Palos Verdes Hike: Portuguese Bend and Forrestal Reserve

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Since it was founded in 1988, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy has preserved more than 1,600 acres of open spaces on the Peninsula. The spectacular views and precious habitat not only contribute to the quality of human life on the peninsula, but provide valuable refuges and wildlife corridors for animal and plant inhabitants.

This will be a new area for us. Our "discovery hike" will be about 6-8 miles with difficult elevation gain is some areas

Read more about the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (http://www.pvplc.org/)

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The 399-acre Portuguese Bend Reserve was preserved in 2005 and is the largest of the ten reserves that make up the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. 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.

Trail Map of Portuguese Bend (http://files.meetup.com/454296/Portuguese_Bend_Trail_Map.pdf)

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/7/a/c/event_124474732.jpegThe 155-acre Forrestal Reserve is a key component of the Peninsula's natural environment. The eastern portion contains a former quarry and marked trails that wind around the top of the quarry bowl. Dramatic cliffs are characterized by faults, folds, sedimentary bedding and igneous intrusions with many crystals and fossils, particularly fish scales, in the surface rock.

Trail Map of Forrestal Reserve (http://files.meetup.com/454296/Forrestal_Trail_Map.pdf)

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Directions to Trailhead

From West LA, head south on 405. Exit Hawthorne Bl. Turn right on Hawthorne for 5.5 miles then make a left on PCH/Hwy 1. Drive 1.4 miles then turn right onto Crenshaw Bl for 3.8 miles. Del Cerro Park is near the end of Crenshaw.

From LA, take the 110 south to Harbor/1 west, then to Crenshaw left.

Use the Del Cerro address for your GPS. Park on Crenshaw as close to the end as possible near Burrell Rd. Meet at the trailhead at end of Crenshaw. Since its National Trails Day the Del Cerro parking lot may be full.

The Organizers and members of Hiking With Dean are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Hiking With Dean Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities per our ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER and Section 6.2 of the Meetup.com Terms of Service.