including the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor, in Rocky Peak Park with panoramic views that are popular for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, and equestrian rides. They connects with other preserves to the northeast in the Santa Susanas. Sage Ranch Park is to the west with trails and camping. The Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park is a California State Park of approximately located on the boundary between Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, between the communities of Chatsworth and Simi Valley. Geologically, the park is located where Simi Hills meet the Santa Susana Mountains...
and trail system is just to the south across the highway.
See also
- Sand Rock PeakSand Rock Peak (California)Sand Rock Peak is a mountain that overlooks Newhall and the rest of Santa Clarita Valley to the northeast. The summit is at elevation of .Sand Rock Peak is part of the Santa Susana Mountains. Oat Mountain, a higher mountain, is south of Sand Rock Peak, and can be seen from there....
- Chatsworth PeakChatsworth PeakChatsworth Peak is a peak in the Simi Hills overlooking Chatsworth, California on the east. Is southwest of Santa Susana Pass and north of the Chatsworth Reservoir at an elevation of ....
- Simi PeakSimi PeakSimi Peak is a peak in the Simi Hills in Southern California. It is the highest peak in the Simi Hills, at 2,403 feet .-Geography:Simi Peak is located in eastern Ventura County, California, near the cities of Simi Valley, California to the north, and Thousand Oaks, California to the west.-Nearby...
- Oat MountainOat Mountain (California)Oat Mountain is a peak of the Santa Susana Mountains overlooking the San Fernando Valley to the south and southeast. Oat Mountain is the highest peak in the Santa Susana Mountains of California. The Los Angeles district of Chatsworth is to the south of the mountain.- See also :* Mission Point*...
Santa Susana Mountains topics index