Zipping the Hills #22 - Will Rogers Ranch + Picnic - ALL SCOOTERS WELCOME!!
Details
Come join us for a fun little trek through the Hollywood Hills and a visit to Will Rogers Ranch!
Admission to the Ranch is FREE. This includes polo viewing, guided tours of the Ranch House and the trails.
Parking is $3 per hour or $12 for the day.
**The Historian State Park Annual pass covers parking. This annual pass grants unlimited free entry for up to four people to more than 30 state historic parks and museums that charge a per-person admission fee or a vehicle day-use fee. You can get this pass for FREE when you sign up by 7/6/26 ($50 value) www.reservecalifornia.com/passes/advancepasses **
Plans at our Destination:
Pack a picnic blanket, lunch, and, if you wish, goodies to share. We will grab a spot on the expansive front lawn or at the picnic tables above the polo field. Polo games are held on Saturdays from 2pm - 5pm and Sundays from 10am - 1pm and are free for public viewing.
California State Park staff and docents offer tours of the Ranch House from 10am - 3pm Saturdays & Sundays (first come first serve).
Brief Ride Description: This ride will take us on a tour of several neighborhoods in and around the Hollywood Hills, Valley Village, Beverly Glen, Bel Air, and the Pacific Palisades. We'll end up at Will Rogers State Historic Park for a picnic and polo watching
Along the route, we will surely see many of the largest and most amazing homes in our area and witness some of the best views to be had in the middle of Los Angeles; vistas from the Westside to Downtown, as well as the San Fernando Valley.
Timeline for departure from the meetup spot: (*MEETUP IS EARLIER TO TRY AND CATCH A POLO GAME*)
We will meet up in Valley Village at Gelson's at 8:30 a.m. Gather and chat, allowing time for stragglers to arrive. If you would like to grab a coffee or snack from there, please be sure to arrive with ample time to do so.
We will do the pre-ride chat at around 9:00 am with the approximate departure from Gelson's at 9:30 am
Route Description:
PLEASE ARRIVE WITH ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE RIDE, NO GAS STOP!!!
(~45 miles)
We'll head up Laurel Canyon to Mulholland and over past the Hollywood sign, then back to Mulholland and over to Coldwater Canyon. We will make a quick stop to stretch in the Bel Air/Beverly Glen area, then get back on the road. After the stretch stop, we plan to wind our way down Beverly Glen, then along Sunset Blvd before turning off Sunset into Will Rogers State Park Road in Pacific Palisades.
DIFFICULTY AND RESTRICTIONS
Due to posted speeds in some sections and the many hill climbs, this ride is suitable for intermediate and advanced scooter riders. 80cc + engine size is recommended, BUT ALL SCOOTERS WELCOME, and we will not leave anyone behind! LASG rules!
Please keep in mind that the route includes some difficult terrain, sharp curves, and occasional road hazards. We'll keep the pace brisk but fairly easygoing, though, and make stops when sensible and necessary. This is a more scenic, enjoyable cruise, but it's not suitable for beginners. Experience in canyons and riding Mulholland Drive is recommended. Please do not ride with a passenger unless you have the experience and equipment to do so
While we will be riding in daylight, temperatures may change along the route in the canyons. So be mindful when preparing your apparel for the day...
- Information from the Will Rogers State Historic Park page:
The Pacific Palisades ranch, including a mansion and a horse stable, that tragically burned in the January 2025 Palisades Fire, was once the home of the 1930s columnist, "cowboy philosopher," radio personality, and movie star Will Rogers and his wife Betty.
By the mid-1930s, Will Rogers was one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Hollywood and "America's most beloved citizen." From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick roping act, he rose to worldwide fame as a columnist, "cowboy philosopher", aviation enthusiast, philanthropist, radio personality, and movie star. During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a ranch. Eventually, Will Rogers owned about 359 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as the Pacific Palisades.
The ranch became the place where Will Rogers could relax with his family and friends, pursuing his favorite pastimes of riding and roping. At his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935, Will Rogers's ranch consisted of a 31-room ranch house with neighboring guest housing, a stable, corrals, a riding ring, a roping arena, a polo field, a golf course, and riding trails. His widow, Betty, donated the ranch to California State Parks in 1944, and it became a state historic park.
Will Rogers State Park Brochure: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/626/files/WillRogersSHPFinalWebLayout2017.pdf
Will Rogers State Park Infosheet: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/626/files/WillRogersSHP_Infosheet_8.5x11_022326_FINAL.pdf
Disclaimer
Events at Will Rogers State Park at Ranch are not organized by LASG. For any questions regarding details and specifics, we recommend visiting their website https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=626