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Picturesque South Coast Trail Opens New Facilities For Hikers

If you’re looking for a new place to hike this weekend, you might like to try a picturesque trail on the South Coast, which has just opened parking and restroom facilities for hikers.

The United Water Conservation District’s Pothole Trailhead in Ventura County now has parking and a restroom for hikers who want to take the nearly 6 mile long picturesque hike near Lake Piru.

Chief Park Ranger Clayton Strahan says hikers may even get a view of California Condors in the area, as well as Golden Eagles. 

"Its just a great view when you get to the top of the Pothole Trail," he told KCLU News. 

"You can actually see both the Pacific Ocean, the Lake - and the Santa Clarita and Los Angeles basins. 

"And as a result of this joint project with the United States Forest Service we've been able to restore public access to that section of the National Forest," he said. 

The launch of the new facility gives direct access to the trailhead, thanks to the opening of the gate at the Juan Fernandez Boat Launch Area at Lake Piru by the U.S. Forest Service.

The new facility will save hikers a nearly 3-mile trek on Piru Canyon Road from the boat launch area to the trailhead. 

Visitors should be aware that Lake Piru Recreation Area charges a Day Use fee of $14 per vehicle and requires masks and social distancing, hikers receive a free pass to use the trail. 

The hike is the end of a new 400 mile long set of recreational trails called the Condor Trail.

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023.

Since joining the station she's won 7 Golden Mike Awards, 4 Los Angeles Press Club Awards and 2 National Arts & Entertainment Awards.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded the Prince Philip Medal for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for ten years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.
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