Exploring Palo Comado Canyons

The city of Agoura Hills ca is a favorite destination for nature lovers, adventurers, horseback riders, and anyone who enjoys wide-open spaces. It also attracts professionals and visitors seeking exceptional event and meeting spaces.

Palo Comado Canyons and Cheeseboro Canyon are two of the best spots in Agoura Hills for exploring nature and enjoying the outdoors, as well as for taking in breathtaking views of the mountains. They are also ideal for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, trail running, and birding.

Start out by driving up Ventura Fwy (101) to Chesebro Rd exit, then go north on Chesebro Rd about 1 mile to the park entrance. There is a parking lot on the right side of the road.

Walk to Sulphur Springs, then hike up to Simi Peak for incredible views of the surrounding area. You can also explore the Reyes Adobe Historical Site for a look at California's early ranching period and its impact on local history.

https://medium.com/@royalplumbing.mkt/hiking-at-paramount-ranch-45917e25ff45

From the park's main staging area, start hiking along Palo Comado Road for about 1.6 miles until you reach a picnic area with a bench near the stream bed. This is a great place to have a picnic and take in the scenic beauty of the canyon. You'll be following an old ranch road that's a mix of valley oak savannah and coast live oak riparian zone.

As you walk through this area, be sure to keep an eye out for bobcats and coyotes as well as owls and other raptors nesting in the oak trees. You can even take a quick dip in Sulphur Springs to cool off on a hot day.

After a short while, you'll reach a junction where you can either turn left to head back down into Palo Comado Canyon or continue straight on to cross over the ridge and descend into Cheeseboro Canyon. Either way, the terrain is similar for most of the way.

At 3.3 miles, you'll notice that the savannah is disappearing and that the canyon walls are narrowing. You'll soon be in a drier mix of chaparral and yuccas. You'll probably smell a little rotten egg, but otherwise this is the same as the start of the hike.

The terrain changes again on the 3.3 mile mark as you pass under the Baleen Wall and enter the Sheep Corral Singletrack. At this point, it's a good idea to bring some water to drink and to replenish your energy.

From there, you'll start to feel the heat as the sun sets over the valley. You'll also hear a rustling sound as you pass through the tall sagebrush. It's easy to see why this spot was once a popular cattle grazing ground.

You'll also pass through a very pleasant woodland with coast live oaks on the left, and valley oaks on the right. You'll be able to tell the difference between the two types of oak by their thicker and darker green foliage.

At a point just before 3.3 miles, you'll have the option to either stay on Palo Comado Road or continue on up the hill to Sulphur Springs. The latter offers a bit of shade and is more of a running path with little traffic.