El Escorpion Park

Infobox Mountain
Name = Castle Peak
Photo = Castle_Peak_San_Fernando_Valley.jpg
Caption = Castle Peak from the east
Elevation = ~1,475 feet (450 m)
Location = West Hills, California, USA
Range = Simi Hills
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|34|12|0.45|N|118|39|51.7|W|type:mountain_region:US
Topographic

First ascent =
Easiest route =

El Escorpion Park is a three-acre (12,000 m²) park located in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, California in the San Fernando Valley at the intersection of Vanowen St and Sunset Ridge Ct. It is managed by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Please note it can also be accessed from El Escorpion Park, a small trailhead located very close to the corner of Valley Circle Blvd. and Vanowen St., just west of the intersection. Parking on the street is available and currently is not busy other than on weekends.

It opens at sunrise and closes at sunset and allows bicycles. It is a popular place to walk dogs, and equestrians are allowed as well. There are many hiking trails around the park. These mainly follow El Escorpion Creek, but one also ascends Castle Peak.

Castle Peak (also known as Kas'elew [http://www.wishtoyo.org/projects-cultural-ahmanson-ranch.html] ) is a rocky peak located in the park that can be prominently seen in the park and surrounding areas. There is a rather rough trail up the south side. From the top, one can see much of the valley floor on clear days.

NOTE: The trail to the top of Castle Peak is not for beginners and is dangerous. It is a steep but easy to follow path, but the final ascent to the top of the peak requires climbing over boulders and other rocks, and a serious mistake might possibly result in a slip or slide down the side of the hill. PLEASE DO NOT attempt the trail to the top of Castle Peak with any young children -- it is not a gentle fire road by any means. Intermediate and advanced hikers will enjoy the vertical challenge, approx. 1,000 feet of gain in a short interval. The Easiest way to climb to the top, is to follow the easily seen trail at the base of the mountain. If you follow this steep trail about 3/4 the way up, you will notice that there is no easily seen trail. However, if you continue goin up, you will notice that if you veer to the left while going up, the climb is much easier. Onece you reach the top, if you go along the rigeline of the mountain, you will find a small trail leading towards Bell Canyon. Once you follow the trail along the ridge, you will find a beautiful green grass field stretching before you. At the edge of the field, is the cliff wall. Below you, stretches El Escorpion Park (the cave of munits is derectly below you) This hike is totally worth the effort and the views are breathtaking to say the least.

Please do not attempt to scale Castle Peak other than from the established south-east facing path -- no other route is known at this time.

The main trail from the Castle Peak entrance, noted above and accessible from Vanowen street, will lead up to the top of the ridgeline and to another new trailhead, and a corresponding gravel parking lot at the top of Victory Blvd., west of its intersection with Valley Circle. This parking lot is available but a fee is required to park there. However this parking lot is advantageous in that it is at the top of the ridgeline, thus allowing visitors to avoid an uphill hike at the beginning of their trip. After passing this trailhead the path from the Castle Peak side, you will drop down into the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, from which multiple trails are open for your exploration.

Note, once past the cyclone fence, approx. 1/2 mile into the park, the main trail will lead away to the left. Numerous other trails are available from this point on the right, opposite of the main trail. Some small caves exist on the hillside walls which may hold interesting artifacts. A small semi-circular mountain bike area, with some small jumps is available near the cyclone fence/trail division noted above, on the far side (north side) of El Escorpion Creek. This is also one of the boundaries that separates El Escorpion Park from its surrounding neighbor parks, and so most of the trails from this point lead out into the other open spaces noted in this article.

The Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve lies to the west of the park, and Bell Canyon Park lies directly north of the park. In fact, El Escorpion Park and Bell Canyon Park share an invisible border, the only barrier being Castle Peak itself and the chain of mountains to the west of it.

There has been some confusion and controversy as to the actual name of the park that lies at the end of Vanowen St. For some time, it was referred to as Bell Canyon Park, although this appears to be incorrect, as the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks website map clearly shows El Escorpion Park being further south than Bell Canyon Park, bordering it but lacking a clear border on the map. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has published maps with the park being named El Escorpion Park, however. Other organizations claim the park is named Bell Creek Park and is run by the Bell Canyon Homeowners Association, although there is no evidence thus far as to either of these claims.

Note: Snakes are common in this area and thusly, hikers should be wary of the trail at the base of the mountain.

There is also a Castle Peak Park at 24220 1/2 Clarington Drive in West Hills.

External links

* [http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/castlePeakPk.htm LA Parks Overview page]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/9900/places.html SoCalHiker Commentary]
* [http://wiki.revecess.com/viewentry.php?id=1109150186&mode=view Castle Peak on the REVECESS Wiki]