Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa is a National Park Service site near Newbury Park where over a century of ranching history meets thousands of years of Chumash presence, with a Native American culture center and views of Boney Mountain.
Details
- Type
- Historic Site
- Accessibility
- Limited accessibility
Overview
Two histories overlap at this site at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Newbury Park. Ranch structures and introduced grasses reflect more than a century of ranching, while native plantings recall the long Chumash presence in the area. Deer and coyotes move through the coastal sage scrub, and hawks and falcons hunt overhead. The land continues to recover from the May 2013 Springs Fire.
Satwiwa Culture Center and Trails
The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center stands in a brown wooden building about 0.3 mile up a gravel road from the main entrance parking area, with programs on Chumash culture. The Satwiwa Loop Trail is for hikers only and crosses ground the Chumash consider sacred. The Big Sycamore Canyon Trail descends from Satwiwa toward the Pacific along a historic Chumash trade route. Both routes give views of Boney Mountain and Sycamore Canyon.
Know Before You Go
The National Park Service manages the site. Bike and horseback riding are limited to designated trails.