Located in the
Santa Monica Mountains of southern
California,
Topanga State Park consists of a large chunk of the eastern part of the range. Oddly, most of
Topanga Canyon is not included in this park, however, the park does include much of
Rustic and
Temescal canyons. Despite the fact that this park is quite near downtown
Los Angeles (it nearly borders the town of
Beverly Hills and comes within a mile or two of the congested
405 freeway), a combination of rugged terrain and thick vegetation give the area quite a wild feel. It is called the 'Big Wild' by some people, and supports
coyotes,
bobcats,
deer, and
hawks, among other animals. Two or three
mountain lions even use this land as part of their territory. The dominant vegetation is thick
chaparral which is typical of the Santa Monica Mountains; there are also several sizable stands of
oak,
bay, or
sycamore trees.
There are several ways to access this park, but the most commonly used is Trippet Ranch, which is accessed from the west, off of Topanga Canyon Road. Trailheads also exist on the south end of the park, near the coast, and the north end of the park, near the San Fernando Valley. The area can also be accessed from Dirt Mulholland, which is closed to vehicles most of the time, or from a trailhead at the south end of Reseda Boulevard. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are the preferred means of viewing this park, and each of these options have their advantages and disadvantages. (Some trails do not allow bikes or horses, consult a park map or talk to a ranger for details.) Off-trail travel is virtually impossible due to basically impenetrable vegetation. When visiting this park, look for wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, or raptors, check out great views of the LA skyline, or visit a small waterfall in the spring.