The maroon monkey flower is a rare and Cultural And travel between the missions was known as El Santa Susana distinctive form of the bush monkey Historical Value Camino Real (the King’s Highway). Today, the Simi flower (Mimulus aurantiacus). It is a Valley Freeway—also known as State Highway Pass Two distinct California Indian perennial shrub found on dry slopes 118—follows the 1895 route built to ease the grade groups were the primary State Historic Park within chaparral, coastal sage scrub and of the old road over the Santa Susana Pass. dwellers of this area: the Tongva oak woodlands. This form has deep red and the Chumash. It is not flowers and blooms from March to July. Activities This 670-acre historic park, located in Los known whether the area was Angeles County where the Simi Hills meet the equally shared by the two Located at the edge of an urban area, this rugged Santa Susana Mountains, is rich in natural, groups, or whether one was park provides exceptional outdoor recreation. historical and cultural significance. Here in the dominant. The Tongva people, Visitors can enjoy its scenic open space with a set western part of the Transverse Ranges, the land is highly proficient at deep-sea of trails networking through the property. Docents dominated by high, narrow ridges and deep fishing, shellfish gathering and from the Foundation for the Preservation of the canyons covered with an abundant variety of plant hunting sea mammals, were Santa Susana Mountains lead regular environ- life. The park offers panoramic views of the rugged especially skilled at trading with mental education programs for local school natural landscape as a striking contrast to the their neighboring groups—with children, and on Sundays from October through developed communities nearby. shell beads, steatite, dried fish June the Santa Susana Mountain Park Association The diverse terrain of ridges, canyons and rock and sea otter pelts among their leads guided hikes. outcrops houses several varieties of habitats within slopes support more trade items. Photographers will find inspiration in the the park’s environs. There are two seasonally dense vegetation. The Chumash people were springtime blossoms, the striking rock formations intermittent streams whose flows—at times Coastal sagebrush, technologically and artistically sophisticated, and the views from the ridges. Equestrians will significant enough to produce waterfalls—depend buckwheat, laurel sumac, chamise and wild lilac creating fine basketry, canoes capable of sea enjoy a system of horse trails through the park. on the rainfall. The presence or absence of springs are typical shrubs within the park environs. In the voyages and spectacular rock art. and streams at different times of the year has a small canyons, where seasonal rains are more Today, descendents of the Chumash profound effect on the local vegetation. likely to be channeled, some riparian species such and Tongva people have maintained The landscape of Santa Susana Pass State as willow and Mexican elderberry grow well. In the the traditions of their ancestors Historic Park consists of sandstone ramparts— larger riparian channels, coast live oak, California through community outreach and relics of mountain-building forces exerted nearly walnut, sycamores and willows create a dense educational interpretive programs. five million years ago. These memorable canopy. Spring rains produce acres of spectacular The Santa Susana Mountains and formations have been used as the background for flowers and blooming shrubs. the San Fernando Valley have a history several western films. Because of its greatly diverse plant communities, as a transportation corridor that dates The soil, which ranges from hard sandstone the availability of water, and a varied physical back to 1769, when Spanish Army bedrock to various forms of the surrounding clay, structure, this region supports a rich variety of Captain Gaspar de Portolá led an shale and crushed sandstone, provides a perfect wildlife. This rugged area is part of an important expedition over the Sepulveda Pass habitat for the abundant coastal sage scrub, wildlife corridor that connects the San Gabriel, from San Diego to Monterey Bay. chaparral and annual grasses among smaller areas Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountain ranges. During the next 52 years, the Spanish of oak and riparian woodlands and riparian scrub. Mule deer, bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes and ring- rulers established presidios, towns and The sandstone rock outcrops shelter the rare Santa tailed cats are among the many native animals to a system of 21 missions. The route of Susana tarplant, while the moister north-facing be found here. Appendixes IV. SSPSHP Immediate Use Trail Repair Plan (Padilla) 68 Appendixes 69 B A C1 C2 Eucalyptus by pond plaque View West from Chatsworth Park South Parking Lot A B C1 C2 D5 D1 D2 plaque View WNW from Chatsworth Park South Parking Lot (Post Fire) A C1 D5 D2 D3 D1 plaque Olive Trees Along Stage Route View NW from Peak O2 D3 F D1 D2 D5 D4 E G Powerhouse Rd. Railroad grade View NW from Quarry Tailings Area Z D1 D2 D3 D4 Eucalyptus by pond View North from road between A & C1 F J D4 E C1 I1 Eucalyptus by pond View NNE from road between A & C1 D4 D2 D3 View NNW from Old Santa Susana Stage Road D2 D3 Balancing Rock View NW from Hill-Palmer Trail Balancing Rock View NW from Hill-Palmer Trail G F View west from Williams Trail F View North from Bannon Quarry Road g Williams Trail looking SW F F O2 O3 View North from near S. junction of Ancestors’ Trail & Stage Rd. View east from top of north saddle on Williams Trail H View NE from Williams Trail I1 Fill in I1 Fill in J K L G Railroad grade View north from Peak O3 I1 Stony Point J N1 View NNE from Peak O3 F G I1 N. Water Tower Fill in J Railroad grade View NE from Old Santa Susana Stage Road J G K M L Railroad grade View East from Old Santa Susana Stage Road (Devil’s Slide area) Water Tower I1 J Stony Point K O2 O3 View NE from Miranda Trail View NE from turn on Hill-Palmer Trail J G K N1 Quarry Tailings O2 View SE from Old Santa Susana Stage Road N1 View north along Bannon Quarry Road D4 E F P O3 J N. Water Tower View North from N. slope of Peak Q A D3 F E View SSW from Meadow A T C1 plaque W A Olive Trees Along Stage Route View West from Peak O2 Chatsworth Peak W B A View WNW from Peak P Southern Hills T W Q S3 S1 R View SSW & SW from Peak O2 T? W A Chatsworth Peak View WNW from Old Santa Susana Stage Rd. Chatsworth Peak O3 D5 T B C1 A View West from Quarry Tailings area near Bannon Quarry Rd. X A W View NW near Miranda Trail creek X U View west from NW edge of southern meadow T X W U View WNW from eastern edge of southern meadow T X Miranda Trail View SW from Southern Meadow S3 T View WSW from southern end of Bannon Quarry Road S3 T W S1 View SW from near O2 S3 S1 Miranda R Trail O3 Q P View SW from Quarry Tailings Area near Powerhouse Rd. E View SW from Intersection of Santa Susana Pass Rd. & Iverson Rd. E Z Y View West from Spahn Ranch E View SE from Santa Susana Pass Road D4 El Camino Nuevo View south from Santa Susana Pass Road Z 118 Y Rocky Peak Santa Susana Pass Rd. View NW from Sanchez Trail [INSIDE BACK COVER] 72 73 .