Met up a friend to go on a Thanksgiving hike before the big feast. This was our first time here and…read morewhile beautiful it was a pretty moderate hike. We both wanted something more challenging and calorie burning. The trail is about 2 miles and does have some steep areas but overall it's pretty chill. This is a great hike for kids to join in, but not stroller friendly.

Went on a hike here and was a pretty nice hike. It's probably rated in the moderate section and if…read moreyou're afraid of fly/bees or small paths with flowers touching you then I wouldn't recommend this hike. We came for the spring bloom and there were some pretty nice flowers though it looked nothing like what I saw on Instagram. Be careful, I also saw a rattlesnake in our path and we had to wait for it to pass so there are definitely snakes in the area. Other than all that if you decide to come it's still a beautiful spot. Parking - One thing I love about this place, parking was EASY. 3ish lots so it was plentiful.

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.

Love this place! Recently came here again in 2026. Went on Grotto trail by accident a year or two…read moreago. Omg! It was so intense but so worth is at the top I saw some coyotes on the others side- like a pack but the stayed on their side. Some people bring their hiking sticks and whistles and some just brave the wild :/. While we made it out alive, won't lie. Seeing like 5-6 coyotes at once kinda scared me but they were pretty far off. They have a nice little park (not a kid park with swings) you can walk around for a calmer and easier walk. They have other trails there that I haven't been on. So I'd just say wear good shoes if you're gonna tackle the big trails and maybe there hiking sticks (I need to get one) and anything for safety. It has many signs that there are rattle snakes. I haven't seen one but I believe them lol. I prefer to go early because in my mind, they wouldn't be out and about yet ‍ since it's not too hot.

A great park at the north end of San Fernando Valley. So many areas to spread out and enjoy…read more O'Melvany is listed as the second-largest public park in Los Angeles(behind Griffith Park), but still seems a pretty good secret, for the most part. On any given day you may see dogs playing, or training in social skills, exercise classes, families picnicking and kids running around. BUT ALSO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WILDLIFE! Coyotes and mountain lions are very common, as are rattle snakes. But also bunnies, squirrels and an array of birds, for those who take the time to stop, listen, and try to identify. There is not a playground at this large park. Instead, the draw is toward it's many, well marked, hiking trails. This use to be John O'Melvany's ranch, until he deeded the land to Los Angeles(1976), with specifics for it to be used as a park. You'll still see orchards of grapefruit as you enter, with signs requesting you not remove the fruit from the area. The fruit has not been properly tended to in decades, so it's not really yummy grapefruit, but on occasion you'll see some people plucking and tasting to quell their curiosity. Mainly, to avoid the spread of fruit flies, the city requests that the yellow spheres be left in place. BUT OH THE AROMA OF THE FLOWERS FROM THESE TREES! And so many happy bees flitting about. Quite nice. This is also a park that allows access for equestrians. A very large dirt area for trailers to park and horses to be staged and prepped before heading off into the hills on the marked Equestrian Trail. If you do take the time to hike one of the many trails, you'll be rewarded with beautiful view of SFV. If you squint, you can almost imagine what it looked like pre-WWII, before the tract homes welcomed the veterans here. Many beautiful, very old, oak trees, eucalyptus and various maple species, along with a LOT of native shrubbery are found throughout the park and the one large bathroom at the center is well maintained. Hours are dawn to dusk, with gates at both the pedestrian entry and parking lot. Plenty of free parking in the lot and along the street. If you're up for an easy, but fairly long excursion, check out Bee Canyon Park. It starts just across the street from O'Melvany and DOES have a play area for kids. Also, it's trail runs all the way to Balboa. Cheers! "CC"

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.

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.

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.

"The Bear" is used by the local firefighters for conditioning. From the trailhead to the water…read moretank, the record I'm told for completion is about 16 minutes for a little more than a mile. Since my first visit back in 2014 till now, the trail has really gone through the wringer from being ravaged by the elements. Burnt trees left over from previous wildfires as well as dips and ditches caused by runoff from heavy rain. The firefighters maintain the trail to an extent, but at its current state there is still work to be done. With that said, if it's a challenge you're looking for, then you've come to the right place. The sharp inclines and loose dirt make the ascension treacherous, but all the more satisfying. On the last visit, the foggy skies were leveled with one of the few false summits, literally heads in the clouds. The sunset off to the distance made for beautiful views of the city down below, and the wildflowers along the way were not only plentiful, but varied, including lupins, poppies, and buttercups. After reaching the water tank, we made a quick stop at the fire station before heading down. On the backside of "The Bear" to put it kindly, fallen trees, narrow paths, and poison oak makes this leg of the trip almost as daunting as the uphill. Where there used to be a bridge there's now a chasm that one must trek down and up before being back on the trail. In another instance, a fallen log was repurposed as a bridge for those brave enough to cross. Branches that used to grow out along mountain have been chainsawed, old shrubs swept out of the way. Despite all that, the views coming down were wonderful to take in, making it a calming stroll back down. Recommended for the bold and seasoned folks.

Great spot just did it, no one around Went up to water…read moretower ,in the beginning of hike go right !instead of left it keeps you on ridge of mountain, I absolutely love this hike

Found this lil gem of a trail on a whim while I was stuck in traffic on the 5. Saw a buck and my…read moredog had a blast. Was gorgeous on a Fall evening.

This park has nice and excellent trails! If you start walking from this parking area, you need to…read morewalk back on the same trail. The new addition of parking spaces at the end of the Taylor Trailhead has added a little confusion amongst hikers and walking entusiasts. I did not pay attention to the trail map and I thought I would just do the short loop at the begining of the parking lot. When I was in the middle of the hike, I asked two ladies if they knew where to go to get to the parking area. They said follow the Taylor trail signs, thinking that we all are doing the small loop that we saw on the map. We did not pay attention that the loop starts from Towsley Park, not the Taylor Trailhead parking area. After getting to the bigger parking area at Towsley, one of the ladies called her son and offered me a ride back to our parking area. Thank you! When we got back, I was just sitting in my car when I see a couple in dispair looking at the Old Road. I said, do you want a ride back to your parking area, I explained my experience and the lady said, now you are paying it back. There needs to be an update on the trail map, like a "you are here" dot? Just saying... I am starting to get sore! :O Nice trails, beautiful views, I want to go back, I just need to leave a car on each end of the Taylor trail!

Limekiln Canyon Trail is a nice place to go on a casual walk/hike. Its a cool trail because you can…read morefeel like you are in nature, however the trail is located close to the street, or at least this is the case for the section I like to hike in. The trail extends into the mountains so if you are into longer hikes there is that option. Pros: easy access, convenient escape into nature. Not a difficult hike. Cons: there is graffiti/street art on the trail. Some of it looks cool, so this might not be considered a con to some. But I would prefer that it wasn't there.

This trail is a secluded escape tucked away in the hills of the Valley! If you're looking for a…read morehike that is low key & quiet, this is definitely the spot. Once you reach the top, you're rewarded with a wonderful panoramic view of the Valley. It's also quite interesting as you hike along; you get a bird's-eye view into various backyards with some truly beautiful pools & hot tubs. The day I went was overcast, which made for a very pleasant & chill walk. There is plenty of nature to enjoy, including lots of birds flying around. Also lots of street parking outside the entrance to the trail. One thing that caught my attention: lots of litter & beer cans everywhere:( very sad .

Soooooo many flowers. I loved it! There are not too many shaded areas on this hike so bring lots of…read morewater :).

M. DeCampos trail is a very popular area for hiking, mountain biking, and running. This trail is…read morelocated within the O'Melveny Park. This trail has an elevation gain of 1,227 ft has a length of 4.3 miles leading to Mission Point. Throughout the trail has no shades going toward the Mission Point. But you'll get to see birds, lizards and vole. I hiked on a weekday so there were very few hikers that I came across on the trailhead. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Once you've reached Mission Point which is considered the highest point in the SF valley you'll have a majestic view of the hills, the park and mountains. Overall, despite its steep trails I enjoyed my time hiking this trail.

I loved this hike. I was really surprised how much fun it was. I generally don't expect great…read morethings, in regards to views, with the local hikes...drought. However, This one may cause me to reconsider such low expectations... Due to lack of time..I'll have to plan another day to come back and go further... However we still managed to explore 5miles...But this is the type of trail that makes you want to keep going. And from the looks if it, you could keep going for days. Keep in mind that this is the hike that is past mentryville, they have a $5 parking fee, bring cash. So the first part if the hike is a paved road (which makes jogging a really nice option) there are two places where you have the option to take a left which would lead to picnic tables... However if you keep going straight you will get a nice photo op. Of the Pico Canyon plaques where the first oil well once was. Right past this you can begin your climb up the mountain. The incline is perfect... It offed a great workout opportunity... And it's not too hard where it makes you feel like you may die if you continue. The view is surprisingly gorgeous.. Seriously, I have lived out in Santa Clarita my entire life and I never would have guessed such views existed. It is a hike that you should not attempt on your own, only because it's pretty secluded, my partner and I did not see another single hiker. I definitely look forward to coming back, the path seems endless and I would love to continue on... It also helps that the weather was in our favor today... Couldn't have asked for a better day. I thoroughly enjoyed this hike today

Does it really count as a hiking when the trail is mostly a paved road? Nevertheless, the Pico…read moreCanyon trail is still a fun and exciting trek. The trail starts at Mentryville, an interesting old and historically significant town that has been used for a number of movies. Further up the road you'll encounter a mini trail on the left. It's a great trail for kids. It has some small bridges and ends with a picnic bench on a hill. Continuing up the paved road you will encounter a neat little area on the left that has some old oil field relicts. Further up the road on the right you will encounter Well #4, the first commercial oil well in California. The paved road will eventually end and then you will start the trek up the mountain. Even though there is a fairly wide path, when you start to get high up the mountain the height can be a little intimidating. The views at the top of the mountain are probably the best in Santa Clarita.