Spelunking in the Valley
Hidden in the middle of the busyness and the noise of the San Fernando Valley is a great local cave. One doesn't often think of a massive sandstone formation while driving towards the 405/101 interchange, but less than 3 miles from the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Tampa Avenue, nestled at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, lies the trailhead to Vanalden Cave.
Vanalden Cave stands over 20 feet tall and 40 feet deep. Many unique carvings and skylights have been chiseled into the sand stone over the years, making it both beautiful and erie.
I've always wanted to bring my rig and fly through one of the cave skylights. Yesterday I finally got up early and hiked the short trail to the cave before the sun rose too high and put up my fabric.
This easy round trip hike from the trail head to the cave is less than a mile. It is possible to miss the unmarked left turn (at 0.15 miles) that leads to the cave and end up hiking all the way to the beautiful summit a mile away, which boasts breathtaking views of the Santa Monica Mountains and the valley below.
This would probably be my favorite local cave if it wasn't for human mistreatment of the area. Sadly over the years the amount of litter and graffiti have grown, detracting from the cave's natural beauty. One must watch out not only for fire ants, but also for broken glass in and around the cave.
I imagine this area was magnificent beyond words before the graffiti and garbage began to pile up. I still think this hike is worth a trip if you find yourself in the area. I love knowing we have a sandstone cave in the heart of the valley. And if you need more of a hike, continue up the trail past Mulholland Drive and take in a spectacular sunset view.
What's your favorite cave to visit?
