A Southern California real estate agent with Keller Williams Westlake Village, Jim Cicchese has a passion for mountain biking. Jim Cicchese’s favorite trails run through the Santa Monica Mountain, but he also enjoys the geologically older, less steep Cheseboro and Palo Comado Canyon.
Administered by the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains are characterized by gentle, rolling hills and oak trees. The current makeup of the area reflects historic ranching activities, with heavy grazing eliminating many native plant species. In their place, European annual varieties, including thistles, wild oats, and mustard, came to predominate. There are remnants of original verdure, such as riparian woodlands near streambeds and coastal sage scrub. Another natural habitat is chaparral, which is composed of difficult-to-traverse hardwoods such as madrone and manzanita.
Canyon trails are shared among hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers, with popular spots including Simi Peak, which offers views of surrounding urban areas.
