Chapter 11 – Simi Valley Recreation

Between the beaches, Disneyland and other theme parks, nearby ski resorts, the desert, the LA Zoo, museums, sports venues, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and a hundred other places within a couple of hours of here, you might not think of Simi Valley for its recreation amenities. But there are plenty of places to play right here at home.

Hiking trails in the Santa Susana Mountains

I whine a lot about developers, but I have to admit there has been one giant benefit of all that building. When the land was owned by ranchers, trespassing was not tolerated. But when it was developed, the City made the developers leave the majority of land as open space accessible to the public. There are miles and miles of hiking trails available, some leading to old oil company lands that are also accessible now. Simi Valley is a hiker and mountain biker heaven.

Lost Canyons Golf Club

Simi Hills Public Golf Course

Simi Valley has six golf courses and all but one are open to the public. And the green fees of at least two of them do not require you to get a second mortgage on your house. Better bring your credit cards for the rest though.

Simi Bowl

If you prefer to sit around and drink between rounds of your favorite sport, Simi Valley also has two bowling alleys. The only reason I included this one was because of the architecture of the building, which dates back to the early sixties. Despite the ugly building, they still fill the parking lot.

Rancho Simi Community Park

Rancho Santa Susana Community Park

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District maintains numerous recreational facilities open to the public, including 40 parks, 3 swimming pools, several historic buildings, a gymnasium, bike trails, two golf courses, and equestrian trails on 3,378 acres of land. The Rancho Simi Community Park lies at the heart of the old pre-incorporation town of Simi. Likewise, the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park is only a stone’s throw from the where the old depot of the defunct Southern Pacific Railroad served as the center of the town of Santa Susana. The depot has been restored and reestablished as a historical park in another part of town.

Santa Susana Depot

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library actually has made Simi Valley a tourist destination. The library/museum is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, and special exhibits are on display at various times throughout the year. An old Air Force One Boeing 707 used by seven presidents, including President Reagan, is permanently on display.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library