San Vicente Mountain Park

Between 1956 and 1968, this mountain summit served as a Nike-Ajax radar and control station, operating ground computers to track aircraft and guide interceptor missiles launched from the nearby Sepulveda Basin. Self-guided interpretive displays detail the site's role in the regional defense network, while the standing tower overlooks the Encino Reservoir, the San Fernando Valley, and evening sunsets. Beyond the military history, the 10.2-acre park functions as a junction for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails feeding into Westridge Canyonback Park and the 20,000-acre “Big Wild” wilderness.