Incredibly overgrown trail with lots of history. It's hard to believe so many people have reviewed…read moreit since I've never seen a person past the 1st ford. Tough, scenic, true wilderness, and very close to LA.

LOLLYPOP, LOLLYPOP, OOH LOLLY, LOLLY, LOLLY LOLLYPOP!!!!…read more BACKGROUND: 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 trench-like 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. STATS: Distance: 8 miles Elevation Gain: less than 1000ft ESSENTIALS: At least 2 liters of water Know your limits Comfy hiking shoes with good lugs Layered Clothing High protein food/snacks Electrolytes Camera Hat (optional) Sunscreen Trek poles (optional) OUR ROUTE: From the parking area me and The Crew headed down an asphalt road which took us to the first canyon. In this first canyon there is a trail in some portions and not so much in other parts. There were a few spots of some minor boulder hopping and very short climbs. If there is any water it could be avoidable. At the end of this canyon is where we encountered overgrown trails, as well as no trail at all as we started our ascent to the loop trail. This section is less than an 1/8 of a mile and brought us to the middle portion of the route. The area does not get much use which can make the trail overgrown and difficult to find in some areas. In this area we had a rather continuous climb as we headed over to Wind Caves. The next portion was where it got interesting. A short portion of bushwhacking and an interesting canyon down climb got us back down and completed our looped route. The scenery is amid 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 trench-like 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. 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 80 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015

When you're ending the year 2025 with a hiking adventure. Let's begin this banger review…read more Whitney Canyon Park is a 442-acre park known for its diverse trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, featuring oak woodlands, chaparral, and riparian areas with seasonal waterfalls. It is located next to the freeway in Santa Clarita. I have been eyeing this trail/park for months and I am glad I crossed this on my All trails hiking list. I came on a late Monday morning and it was bloody windy (~45 mph) with a cool temp of 64 degrees. This park has multiple trials including Elsmere Trail. WCP has a wide track trail through a canyon that was known for oil drilling and ranching some of its remnants are still visible. Its trail has little to no tree shade but the trailhead was kept clear. I have seen some hikers (family and kids) and bikers along the way; most are friendly and nice. Parking lot is huge with no shades. Trash bins are available. Overall, it's a nice easy park to go hiking. I recommend it.

A friend took me to Whitney Canyon Waterfall today, and wow what an adventure. The hike is…read moremoderate, about 3.5 miles, and parking is free. Reaching the waterfall is not for the faint of heart. You climb uphill, descend back down, reach a small waterfall, and then go through it to finally arrive at Whitney Waterfall. It's a bit sketchy, definitely thrilling, and absolutely worth it but only if you're prepared. Hiking shoes are a must. This trail is not recommended for kids or beginner hikers due to steep and slippery sections. It was 48 degrees and freezing cold today, so check the weather before you go and layer up. Also, there are no restrooms, so plan ahead. If you're looking for a raw, adventurous hike with a rewarding waterfall at the end, this one delivers.

FUN rock scrambling at almost 45 degrees! It was slightly out of the way on our drive to LA but I…read morewanted to come here for a long time. A lot of movies, music videos, and TV have been filmed here, often to depict otherworldly alien landscape, it was in a couple episodes of Star Trek and the gift shop has some Star Trek related merchandise. You can park right next to the famous rocks and go climbing up, this is my favorite type of park since there are no guardrails or fences, you can go where you want. Be careful though, the ranger told us the week before we went someone got scared coming down and broke their ankle and had to be airlifted out, remember it's always easy to climb up than it is to climb down. Toward the back of the famous rocks are some nice boulders and a hike you can go on, some of these rocks look like animals or faces and is worth checking out if the famous ones are too crowded. The witches hat is a bit hard to find but go to the visitor center and it's walkable from there. The rangers can help you find it, there are also animals in the different sheds you can check out.

Hidden little gem for you your friends and family to come down and check out. On-site staff at the…read moremain Center are super sweet and answer any and all questions that you have and you additionally get an opportunity to see some of the local wildlife up close. For the most part trails are pretty flat however, rocky and uneven ground in certain parts so make sure to wear sturdy shoes. I'd recommend taking a backpack with some water, pack a few snacks, or even a sack lunch to enjoy while on the trail. And most importantly make sure to take your trash out with you.

This nature center is located directly in the center of all the main activities for the park. There…read moreis free parking and many of the trails start right from the nature center. I thought this was a nice place to get an introduction to the wildlife, ecology and geography of the park. Admission to the nature center and the entire park is entirely free. The time I visited there was a docent on duty and a number of school children who were on day trips from the local schools.

What a great place to spend time with family and friends hiking, exploring and learning about…read morenature. I came here with my husband and son not knowing what to expect and was surprised to find this hidden gem. We had a wonderful time hiking by the creek which was active this time of the year. There are a few benches along the way to sit and take all the beauty around you in. We had to cross a few water streams while hiking which made our hike so special and beautiful. We had such a wonderful time. After the hike we had lunch at the picnic tables by the parking lot. So much to see and do here. A must visit for all nature lovers. Kid friendly. .... Love this place

This review is for the Indian Canyon North Via Pacific Crest Trail which was a ~4.5 mile round trip…read morethat took ~2 hours to complete. Trail entrance is across the street from the parking lot. The first ~0.5 miles was a bit overgrown and washed out. In addition, there was one large stream crossing with a lot of water. For this particular stream, it was somewhat ankle deep otherwise you can cross by using the logs and trees. Once you cross the railroad tracks to another part of the PCT, it becomes a steady incline / flat trail for the remaining duration of the hike. Plenty of wildflowers and views throughout the hike. Unfortunately, nothing exciting at the end of the trail. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/DyMKtjR5YZk

A decent trail and hike. No trees just bare hills. Would be pretty in spring but rather lackluster…read morein late summer/fall. No bikes or motorcycles allowed. Parking is easy and there's a restroom at the parking lot. The trail connects to the PCT so you can make it a longer hike if you want.

Gorgeous hiking opportunity hidden away in Santa Clarita. ****Note****: GPS takes you to a gated…read morecommunity with no access to the open space. Better to search "Haskell Vista/Cross" to find the trailhead or check out the map here https://hikesantaclarita.com/where-to-go/wildwood-canyon/. Kudos to Santa Clarita for protecting and maintaining this lovely parcel of land. Many native plants and animals find refuge here, as well as humans seeking green space for exercise and reflection. Check the map noted above for trails and level of challenge. The trails are very well-maintained; free street parking is available at the trailhead on Haskell Vista. Take water, a snack, and a charged cell phone with a good camera; there are lots of photo opps here for sure.

This open space area may not have an interesting backstory but it still has some fun and diverse…read moregroup of trails that are definitely worth exploring. This open space is part of the city's larger ongoing effort to create a greenbelt that will one day encircle the entire city. Park your car at the end of Haskell Vista Lane to start the trail. Zig-zag your way up the north side of the mountain until you reach the top. At that point and you'll have to decide among 3 different routes. You can choose the wide middle path that will take you south along the ridgeline all the way to the Old Road, or you can take the trail off to the left that descends down the canyon to complete a the loop that takes you to a red water tank and two mini bridges, or you can take the path off to the right which leads you to a small private park. The ridgeline trail leads you to some interesting rock formations and a metal box located below a solitary oak tree. It is filled with short inspirational quotes. For-the-most-part, the trail is fairly sun exposed and not very interesting. The red water tank lower loop trail takes you through some interesting narrow paths. When you get to the bottom of the canyon be sure to break off the trail and head up the canyon off to your right. There is a dense canopy of oak trees that are absolutely breathtaking to walk through.

This is a beautiful hiking trail. This year there weren't as much as poppies as the previous years,…read morebut still was worth it. It can be really windy. Therefore, having a jacket is recommended. It can be cold in the mornings. There is 10 dollar fee for the park. I would recommend going early in the morning since around noon it gets busy. It makes it harder to stop and taking pictures.

We went last Sunday to see the poppy fields. However there were really none. I appreciate the…read moreranger letting us know ahead that there was not much left before charging the entrance fee. We still went in since we never been. March is the month to go. We did a short hike up and could see all of Lancaster and probably Palmdale. We encountered several butterflies. I am so glad I took bug spray because there was a bit of mosquitoes. It was hot and there is no shade. Def need a hat. They have portable potties. Make sure to bring a sun hat, sunscreen, and bug spray to enjoy the hike. It is a very large area to walk/hike. It was a little windy as we got higher.

Quigley Canyon Trails is a hidden gem. It's one of those locations that you would never just happen…read moreto discover. It's tucked far away, among private residences, near old town Newhall. It's also near 2 well known locations, Melody Ranch and Masters College. I recommend downloading the city of Santa Clarita trail map so you can keep track of your location on the trails as you hike. This trail is really good for kids and it's great if you're interested in a good workout. The kids will appreciate the horses at the start of the trail and the easy path of Coyote and Fox's loop. For a workout try the steep incline section of the coyote loop then make your way to the lookout point. I doubt that you'll find a trail with a steeper incline in Santa Clarita. The trail is sun exposed with some shady areas. There are some nice benches and a cool bridge made from power lines on the west section of coyote loop.

3 Stars? This area is used almost exclusively by local residents of Placerita Canyon. It's a…read moregreat place to run, MTB, hike or horseback ride...difficult to get to. When I lived in the canyon I worked out there every day. Love this place! Careful of the large coyote packs... they won't attack, but they will surround you. It can be pretty intimidating. Lots of deer to see roaming around the hills.