Things to Do in Shadow Hills Los Angeles: What To Do This Weekend

Nestled in the Verdugo Mountains and the San Fernando Valley, the homes in Shadow Hills are part of a semi-rural community that's filled with fun activities. People looking for things to do near Shadow Hills will find numerous opportunities for outdoor adventures, nearby shopping, historic restaurants, arts and music at several local venues, and a vibrant nightlife. From expansive equestrian facilities and ritzy Hollywood-inspired cocktail lounges to more casual hiking trails and sports grilles, Shadow Hills can offer a taste of Los Angeles' exciting culture while providing quick and easy access to California's natural beauty. Keep reading to find a complete list of things to do in the Shadow Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Shadow Hills Outdoor Adventures

Shadow Hills offers excellent opportunities for outdoor adventures, including impressive equestrian facilities, attractive parks with sports facilities, several pools, lakes, creeks for water recreation, and various hiking trails.

Equestrian Facilities in Shadow Hills

As one of Los Angeles' last semi-rural neighborhoods, Shadow Hills is great for horses. Some estimate that over 90% of the neighborhood real estate market is made up of Shadow Hills horse properties. With so many horses in the community, there are plenty of equestrian facilities. Shadow Hills' numerous equestrian facilities offer boarding, training, plenty of riding space, and various fun events for the community.

Shadow Hills Equestrian Center provides 11 acres of riding space, lessons and classes, and events like birthday parties and summer camps. Meanwhile, Hansen Dam Horse Park offers boarding space for up to 200 horses, top trainers, horse shows, and miles of trails. Courtship Ranch also has professional trainers on-site, trail riding, and 80 stalls for horses.

Additionally, because there are so many equestrian-zoned properties in Shadow Hills, many of the neighborhood's luxury homes offer on-site stables.

Parks in Shadow Hills

There are several parks in and around Shadow Hills offering outdoor activities such as camping, picnicking, and various sports. Many include facilities for popular sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.

Angeles National Forest sits just outside Shadow Hills. The 700,000-acre forest offers activities such as camping, picnicking, and fishing. Meanwhile, the Sunland Recreation Center and Stonehurst Recreation Center provide numerous sports and other programs, such as arts and crafts, dance, cooking, and sewing.

Additionally, Angeles National Golf Club offers a par 72 18-hole golf course featuring a desert layout. Houses on the northeastern side of Shadow Hills can make fine golf course homes, as many of them can reach the club in less than 5 minutes by car.

Water Recreation in Shadow Hills

Shadow Hills is near impressive swimming pools featuring water slides and several bodies of water great for fishing and boating.

The 40-acre Hansen Dam Aquatic Center features a 1.5-acre swim lake and a 9-acre lake for non-motorized boating and fishing. The swimming lake allows visitors to wade into its waters or slide in on one of two water slides. The nearby Hubert H. Humphrey Pool also has a water slide and several lanes for lap swimming.

The Hansen Dam Lake is home to fish such as largemouth bass, bluegill, carp, catfish, and rainbow trout. Meanwhile, the much closer Big Tujunga Creek features rainbow trout and bluegill.

Hiking & Biking Trails in Shadow Hills

Thanks to Shadow Hills' placement in the Verdugo Mountains and proximity to the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains, the neighborhood has quick access to hiking, biking, and equestrian trails with gorgeous views of California's natural beauty.

Trail Canyon Falls is one of the most heavily trafficked and beloved hiking trails in the area. The 4.5-mile out and back trail features a 30-foot waterfall tucked away in a canyon noted for its wilderness.

Meanwhile, bikers, hikers, and runners can enjoy the Hansen Dam Bike Path. The popular 4.1-mile loop overlooks the lake at Hansen Dam Park.

The Shadow Hills Equestrian Center also offers Saturday Night Trail Rides through the Hansen Dam Recreational area. The three-hour experience features instructions on horse riding and care, a trail ride, and a ranch-style dinner.

With so many options for equestrian facilities, parks, water recreation, and hiking and biking trails, Shadow Hills can offer outdoor adventures to suit every taste.

Shadow Hils Shopping

The Shadow Hills neighborhood blends rural scenery with the urban conveniences, allowing residents to experience a secluded pastoral setting while still providing a selection of amenities that rivals the many fun things to do in Burbank.

The Sunhill Shopping Center, located just off the 210 freeway, features Ralphs, Rite Aid, Payless, and H&R Block. Additionally, the shopping center has several restaurants for when patrons get hungry.

Canyon Plaza also features Ralphs and several other chain businesses, including Kohl's, CVS, and Sally Beauty. Like the Sunhill Shopping Center, Canyon Plaza also has various restaurants, most of which are chains.

Additionally, just outside Shadow Hills lies All Things and More, a large, carefully curated thrift store that has operated for nearly 60 years.

With so many shopping options nearby, Shadow Hills residents can often do much of their everyday shopping without having to venture too far from home.

Shadow Hills Restaurants

Shadow Hills feature plenty of exciting local restaurants serving American, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines, among others.

Rise 'n Shine Cafe is one of Shadow Hills' hotspots for breakfast, featuring free-range eggs and organic ingredients. The cafe also offers sandwiches, smoothies, and juices for dine-in or takeout.

Based in the heart of Shadow Hills, Villa Terraza Restaurant offers upscale Italian fare in a beautifully restored historic building. Beginning as the Bavarian-owned Old Vienna Gardens Restaurant in 1936, the restaurant sold in the '70s before becoming Villa Terraza.

At House of Skewers, kabobs are the clear specialty, but the restaurant also offers hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, pasta, and even pizza. Patrons can dine in or order takeout or delivery.

Meanwhile, Zest Grill House also offers authentic kabobs, falafel, and wraps. However, the restaurant's true specialty is its rotisserie chicken. The chicken roasts for over an hour in a vertical oven to achieve its crisp texture and famed flavor.

In addition to these hotspots, other popular restaurants near Shadow Hills serve Mexican and Asian dishes.

Arts & Culture in Shadow Hills

Like the rest of Los Angeles, Shadow Hills has a lively culture featuring numerous museums, art galleries, and performance venues for dance and theatre.

Museums and Art Galleries in Shadow Hills

Several museums, art galleries, and studios near Shadow Hills contribute to the community's vibrant culture by celebrating the sciences and arts.

Discovery Cube Los Angeles is a science museum with two locations, one in Shadow Hills' backyard and Santa Ana. The Los Angeles location features over 50 hands-on exhibits and seasonal events such as The Science of Gingerbread.

Meanwhile, Brooks Aviation Art fuses the sciences and arts by catering to aviation art collectors. While the company can source works of all kinds, it focuses on WWII aviation.

For those interested in learning the arts, The Glass Studio offers private classes, including group sessions, teaching glass making and fine jewel-making techniques.

Dance & Theatre in Shadow Hills

Like much of Los Angeles, Shadow Hills has a lively dance and theatre scene, with several performance venues and troupes nearby.

A unique performance venue created by artists, Sun Space hosts music, dance, and visual arts performances.

Meanwhile, the Sun Valley Youth Arts Center offers workshops on various types of art, including music and dance. However, the Center's workshops extend well beyond the realm of music and dance. Its programming features traditional media like painting and drawing and more contemporary arts like game design and audio and video production.

Serving schools throughout Southern California, The L.A. Troupe offers performances of the works of Shakespeare, Homer, and Poe, among others.

With so many museums, art galleries, and performance venues in Shadow Hills, it's easy to soak up Los Angeles' culture without venturing far from home.

Shadow Hills Nightlife

Shadow Hills offers a varied nightlife featuring everything from dive bars and sports bars to upscale cocktail lounges.

The Blue Moon Lounge promises to deliver more than a happy hour. In addition to several TVs behind the bar, the lounge also offers a game room featuring billiards, beer pong, darts, pinball, and other arcade games.

Established in 1936, The Rattler offers bar games and sports. Its drink menu includes cocktails, wine, hard liquor, beer, and other alcohol. Although the dive bar does not serve food, it allows patrons to bring in outside food.

Italian and American food is typical at bars near Shadow Hills. Georgio's Sports Bar and Pizzeria offer an eclectic selection of handmade pizza, handcrafted sliders and subs, build-your-own pasta, fried chicken, and burgers.

Meanwhile, The Green Room is an upscale cocktail lounge modeled after Hollywood's green rooms where actors relax off stage. The exclusive hotspot requires reservations and formal attire. Its indulgent menu includes decadent items such as wagyu sliders, lobster corn dogs, and Petrossian caviar.

While these are some of the most popular bars and lounges near Shadow Hills, the area has plenty of other nightlife hotspots to explore.

Find Fun This Weekend in Shadow Hills, Los Angeles

With numerous outdoor activities, show Shadow Hills offers a blend of Los Angeles' vibrant culture with the natural beauty of California's Verdugo Mountains and San Fernando Valley. With so many things to do in Shadow Hills, this community is one of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles. If you're looking for signs that Shadow Hills is the right Los Angeles neighborhood for you, think how the many fun things do in the neighborhood can support what you like to do for fun on the weekends.