The hike to Fish Canyon Narrows, named the #1 Intense Hike by Los Angeles Magazine, blew my mind…read more Accompanying two twenty-something botanists on a native plant field survey, I knew nothing about this trail prior to our trip. I wasn't prepared for the stunning beauty and challenging hiking conditions in early June 2023. An incredible adventure but not for the faint of heart! Parking: Follow Templin Highway to the east to a locked gate. You will be in the Angeles National Forest; an Adventure Pass is required to park in this location. The Trail: It's probably best to go with someone who's been here before (I was lucky in this regard.) Otherwise, make sure you map out directions ahead of time because there are virtually no trail signs to guide you. It's not too steep; the challenge is more finding the trail and the unique condition it's in at the moment. Due to the recent winter and spring storms, much of the trail is in shambles, with fallen trees and landslides and debris in your path. Then, there are the river crossings (or creek crossings, in less rainy years.) This can be treacherous; the water was at least shin-high in some places, not to mention the slippery algae, the rapid current, and obstacles under the water. We ended our hike after dark; a flashlight and/or headlamp highly recommended. Safety: There is no cell phone service in this location. A personal safety beacon is highly recommended, plus letting folks know where you are going and when you are expected to return. Take a first aid kit, enough water, food, and everything needed for a wilderness expedition. Wildlife: Bear have been reported here. Snakes are around; one of my hiking companions spotted a non-venemous snake in the dark and actually picked it up. I would *not* recommend touching any wildlife unless you are a trained biologist! Be alert. Scenery: The narrows are spectacular. There are springs, ferns, flowers, and the high canyon walls above you once you arrive at the canyon. This is one of the most beautiful destination hikes in Southern California and I feel lucky to have been able to visit. Free admission (but again, parking requires an Adventure Pass.) Highly recommended but be prepared!

WHAT?!?!? A TUNNEL IN THE 20 FEET ABOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE?!?!?…read more BACKGROUND: Here, amid the arid-looking mountains north of Castaic Lake, Castaic Creek flows the better part of the year through a sinuous gorge flanked by picturesque sandstone outcrops. The creek is perfect for wading - shallow, slow-moving, and warmed by the sun. Fish Canyon Narrows: In the trenchlike confines of middle Fish Canyon, aridity and moisture stand side by side, separated by a matter of a few yards. Mountain mahogany, manzanita and other drought-resistant shrubs cling to the walls, while a shallow stream gurgles merrily past a line of oaks, sycamores, willows, and cottonwoods. It is almost as if a little slice of the Pacific Northwest was transplanted to Southern California. The Stats Distance: ~11 miles Elevation Gain: 1100 ft. Trail conditions: a bit of asphalt, fire road, single track trail, some rock hopping; out and back. ESSENTIALS: At least 3 liters of water Know your limits Hiking boots that can withstand water, ice, and snow Layered Clothing Gloves High protein food/snacks Electrolytes Camera Hat (optional) Sunscreen Trek/ski poles OUR ROUTE: Me and The Crew set out this hike by going through a locked gate and heading down an asphalt road to a fire road till we reached the narrows, about four miles from the cars. Oh boy! There is a big difference between these narrows and the narrows in Paria Canyon. The condition of Fish Canyon is filled with dwarf leafless trees and scrubs and the water that runs through it, trickles over slippery rocks. The narrows are so grand, there is very little warmth from the sun coming in, so layer up, it does get quite chilly. Our final destination and lunch spot was at Rogers Trail Camp. Amazingly, what seemed to be in the heart of nowhere, there were well preserved picnic tables and a flame ring, not to mention a hand saw, and a couple other gardening tools. In addition, on that point is a short tunnel bored into the rock about 20 feet upwards. After lunch several of us headed to the burrow. Not sure what the purpose of a tunnel in the middle of nowhere, 20 feet up from the ground serves, but a couple of us climbed up to check it out. There was a can of turpentine in the tunnel and a few other items. So very odd. Once we satisfied our curiosity, we packed up and out, back the same way we came in, following the trickling no more than a foot of water and with this drought, easily avoidable. DISCLAIMER: Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up. Review 49 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015

Beautiful hike off the side of a rural road. Came here looking for poppy's but found a beautifully…read morepreserved desert woodland. It was so quiet and peaceful as we were the only people here. They have a porta potty which was awesome because I really had to pee by the time we got out here. It's an easy hike and very beautiful so I definitely recommend it!

Nice little Joshua tree oasis close (10min) to the poppies at Antelope Valley Reserve. There are 2…read moreloop trails- short nature trail and longer rare juniper trail (1mile). There are guides available but for some reason they don't have a trail map on them. It's a nice stop-by for easy hiking. Free!

Nice beach park. Pretty cool place for photography and hang out pretty cool place to chillread more

This location was great for day camping and jet skiing! There was a life guard on duty when we went…read morewho stopped by visitors' tables/covered cabanas and welcomed us. He also gave us pointers around swimming and jet skiing in this section of Pyramid Lake which is called Vaquero Lake. We had a fun time. It just sucked that there was green algae on this particularday that we visited, but we kept our dog out of the water and tried to not get it in our mouths if we ended up swimming. We will definitely return in the future.

Great day of perfect weather and conditions on trails. Nice breeze and scattered clouds and…read moreCalifornia poppies dotting the hillsides. Plenty of campsites to choose from with shade structures and picnic tables. Lots of shading oak trees with mistletoe. So many trails For all levels and it doesn't feel Crowded. McDonald's ten minutes away for your needs.

What a cool spot! Was my first time there and I was shocked at how large of a park this is. There…read moreare trails for all levels and vehicle types. So cheap at $10 for overnight camping or $5 to enjoy for the day and easily accessable. Great campsite for groups of any size and always groom what I heard there is always availability.

Simple and ordinary trail in the Angeles National Forest. Despite the fanciful name, the canyon…read moreneither looked gold nor had any gold mining relics. Park along Big Tujunga Canyon Road where North Trail Canyon Road intersects. Hike up Trail Canyon until the road splits. Trail Canyon is to the right (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/trail-canyon-falls-tujunga) and Gold Canyon is up to the left (see pic). As a sandy service road, the trail was easy to follow, good for mountain bikes, and never gets super steep. It's also monotonously boring. Initially curvy and repetitive, the hike gets better when the road straightens and views of surrounding mountains and canyons plus the ocean on a clear day are visible (see pic). At the highest point of Gold Canyon Road, often called Gold Creek Saddle, is a circular concrete pedestal with Yerba Buena painted on the top. From the highway to this point is 4.65 miles with a 2000' elevation change. We turned back but the road continues downhill south to the city and also diverts north up towards Mt. McKinley that is overgrown with brush. With no trees, no shade exists. The low elevation means the temps aren't much different than in the city. On a positive note, Big Tujunga Canyon Road has significantly less vehicle noise than hikes along Angeles Crest Highway. When parking and leaving your car anywhere in the Angeles National Forest, a $5 Adventure pass or alternative pass like an Interagency Annual Pass is needed.

Brian U. gave a good and thorough review. I will add that one of the reasons I like this trail is…read morebecause it is not popular. I love solitude when I'm in the forest and this has it. I mountain bike this road/trail also to the Round concrete pedestal that says Yerba Buena. It's just shy of 5 miles from the car. There is another circular concrete pedestal at about 3.5 miles but I would suggest going to the Yerba Buena because that last stretch is beautiful.

Great hike for a hot day! Visiting for the first time, I took the Rice Canyon trail which is about…read more70% shade and follows a creek up into the canyon. It's a beautiful trail through a grove of native Valley Oak, California Black Walnut and willow trees. Absolutely gorgeous and not too strenuous, there a few creek crossings along the way. You'll see some oil seeps on the way, a reminder that there is oil drilling nearby. Birds, butterflies and flowers make this an enjoyable hike. Parking: Free parking on the street. Or pay $5 in the day use lot. Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Watch out: Lots of poison oak and mountain bikers. Stay safe....bring lots of water and sunscreen, possibly bug spray as well. Admission is free.

This hike is beautiful. The hidden gems of waterfalls is well worth the hike. It's a great mix of…read moresteep and flat areas and it's great for a run, hike or biking.

I camped here with a group of friends and we had a lot of fun. I'm so glad the lower campground was…read morefull for someone's birthday party because Middle Lion was much nicer and had better spots. Middle Lion's a small area and the sites are first come first serve.. so we were happy we got a good one. We had a delicious bbq, big campfire, and met some other fellow campers who were very cool. Nice neighbors all around! The bathroom was really gross but that's camping, right? At least there was a bathroom. The ranger at the park was really sweet and helpful. This place wasn't as amazing as camping somewhere like Avenue of the Giants.. but it was a lot of fun with friends. Dog friendly campground but keep them on a leash. A bobcat had been spotted walking around earlier that day- the ranger warned everyone about him and said to keep pets close. It was fun walking along the creek, which was completely dried up in August. We got our $5 Adventure Pass at a nearby visitor's center. The ranger *did* check when we were there.. so you should probably have one.

Based on what we SAW, I give this place two stars. We were not even able to get a spot because it…read morewas packed... well what do you expect with only 8 or 9 sites in the camp! While well kept, spaced nicely, and in a quaint area, and had bathrooms/fire pits/ tables; it is just too small to realistically expect to get a spot on a weekend in the spring, summer, or even early fall. With only a hand full of campgrounds in the area, its no wonder they all fill up fast. No reservations makes it even more of a bummer when you're faced with the possibility of either going home, or roughing it out on a trail. The latter is what we ended up doing since both Middle Lion and Rose Campgrounds were absolutely packed. While its a nice site, beware of it being full on a weekend!

It's a bit of a drive to get here, but so worth it. There are three hikes from the trailhead and…read moreyou can easily do two of them in about 3-4 hours and walk a total of 6 miles. We went in early June and the wild flowers were incredible. A riot of pink, purple, and yellow. Also, I've never seen so many butterflies or ladybugs. There was a grove where the ladybugs land all over you and they cover the plants so it looks like the plants are red. The multiple waterfalls are the real reason to go, though. We even went swimming in some of the pools. Be prepared for bracing water and to get to the ones that are further back you have to do a little bouldering. Bring water. There is a bathroom at the campground near the trailhead but no drinking water.