View of the Valley at Nature’s Edge

Not much open space remains on the south rim of the San Fernando Valley. True, there are the Santa Monica Mountains, but they sometimes seem a world apart, more connected to the ocean side than to the valley side of Los Angeles.

So it’s with some relief that the eye travels over the San Fernando Valley’s south rim and finds a little green space that isn’t a golf course. That green space is Serrania Ridge, a pocket of parkland on the suburban edge.

Serrania Ridge, which is part of the hills of Woodland Hills, is also called Woodland Ridge. (Woodland Hills itself was formerly known as Girard, named after its subdivider, Victor Girard.) The Santa Monica Mountains rise directly behind Serrania Ridge.

Hikers can contemplate these and other facts of geography as they climb the ridge in search of far-reaching valley views. At the hiker’s feet is almost endless suburbia, 275 square miles of green lawns, swimming pools, lush trees and shrubs, office buildings and shopping malls--a strange combination of tidiness and unseemliness. On clear days, more mountains loom large and dramatic on the far side of the valley: the San Gabriel Mountains, the Simi Hills and the majestic Los Padres National Forest peaks behind Ojai.

On days when visibility is less than superb, this hike makes a nice, freeway-close, after-work workout. The hike begins at Serrania Avenue Park, a city park that’s circled by a long, paved walkway popular with local dog-walkers and fitness walkers.

Directions to trail head: From the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101) in Woodland Hills, exit on De Soto Avenue and head south. After crossing Ventura Boulevard, the avenue continues as Serrania. Proceed one mile to Serrania Avenue Park.

The hike: Join the unsigned path along the far eastern edge of the park and begin climbing south. The steep trail roller-coasters up and down--mostly up--offering one rise and then another from which to partake of the view.

West of the path are Woodland Hills Country Club and the hillside suburbs of Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Just east are--or once were--the Chalk Hills; the hills have been so graded, contoured, terraced and engineered for haciendas that it’s difficult to discern what was once there.

Your path climbs some more and eventually finds Mulholland Drive. Mulholland, a dirt thoroughfare at this point, leads a couple of miles west to Topanga Canyon Boulevard and a couple of miles east to the back side of Topanga State Park. To reach the very top of Serrania Ridge, cross Mulholland and follow a steep, unsigned trail that begins on the other side.

Serrania Ridge Trail

Where: Serrania Avenue Park, Woodland Hills

Distance: 2 1/2 miles round trip, with 500-foot elevation gain.

Terrain: Brushy hills on rim of San Fernando Valley.

Highlights: Views of the San Fernando Valley.

Degree of Difficulty: Easy-moderate.

For More Information: Call Mountain Parks Information, (800) 533-PARK.