Best Picnic Areas and Parks in Los Angeles and Ventura County

Are you thinking to go outdoor and spend a weekend day out with family and/or friends? Here are some hidden jewels that I have found while roaming and hiking around in LA and Ventura county;)
Or if you just looking for a park to take your kid around or walk your dog in Simi Valley, look at this link for various local parks in Simi Valley.

• Sage Ranch park
  

  Located high in the northwestern Simi Hills between the San Fernando and Simi Valleys at the Los Angeles-Ventura county line, 625-acre Sage Ranch Park provides some of the most beautiful and easily accessible trails in the area. Park features include massive sandstone rock formations, expansive views, ample parking, an outdoor amphitheater with views of the spectacular outcroppings, picnic tables, restrooms and drinking fountains. Situated in a critical cross-mountain wildlife corridor, the park is rich with fragrant coastal sage scrub, chaparral, native grasses, oak woodlands, and wildflower meadows. Avocado and orange groves-remnants of the site's ranching history-remain. The southwest region of the park contains a significant riparian area replete with oaks, sycamores, walnuts, and ferns. Springtime at Sage Ranch brings running springs and lush grass to the park-a brilliant contrast to the tawny sandstone rock outcroppings.
  Very nice park and trail. Shaded with gorgeous Oak trees. There are picnic tables also available. Not that many people know about this park but it is one of the most beautiful parks in the area. Driving there from Simi Valley itself reminds you of some national park.
  The Sage Ranch loop hike is very nice. Beautiful rock formations. I took some families for hiking there in April 2014 and everyone from 7 year old kids to adults loved this place. There are gorgeous views of Simi Valley and San Fernando valley from the trail..
  
  Sage Ranch park is in-between Topanga and Simi Valley. It can be accessed from variety of places.
  Directions:
  Directions: From Woodland Hills, exit the 101 Freeway at Valley Circle/Mulholland. Proceed north on Valley Circle approx. six miles to the three-way stop at Woolsey Canyon Road, and turn left. Proceed up Woolsey Canyon to its terminus at Black Canyon Road, and turn right. The entrance to Sage Ranch Park is approximately 100 yards north of the intersection.
  From Chatsworth and the 118 Freeway, take Topanga Canyon Boulevard. south to Plummer, and turn right. Follow Plummer to the intersection with Box Canyon Road, veering left (south) onto Valley Circle. At the intersection with Woolsey Canyon Road, turn right. Proceed up Woolsey Canyon to its terminus at Black Canyon Road, and turn right. The entrance to Sage Ranch Park is approximately 200 yards north of the intersection
  From the eastern Simi Valley, take Kuehner south and turn right at Katherine. Follow Katherine and turn right after crossing the railroad tracks. At Black Canyon Road, turn left and follow steep, winding road uphill to Sage Ranch Park. Turn right into park.
  For more details, click here:http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=53
  
  

• Paramount Ranch in in Agoura Hills in Santa Monica mountains
  

  Paramount Ranch is located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The park consists of about 2700 acres of oak and sycamore woodlands. Paramount movie studios purchased the land in the 1920s to use as a movie ranch. Over the next 25 years hundreds of films were shot on the property. Most movies made at the ranch were westerns although there was a huge replica of San Francisco and even a european village at one time. Today all that remains of the movie making days is the western town. The list of film stars that made movies at Paramount Ranch is huge including John Wayne, Cary Grant, Burt Lancaster, Roy Rogers, Lucille Ball and Diane Keaton. Many television shows also were filmed here including several classic westerns. Gun smoke, Have Gun Will Travel and the The Rifleman were all shot at the ranch. On weekends there is a volunteer staffing the western town that can go into detail about the history of Paramount Ranch.
  Click here to visit National Park website to get more information about Paramount Ranch.
  Reviews on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/paramount-ranch-agoura-hills
  One more link http://www.daytrippen.com/paramount-ranch-santa-monica-mountains.html
  
  

• Corriganville park in Simi Valley
  

  Corriganville Park, at the eastern end of Simi Valley, was an old movie ranch. It was the setting to about a thousand movie and television shows between 1937 and 1965, including The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, Lassie, Mutiny on the Bounty, African Queen, How The West Was Won, and Fort Apache, to name just a few. Old stone and concrete foundations from the sets still remain. The oak-shaded paths lead through the 225-acre park past prominent sandstone outcroppings, cliffs, caves, a stream, Jungle Jim Lake, and Hangin' Tree, a towering oak used to "execute" countless outlaw. More info: Trails.com
  
  Ray "Crash" Corrigan, a cowboy and actor purchased what would become the Corriganville movie ranch in 1937 for $11,354. The beautiful, rocky Simi Valley landscape was the setting for the filming of hundreds of movies and T.V. Westerns in the 1940's and 1950's. In 1949, Corrigan opened the property to the public as a western-themed amusement park. The park featured stuntmen shows, movie lots, a working western town, Indian crafts, stagecoach rides, pony rides, and boating on a lake. It attracted as many as 20,000 people on weekends. In 1988, 190 acres of land comprising the principal working areas of the original Corriganville Ranch were purchased by the City of Simi Valley for use as a Regional Park. The eastern part of the park is part of the Santa Susana Pass wildlife corridor connecting the Simi Hills with the Santa Susana Mountains.
  http://www.yelp.com/biz/corriganville-park-simi-valley http://www.rsrpd.org/park/corrignavilleparkandtrail/corrignavilleparkandtrail.html http://obscurehollywood.net/corriganville_tour.html
  
  

• Balboa Park:
  

  Lake Balboa is located at Anthony C. Beilenson Park. Only Staff on site are the lifeguards at Lake Balboa. Any questions can be answered by calling the number listed above - the Lifeguard Station. Anthony C. Beilenson Park is an 80 acre water recreation facility within the Sepulveda Flood Control basin. The centerpiece of the park, Lake Balboa, is a 27 acre lake filled with water reclaimed from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. Recreation activities include fishing, boating, remote-control boating and jogging/walking. Access is from Balboa Boulevard. Pets are allowed but must be leashed. Owners are responsible for removal of defecation. Dogs are not permitted to swim in the lake. Call pre-approved moonbounce vendors at (818) 756-8187. Any Pavillion reservations or questions will be taken by calling the Valley Regional Permit Office line at (818) 756-8187.
  For details: http://www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/balboa/index.htm