Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park is aCalifornia State Park of 670.68 acres (2.7141 km2)[1] located in the city of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County on the boundary betweenVentura andLos Angeles counties, between the communities ofChatsworth andSimi Valley. Geologically, the park is located where theSimi Hills meet theSanta Susana Mountains. Here in the western part of theTransverse Ranges, the land is dominated by high, narrow ridges and deep canyons covered with an abundant variety of plant life. The park offers panoramic views of the rugged natural landscape as a striking contrast to the developed communities nearby. The park is also rich in archaeological, historical, and cultural significance.[2][3]
The park includes a 174-acre (0.70 km2)National Register of Historic Places property consisting of historic features and sites. This includes the Fernandeno and Chumash people's trading routes and village sites remains.
It also includes portions of theOld Santa Susana Stage Road. The Santa Susana stagecoach road was the main route for mail and travelers betweenLos Angeles and the rest ofSouthern California northwest to Simi Valley,Santa Barbara, and theSan Francisco Bay Area from 1861 until 1876, when therail connections began between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area through theNewhall Pass opened. The stage road was declared City ofLos Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #92 (designated 01/05/1972) and Ventura County Historical Landmark #104 (designated 10/21/1986).[2][3]
The park also includes land that was previously part of theSpahn Ranch, utilized for many decades as amovie ranch.
The State of California acquired portions of the park in 1979 and acquired additional parcels into the late 1990s. The property was formally classified as a State Historic Park in 1998.[2] Many trails and vistas are available in the park. The NPS"Rim of the Valley" master planArchived 2016-03-03 at theWayback Machine for a hiking and equestrian trail corridor from theSanta Monica Mountains to theSan Gabriel Mountains includes the park's trails and open space as an important link.[4][5]
The traditional entrance to Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park on Devonshire Street is closed during ongoing environmental cleanup of an old shooting range within city-owned Chatsworth Park South. The Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains website suggests the following for "access to Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park:
Santa Susana Pass SHP was one of the 48California state parks proposed for closure in January 2008 by California's GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger as part of a deficit reduction program.[7] A reprieve has avoided this so far.
34°15′24″N118°37′14″W / 34.25667°N 118.62056°W /34.25667; -118.62056
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