Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve

Ahmanson Ranch

 

The Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve is a large open space nature preserve owned and operated by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It consists of the 2,983 natural acres in the Simi Hills in the far eastern end of Ventura County. The area was previously known as Ahmanson Ranch, named by the former owners.

The open space preserve is northeast of Agoura Hills and Oak Park, north and west of Hidden Hills, north of Calabasas, west and south of Bell Canyon, west of West Hills and south of Simi Valley.

Las Virgenes Canyon generally runs north and south through the open space preserve. The East Las Virgenes Canyon intersects with the Las Virgenes Canyon and generally runs to the northeast from that point. Perez Peak is to the north of East Las Virgenes Canyon while Lasky Mesa is to the south.

 

Zev Yarsoslavsky Las Virgenes Highlands Park

The Las Virgenes Highlands Park consists of approximately 200 acres of oak studded parkland in Las Virgenes Canyon north of Calabasas and east of Agoura Hills. It is north of the 101 Freeway and offers great views of the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills.

 

Perez Peak

Perez Peak is a 1,575 foot peak in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, formerly the Ahmanson Ranch. The peak is directly south of Bell Canyon and north of where Las Virgenes Canyon Road intersects with the Los Angeles County - Ventura County line.  Perez Peak is also known as Perez Mountain.

 

 

Las Virgenes Canyon

Las Virgenes Canyon generally runs north and south through the open space preserve. The East Las Virgenes Canyon intersects with the Las Virgenes Canyon and generally runs to the northeast from that point. Perez Peak is to the north of East Las Virgenes Canyon while Lasky Mesa is to the south.

 

Sheep Corral Trail

Sheep Corral Trail is a 3.1 mile east-west trail in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve of Ventura County that connects the major north-south trails of Las Virgenes Canyon, Cheeseboro Ridge, Sulphur Springs (Cheeseboro Canyon), and Palo Comado Canyon.

 

Humam Village

For thousands of years before the area was claimed by Spain and later by Mexico, the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, formerly the Ahmanson Ranch, was occupied by the Chumash People who developed a village where Chumash, Tongva, and Tataviam people lived. The village was known as Humam and was located on Bell Creek next to Escorpion Peak, also known as Castle Peak.