Bell Canyon, California - Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment

Bell Creek, a 'national parkland blue line stream' and a significant tributary to the headwaters of the Los Angeles River, winds its way through the community and plays host to a multitude of wildlife such as deer, coyote, hawks, squirrel, fox, woodpeckers and quail in its riparian habitat. Bell Canyon is an important part of the crucial Simi Hills Wildlife corridor linking migrations between the Santa Monica Mountains and Santa Susana Mountains.

There are many hiking and riding trails around the community, some of which border the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve Park, the former Ahmanson Ranch, connecting to the south and west. The Bell Canyon Trail extends 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north from Bell Canyon Park, with a surface of sand and dirt and a width of 12–14 feet for easy rides. The Canyon Trail is scenic and winds through the lush California native plants vegetation of Bell Canyon, dominated above by California Sycamore trees and the Coast Live Oak woodlands. Bell Canyon Trail crosses Bell Creek at various locations. It is the main route for Bell Canyon's trails' network providing many link and loop opportunities within the community and to the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. Chastain Falls, a waterfall named after Charles Chastain, is only be reached by hiking on trails up Bell Canyon The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail has a branch up the canyon.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), all of it land.