Hiking Palisades Park, a Porter Ranch Neighborhood Trail

It's one of the city of Los Angeles' better ideas: an interconnecting network of trails in the equestrian friendly Northwest Valley. The 117-acre Palisades Park--not to be confused with the one in Pacific Palisades or in Santa Monica--is one of the many, stretching close to three and a half miles from Tampa Boulevard to Reseda Boulevard between the Limekiln Canyon Trail and the ones in Eddleston and Aliso Canyon parks.

Palisades is a peaceful 3.4 mile there-and-back trail and bridle path with calm inclines, yet enough to break a sweat. Unlike its westwardly neighbor, Limekiln Canyon (see LAist's photos here), Palisades is not shady as it hugs ridges and canyons along open space and development. Other than a full view of the Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains, it's not exactly the most beautiful trail out there, but for those who live nearby or seek variety, it provides.

Trailheads with plenty of street parking can be found on either Tampa or Reseda Boulevards, each connecting to another trail across the street.