Rustic Canyon Ca

Even by the rarefied standards of the Westside, where grand houses are commonly razed so that grander houses can rise in their place, the rumble in Rustic Canyon has set a new benchmark. Here in this woodsy pocket of Pacific Palisades, a resident's huge, two-story, Tuscan-style addition to his 2,000-square-foot, corner house has ignited a long-running legal battle over the arcane subject of frontyard setbacks.

Southern California has been the cradle to many odd cults, credos, utopias and dystopias. Among the most mysterious are the ruins of a Rustic Canyon enclave once known as Murphy Ranch. The mansions of Hollywood elite -- Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Cosby, Steven Spielberg -- sit in splendor atop the ridges of the canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Every step through Rustic Canyon reveals a rich history, from the remnants of an artists' colony to immense staircases that rise out of the canyon. This hike has a little bit of everything: ridges with beautiful views, a lush canyon, a seasonal stream, a view of the ocean and stories from the past that peek out everywhere. The hike starts in tree-lined Sullivan Canyon, but you spend only about 10 minutes there before making a steep ascent that's a pretty good workout.

The drive: About 47 miles from downtown L.A. Address: 15100 Happy Camp Canyon Road, Moorpark. (805) 530-0221. Rates: $30-$45 (additional charge for carts). Overview: This year-old course bucks the trend of recently opened, high-priced, daily-fee courses, but don't be fooled by the low green fees -- this is not your local muni. In terms of condition and upkeep, this links-style course equals others costing three times as much. In terms of memorable rounds, it far surpasses them.