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Southern California Region
Will Rogers State Park
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WILL ROGERS STATE PARK
WILL ROGERS STATE PARK
1501 Will Rogers Park Road
Pacific Palisades, California   90272

Phone: 310-454-8212
n the early 1930s, Will Rogers was the most popular and highest paid actor in Hollywood. From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick roping act, he rose to world-wide fame as a columnist, philosopher, radio personality, and movie star. During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a ranch. Eventually, the Rogers? owned 186 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as 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? ranch consisted of a 31-room ranch house, a stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course, and hiking trails. When his widow, Betty, died in 1944, the ranch became a state park.

The Park is undergoing a major historic renovation project that will restore the landscape to its appearance during Will Rogers? time. In the past two years, the Department has restored the ranch house and completed significant portions of the landscape restoration program. Over the next several years, the Department will be restoring the historic structures and relocating the maintenance facilities away from the historic zone. Details of the restoration program may be found in the Historic Landscape Management Plan.
History of the Area
Will Rogers, a famous actor and humorist, bought the land in Pacific Palisades in 1922. He built his ranch there which included stables for polo ponies as he was an avid player of this sport. Upon Roger's death in 1935, his wife Betty donated the property to California State Parks system with one condition: it must remain public parkland forever.

The site officially became a state park on September 26th, 1944 after Mrs. Rogers' passing. It includes hiking trails and picnic areas along with historic buildings from Rogers' time such as his home and stable block.



Trails
- Inspiration Point Loop Trail: A 2.1-mile loop trail, moderate difficulty level with a scenic overlook at the top.

- Backbone Trail to Will Rogers State Park: This is an extensive 67.8 mile point-to-point hike that passes through several state parks and wilderness areas.

- Rivas Canyon Road from Pacific Palisades to Temescal Gateway Park: An intermediate-level hiking route of approximately four miles connecting two popular park destinations in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

- Rustic Canyon Hike via Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park & The Big Wild Preserve : Approximately seven miles long, this moderately difficult trek offers views of both canyon landscapes and coastal panoramas.

-Betty B Dearing Mountain Trails - Coldwater Canyon Section : Located on the eastern edge of Will Rogers State Historic Park; it's about six miles round trip offering beautiful cityscape views .

-Paseo Miramar To Parker Mesa Overlook Via East Topanga Fire Rd.: At around five-and-a-half-miles-long ,this out-and-back trail provides stunning ocean vistas along its entire length.

-Rustic Creek Loop Hiking Route : It's roughly three-mile circuitous path takes hikers past waterfalls, over streams,and under canopies formed by towering trees .

-Temescal Ridge And Leacock Memorial Grove From Sunset Blvd .Trailhead - Approximate distance for this one-way journey is just shy of eight miles ;it features panoramic mountain scenery throughout most parts

-Santa Ynez Falls In Topanga SP From Trippet Ranch Parking Lot-This short but steeply graded half-mile walk leads visitors directly up to waterfall itself which flows year-round due local springs feeding into creek above falls

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Directions
Directions from Los Angeles, California to Will Rogers State Park:

- Start on US-101 N.
- Take exit 3B for Santa Monica Blvd toward Civic Center.
- Merge onto CA -2 W/Santa Monica Blvd.
- Continue straight onto Sunset Boulevard.

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California
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California State Parks

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