Topanga State Park

Topanga State Park encompasses nearly 40 square miles, and is the largest wilderness park inside of a major city. There are dozens of entrances, and to properly explore the Park, one would need at least a full year. I recommend getting a Tom Harrison Topographical Map of the Park if you are truly interested, even though it does not have a comprehensive list of all the trails. The park stretches across the Santa Monica Mountains from the Pacific Ocean, all the way down Sunset Blvd. past Will Rogers State Park and clear up to Encino. There are mountain lion in the park which you will probably never see, but what you will see are a hell of a lot of raptors. Primarily Red Tailed Hawk and White Tailed Kite. Additionally, there are hundreds of pair of beautiful ravens, crows, swifts, and scrub jays. There is a healthy rodent population, and during the summer, you are almost guaranteed a rattlesnake sighting if you go to the right places. Deer abound in the park and are not the slightest bit timid. The chaparral, oaks, wildflowers and other native plants are subtly beautiful during all four seasons. I like Winter the best, because this Park gets pretty hot during the Summer and if you are running long distances, the heat will surely sap your endurance. I recommend accessing Topanga State Park either through the gateway at Will Rogers via the Backbone Trail or from Topanga State Beach. In any event, I am sure you will appreciate the views of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina and Anacapa Islands, the Los Angeles Basin and Mt. San Antonio and San Gorgonio on a clear day. A true five star gem.