An outdoor
climbing park I’ve bookmarked for a while now, Stoney Point Park was our first
destination my good friend and I set out to visit on a blazing hot Friday
afternoon in the city of Chatsworth, CA. He and I drove out on a dusty terrain
for almost hour—passing through endless roads and almost barren neighborhoods.
This natural rock formation is one of the most picturesque parks I’ve seen in
the Los Angeles County. Once you exit the 118, anyone can spot this
tasty-looking outcropping from a substantial distance away.
Although we
didn’t actually find a proper entrance, we parked a couple blocks away and
started walking right into a broken piece of fence by a freeway entrance on
the opposite side. We ultimately got so lost that we ended up walking on the
edge of a busy street with no marked sidewalks. But when we finally saw an old
adventurer come out of the park with solid sweat and gratified exertion off his
face, we prepared ourselves for the trek that lay ahead.
The interesting
part of the park is the multitude of trails available, some more difficult than
others. The exciting part began when we started losing sight of the paved trail.
In order to escalate to the top, we continued to grab onto mounds of rock
perched on larger boulders. Some of the climbs can prove themselves difficult
for those who don’t regularly rock-climb or boulder, but it’s definitely a
great place for those who even remotely enjoy crawling around rocks (or just
challenging yourself!).
After an hour of
climbing, we reached the peak of the “mountain.”
After taking in
the views in unanticipated solitude, we prepared for our way back down. This
time, we took a different path—one that looked as though a mudslide had
occurred here years before. We soon recognized our initial entrance, but I
suggested we walk in the opposite direction and check out more of the ground. Luckily, our aimless walking led us to this beauty: an old railway tunnel with
signs honoring the lives lost during a collision that had occurred back in ’08. We found our way down after walking a little west towards a nearby equestrian
center. No one in sight except us, we continued walking by the tracks.
Following our
brief railway exploration, we walked out of the park with dirty hands,
scratches, and no water left. In just a span of a few hours, I can confidently
say that I too, had the resilient look of the man we saw upon entering before.
A day well spent.
A word of
caution: this park is packed with shattered pieces of glass and dead brush.
Prepare to get your hands and legs dirty. Because the railroad tracks are restricted ground,
I would highly suggest entering at your risk. Amtrak trains still run on these
tracks and theft is a common issue for visitors. But if made it out in one piece,
the experience is surreal.
“The world is
big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” –John Muir
Stoney Point Park
Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Between Chatsworth St. & 118 Freeway
Chatsworth, CA 91311
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