Public Gets Annual Peek Inside Chatsworth Nature Preserve

Outdoor lovers got their once-a-year taste of strolling through the Chatsworth Nature Preserve on Sunday.

Either by joining a group hike or trekking solo, attendees traversed a one-mile trail that featured sights like valley oak trees dating back 200-300 years and a lake visited by cranes.

Established in 1919, the preserve is closed to the public 364 days a year to prevent human foosteps from damaging the scenery.

Although people are rarely welcome, there's plenty of animals that call the 1,300-acre expanse home.

Hiking guide John St. John, a member of the Southwestern Herpetologists Society, said frogs and tadpoles show up when the weather gets warmer. He also cautioned several visitors to avoid walking on the edge of the trail to stay clear of rattlesankes.

He said deer, red tail hawks and bobcats can also be spotted, but that coyotes and mountains lions seldom make appearances.

Check out the accompanying video for a closer look at Sunday's event.

Click here to read more about the history of the nature preserve.