Palos Verdes Nature Preserve (Exploratory-Easy-Moderate)

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Let's have a relax afternoon with short hikes easy pace to scenic Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. We'll visit Portugese Bend Reserve, Forrestal Nature Reserve and Abalone Cove Ecological Reserve (Smuggler Cove)

HIKING TIME: 3:45 PM
DURATION: about 2-3 hrs (return back anytime you like)
DISTANCE: 6-8 miles miles
ELEVATION: 500-1000ft gain

DIFFICULTY: Easy-Moderate

ESSENTIALS: Bring water, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat...snacks...

ABOUT PALOS VERDES NATURE PRESERVE: (PVNP) area spans some 1,400 acres with over 30 miles of trails through rolling hills, steep canyons and rock outcrops, with significant habitat and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Elevations range from approximately sea level along the coastal edges of Vicente Bluffs, Abalone Cove, and Ocean Trails to approximately 1,300 feet above mean sea level at the northern most parcel, Vista del Norte. Read more: http://www.pvplc.org/_lands/pvnp.asp

1. The Portuguese Bend Reserve: consists of rolling hills, five distinct steep canyons and rock outcrops, with coastal sage scrub habitat, a community of intensely fragrant and drought resistant shrubs and flowering plants. Located below and to the east of Del Cerro Park are the areas known as Lemonadeberry Parcel, Eagle's Nest, the Badlands, and the active landslide and dirt extension of Crenshaw Boulevard. Unique features include a pillow lava outcrop called Ailor Cliff after Conservancy founder Bill Ailor

2. The Abalone Cove Ecological Reserve features two beaches (Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove), tide pools, beautiful bluff-top viewing areas, and dramatic crisscrossing trails. The 64-acre Reserve contains a State Ecological Preserve with important natural marine resources and the bottom of the Portuguese Bend landslide area. Two promontories, Portuguese and Inspiration points, frame Sacred Cove with its sea caves, black sand, and rare plants

3. Forrestal Nature Reserve: Dramatic cliffs are characterized by faults, folds, sedimentary bedding and igneous intrusions with many crystals and fossils, particularly fish scales, in the surface rock. Do not collect fossils or disturb the slopes to expose new rock

Driving Direction: From the 405 Frwy exit Crenshaw Blvd, follow Crenshaw Blvd south to its end in Palos Verdes. Park in the Del Cerro Park, and walk a few hundred feet to the gate at the end of Crenshaw. Step around the gate, and follow the fire road. (Lat:33.75767 Lon:-118.36832)

REMINDER:

By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks and snake bites. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***