Santa Susana Mountains, Mountain range in Southern California, US
The Santa Susana Mountains form a ridge that runs east to west, separating the San Fernando Valley from the Santa Clara River Valley, with Oat Mountain as its highest point. Multiple hiking trails cross through the range, including Rocky Peak and Towsley Canyon, which connect to a broader network of paths and designated parking areas.
California's first commercial oil well opened at Pico Canyon in 1876 and operated for over a century until 1990. This discovery turned the mountains into an important center for early oil production and shaped the region's development.
The Chumash, Tongva, and Tataviam peoples made their homes in these mountains and left behind archaeological traces of their settlements. Walking through the terrain, you can still encounter remnants of the sites where these groups lived.
The range offers hiking trails for different skill levels with marked paths and parking available at trailheads. Fall and winter are the best times to visit, as conditions are more comfortable and wildfire danger is lower.
The mountains contain leftovers from Cold War-era Nike Missile sites that were part of Los Angeles's air defense system. Despite repeated wildfires over the decades, some of these military structures have survived and remain visible in the landscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
