Allen Riedel - Best Hikes Los Angeles: The Greatest Trails in the La Mountains, Beaches, and Canyons

While living in China, the authors got to explore with their children and friends. Left to right Michael, Will, Makaila, Allen, Sierra, Rocky, and Monique.

Allen Riedel, MSE, is a photographer, journalist, author, and educator. He has authored multiple hiking guides, including 100 Classic Hikes in Southern California, Best Hikes with Dogs in Southern California, and a number of Best Easy Day Hikes guides.

Monique Riedel, JD, is an author, businessperson, and outdoor enthusiast. She is also the author of Best Easy Day Hikes Ventura.

Monique and Allen live in the Sierra National Forest.

I would like to especially thank my son, Michael J. Millenheft III, for being patient with us and joining us on many of these adventures whether or not he wanted to. To my wonderful stepdaughters, Sierra and Makaila Riedel, for being a constant source of inspiration and energy on the trails. And finally to my husband, best friend, and twin flame, Allen Riedel, for inspiring me to do things I never thought possible.

Monique

I would like to first and foremost thank all of the people who have spent time hiking with me in the mountains, deserts, hills, forests, jungles, and coastal beaches. Many of you, my friends, have inspired me in countless ways, and I cant thank you enough.

I would also like to acknowledge my family: Monique, Michael, Sierra, and Makaila. All four of you have spent lots of time with me on trails that were great and some not so much... I love you with all my heart.

I also owe a lot to my mom and dad, Barbara and Elmer Riedel, who raised me to believe in myself. Thanks! Thanks to my brother, Larry; my grandparents, Herbert and Vivian Ward, and Elmer and Lucille Riedel; I would like to thank the wonderful people at Globe Pequot Press.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of the students, administrators, teachers, and staff I have worked with over the past few decades. It has been a joy knowing all of you.

Allen

The trails in Wildwood Canyon are well marked and easy to follow (Hike 1). Photo by Allen Riedel.

Wildwood Regional Park is an exercise mecca for those in the Conejo Valley. It is a favorite of hikers, mountain bikers, schoolchildren, and anyone looking for a little bit of outdoor adventure with a spectacular payoff. It is extensively marked and signed. There are many different trails and routes and lots of interesting things to see in Wildwood Canyon, but nothing is as outstanding as the 50-foot waterfall that pours over limestone into a large pool lined by oaks, sycamores, and cattails. There isnt as remarkable a waterfall anywhere else in the Conejo Valley, and there are only a few that cascade so vigorously and this beautifully in all of Southern California. Paradise Falls is a treasure that is unknown to most outside of the region, but it is heavily visited by those in the know.

A lone columbine grows out of a rock. Photo by Allen Riedel. (Hike 35)

The park contains two waterfalls, nearly 1,800 acres of open space, 60 species of birds, 37 different mammals, and 22 species of reptiles and amphibians. Consisting mostly of coastal chaparral and sage scrub, the parks ecology is decidedly Mediterranean. Wildflowers put on their best displays between February and May. The trails range from infrequently used, narrow, single-track ridgeline traverses to well-traveled open dirt roads that lead most visitors to the popular Paradise Falls.

Several notable movie and television programs were filmed here, including Spartacus, Wuthering Heights, Wagon Train, The Rifleman, and Gunsmoke.

Head to the southeast end of the parking area and descend the stairs to take the Moonridge Trail. This is definitely the less traveled route through this portion of the park, though saying any trail is less traveled in Wildwood Canyon is like saying there arent many people in the city of Los Angeles. There will be fewer people here though because this section is a bit tougher than (and not as straightforward as) the mostly fire road trails that traverse the Wildwood Park open space. It does meander up and down in some spots, losing and gaining elevation fairly rapidly. The trail wanders through mostly coastal chaparral and scrub sage. There is precious little shade, and it is advisable to bring extra water if the temperature is above 70 degrees.

Fewer people realize that a trail begins on the remote side of the parking lot, which also contributes to drawing fewer newcomers to this route. The Moonridge Trail crosses a public access road as it approaches 0.5 mile and continues on for another 0.4 mile before a T junction at North Tepee Trail.

Paradise Falls is a hidden treasure not known to many outside of the Conejo Valley. Photo by Allen Riedel.

Turn left and walk south and down for 0.1 mile along the North Tepee Trail, toward the giant replica of a modern man-made tepee, which will be of great interest to children but probably not anyone else. Turn right onto Tepee Trail and walk for about 0.1 mile to the junction with the Paradise Falls Trail. Here, you will catch glimpses of the falls, the overlook, and hear the falls if the water is flowing heavily. Everything is clearly marked, making it impossible to lose your way in the park. Turn left at the junction with the Wildwood Canyon Trail, although a short jaunt of 30 yards to the left provides an excellent vantage point and overlook of the falls. Turn right and follow the signs toward the waterfall.