Take A Hike!

Short Hike In Hills Behind Central Park - Saugus, CA

2012-02-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

It was 85 degrees in SoCal this afternoon. It was just too nice of a day to stay inside, so I gathered up Hiker and we drove over to Central Park in Saugus to hike the trail in the hills behind the park that goes up to a large water tank. The hike from the parking lot to the tank and back is about 1.64 miles. The red line in the photo is the trail.

The trail starts out at the back of the park near the dog park and starts out pretty steep. Since it was warm the day we did this hike, we took our time climbing up the trail and stopped a few times to catch our breath.

When we got to the top of the hill, there was this nice shaded spot (below).

You cannot got to the left as there are "No Trespassing" signs there for the Castaic Lake Water Agency, so we went to the right to head up to the water tank.

The view from near the water tank was 360 degrees. The photo below is looking to the southeast.

The following photo is looking west.

The next photo is looking north.

The photo below is looking down on the park and to the east.

This hike is only about 1.64 miles. It is somewhat steep at the beginning but more level once you reach the top of the ridge. It takes about 45 minutes up and back.

Bison Road Trail In Hart Park - Newhall, CA

2012-01-27T19:14:00.000-08:00

My friend Linda emailed me the other day and said she had read about a walking/hiking club that meets up every Friday at William S. Hart Park in Newhall, CA. She wanted to check them out, so I packed up Hiker and we picked up Linda then headed over to the park. It was cloudy and starting to get windy. The group meets up was supposed to be at 9:00 am but most of the people did not show up until between 9:15 and 9:30. There were about 10 to 12 people (mostly seniors). They then proceeded to do warm-up stretches. Hiker was going crazy wanting to get going out on the hike. We all finally headed out for the Bison Road Trail which runs through the hills behind Hart Park.

Everyone started out in a group. The leader and a few other's took off ahead of everyone. Linda and I bought up the rear as we had no idea where the trail was. There was another woman who stayed back with us and we introduced ourselves and started to get acquainted. Before we realized it, most of the group had gotten way ahead of us. The trail began to climb and a steep incline and Linda, Hiker and I fell further back from the pack.

Linda began to get very winded, so I lagged back to stay with her and by now the rest of the group was at least a quarter of a mile ahead of us. Every now and then they would see us from a higher level of the trail and yell to ask us if we were OK. We told them to keep going and that we'd follow. I guess their thing is to walk fast and do the hike as quickly as possible, where as Linda and I prefer to take our time, stop and take photographs and enjoy the views, and there were some really nice views from this trail.

Hiker seemed to enjoy the hike as she always does.

Linda took this photo of me and Hiker up on the ridge.

We climbed and climbed and climbed, not knowing where the rest of the group was. Finally we reached the summit and then headed down into a private campground that is used by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

After about an hour and 15 minutes and 2.5 miles, we finally made it back to the parking lot where most of the group had already left, but there were still 3 people there waiting to make certain that we made it back to my 4Runner OK.

Actually it was a pretty nice hike (if you take your time to enjoy it) and I would enjoy doing it again sometime.

Directions to the Bison Road Trail.

From the Hart Park parking lot, walk out to the street (Newhall Avenue) and take a left. Walk to Market Street and take another left. Continue to the parking lot behind the Santa Clarita Senior Center. Enter the parking lot and walk all the way to the back of it where there is an opening in the chain link fence to your right. Follow the dirt trail (fire road) as it winds up the mountain.

Photo-Op Hike At Vasquez Rocks County Park

2012-01-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

After having lunch at the Sweetwater Cafe in Agua Dulce, CA, my friend Linda and I decided to head over to Vasquez Rocks County Park which was only a couple of miles away for a "photo-op hike". My dog Hiker was with us and she loves Vasquez Rocks.

Here is a satellite view of the park.

We decided to hike some trails that we had never photographed before. The weather was clear and beautiful and the sky was dark blue. Hiker was busy exploring everything around her.

This area of the park looks like a "miniature" version of the main area of the park.

There are holes in the rocks like this all over the park. They are caused by the the wind and the rain, plus I'm sure that little animals also dig and burrow into the soft sandstone to create their dens.

Linda inspects the holes after making sure that there was nothing living inside of them.

Here we are....Me, Hiker and Linda.

Looking south toward the main area of the park.

The "big rock" from a different angle.

Directions to Vasquez Rocks County Park:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is located near Agua Dulce Springs north of 14 -Palmdale freeway. The park is about midway between Santa Clarita and Palmdale.

Address: 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Road, Agua Dulce
Phone: (661) 268-0840

Changed Blog Title

2012-01-15T14:57:00.000-08:00

Decided to change the title of this blog from "Hiking With An 'Old' Woman" to "Take A Hike!"

I just didn't like the old title anymore because I don't feel like a 'Old' woman and I think you are never too old to enjoy nature.

Hiking The Devil's Punchbowl Loop Trail - Pearblossom, CA

2012-01-05T16:46:00.000-08:00

Today, my friend Linda and I took Hiker out to Pearblossom, CA to the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area. Ben and I went to this sight back in November 2009 and I have always wanted to go back and hike the trail down into the "bowl". Ben was not a hiker, so he didn't want to go down the trail when he and I were there. The trail is about a mile long, but takes about an hour or more depending on how fast you walk and how often you stop along the way. It descends 300 ft. into the "bowl" and takes you all the way to the bottom where there is a year-round creek. But then...you have to climb back up out of the "bowl". This area is part of the San Andreas Fault line so these rocks are "thrust faults" coming up out of the ground from pressure put on them by two plates of the Earth's crust pushing into each other.

You can start your hike at either end of the loop. We chose to start near the Visitor's Center on the North side of the "bowl". There are many great spots for photo ops along the trail. Sometimes you lose track of the trail, even though it is marked all along the way, because people have gotten lazy and do not want to take all of the "switch backs" so they take short cuts and create new sections of trail which makes it confusing at times.

I would advise you take this hike in the fall, winter or spring as it would get pretty hot there in the summer.

Here is a link to the Devil's Punchbowl Website if you'd like to check it out:

http://www.devils-punchbowl.com/

Hike In Eaton Canyon - Altadena, CA

2011-11-16T17:10:00.001-08:00

Today, my dog Hiker and I joined our friend Linda for a hike in Eaton Canyon, which is located in Altadena, CA. We had never hiked this area before and we were looking forward to checking this canyon out.

The main trail is very well maintained and the first mile of the trail is a moderate hike. There are a few spots with slight inclines, but the trail is wide and very well marked. You first cross a dry creek bed, which I'm sure has water in it during the rainy months. A little farther into the trail, you will find a few oak groves too.

If you want to stay on the main trail, it starts to climb very steeply at the 1 mile mark and winds up the mountain. We decided to take the waterfall trail.

From this sign, it is 1/2 mile up to the 40 foot waterfall, and is a pretty vigorous hike up and down the hillside, climbing over boulders and you must cross the creek many times before you reach the waterfall.

Then...our first glimpse of the falls.

Our total hike was 3 miles and was very enjoyable. This hike is a good one and I recommend it to anyone who lives in the area. There is a Nature Center with exhibits and a gift shop. It's best to hike this canyon on a week-day as it becomes very crowded on week-ends.

Eaton Canyon Natural Area, supervised and maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, is a 190-acre zoological, botanical, and geological wonderland situated at the base of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. With its hiking trails, wildlife, rocks and minerals, and plants, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It is also the gateway to Heninger Flats, Idle Hour Campground, and Mount Wilson. Visit the Nature Center, where you'll find information, displays, a gift shop, and offices. There is no admission to the park, which is open from sunrise to sunset daily. We ask only that you leave it the way you find it, and take nothing away but photos and pleasant memories.

Directions: Eaton Canyon Natural Area is located at 1750 North Altadena Drive, one block north of New York Drive in Pasadena, California. There is a sign on the east side of the street which clearly marks the entrance to the Park. From the 210 Freeway eastbound, exit at Sierra Madre Boulevard/Altadena Drive. Turn left (north) at the first light (Altadena Drive) and go 1.6 miles to the park entrance. From the 210 Freeway westbound, exit at San Gabriel Boulevard/San Marino. Turn right (north) at the second light (Altadena Drive) and go 1.5 miles to the park entrance.

Address: 1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena
Phone: (626) 398-5420

Hiking O'Melveny Park/Bee Canyon - Granada Hills, CA

2011-11-13T10:46:00.001-08:00

My brother is visiting me this weekend, so he and I took my dog Hiker over to Granada Hills to a place known as O'Melveny Park/Bee Canyon. I had never hiked this area before so I was interested in this new adventure. This area is part of the Michael D. Antonovich Open Space and connects to the trails in East & Rice Canyons and Towsley Canyon on the Santa Clarita side of the mountains.

The hike starts off from the parking lot at the bottom of O'Melveny park. You can take either the dirt "nature trail" or the paved path that takes you through the middle of the park. We decided to take the nature trail.

This trail and the paved path meet up about 3/4 of a mile in, but then the trail narrows and heads up into the canyon.

We hiked a total of 2 miles this day. If you don't mind the steep climb, you can hike for many miles in this area.

O'Melveny Park is located above Granada Hills in the San Fernando Valley. The park surrounds the Bee Canyon watershed and abuts the Santa Susana mountain range below Oat Mountain. Hiking trails and fire roads invite exploration of this 672-acre park. Outside of Griffith Park, O'Melveny Park is the city's second largest park.

Directions: Take the 118/Ronald Reagan Freeway and exit Balboa Blvd. Turn north, driving 2 miles to Sesnon, turn left going west .6 mile, turn right at park entrance.

Second Hike With My Dog Hiker - This Time Towsley Canyon

2011-10-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful morning here in the Santa Clarita Valley this morning. A few clouds in the sky and not to hot/not to cold. My friend Linda came over and she and I, along with my dog Hiker headed over to Towsley Canyon to hike up to The Narrows. It was a 2.25 mile hike and Hiker seemed to really enjoy her walk. The creek is not flowing this time of year. Once we get some rain, it will be back to full flow. Seemed to be quite a few hikers out on the trail today. Looking forward to the spring when the wildflowers will be blooming.

Hiker's First "Real" Hike

2011-10-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know from my other blogs, I adopted a dog on October 13, 2011. I named her Hiker and she is a Australian Cattle Dog Mix. She is just a little over a year old.

Today my friend Linda and I took Hiker for her first "real" hike over in Placerita Canyon. Hiker loves her walks and up until today, the longest walk she had taken with me was 2 miles, but today she did 4 miles and she did very well. She is really good on the leash and she was checking out all of the new smells and new sounds. She kept watching the trees because she would hear the birds.

Here are some photos that I took of the hike and also some that my friend Linda took.

Linda, Me & Hiker

Linda and Hiker on the Trail

Hiker

Linda on the Trail

Me, Hiker & Linda

Me & Hiker

****************************************************

Linda took the photos below

Linda took this one of Me & Hiker

Here's another shot Linda took

Me & Hiker in the sunlight

Me and Hiker resting

I love how Hiker is tilting her head

Hike Along The Carpinteria Bluffs Trail

2011-09-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

Thistrail runs along the bluffs of Carpinteria State Beach and also goesinland just a bit and follows the coastal railroad tracks. The viewsfrom the bluffs are beautiful and there is a spot where you can watchthe seals come ashore and sun themselves. The day we were there wasmostly overcast all day, so the seals did not come ashore.

Ifyou are traveling either northbound or southbound on Highway 101along the California Coast, take the for Bailard Avenue exit inCarpinteria. After exiting the freeway, head west. The first streetyou intersect, after less than a block, is Carpinteria Ave. You cansee at the intersection a parking area straight ahead. Park here. Thehike begins here. There is a bronze relief plaque of the ocean here,and some baseball fields.

Weentered the trail from the other side on Linden Avenue at theentrance of the Carpinteria State Beach campground. We hiked 3.5miles, but if you walk from one end of the trail to the other, it is3 miles, so a round trip would be 6 miles.

Thetrail can sometimes be hard to find, but if you ask other hikers,they will tell you where to continue.

View at the start of the trail

My friend Linda on the trail

One of the views from the bluffs

Linda, Me & my brother Keith

Keith on the trail

The trail actually comes down to the beach at one point

Great view from the bluff trail

Where the trail runs along the tracks

A fork in the trail will take you down to the beach

Another view from the bluffs

Near the seal rookery, I zoomed in on this little guy

Another great view from the trail

Heading back toward where we started

We walked along the beach to get back to the car

The blue line shows the path of our hike

Rice Canyon Hike - 09/21/2011

2011-09-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

My good friend Linda and I hiked Rice Canyon this morning. Linda had never been there before but I had hiked this trail back in October 2008. The first thing we came across was a young deer buck getting a drink of water. We took his picture and then he scampered away. The trail is a nice easy trail with several stream crossings and a lot of shade. The stream was mostly dry because it is still hot here and we have not had a good rain for several months. The trail is an "in and out". Just before you get to the end of the trail it starts to climb and you come out on a flat plateau where you have some great views of the canyon.

Rice Canyon is in the Santa Clarita Valley of Southern California near the city of Santa Clarita. It is just off Interstate 5 on The Old Road. There is also another trail there called "East Canyon Trail". It is a little longer and a little more strenuous than the Rice Canyon Trail.

Linda

Linda and Me

Linda

Linda and Me

Where The Heck Is The Trail?

2011-09-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

This morning, my friend Linda and I decided to hike a trail that neither of us had ever hiked before. I went online and found other hikers who had been in Elsmere Canyon and asked them exactly how to get to this trail and a couple of people sent me directions and then instructed me on "how to find the trail" from the trail head. We followed the instructions and at first it appeared that we had found the trail and off we went through the canyon, through a few oak groves and across dry creek beds, but then the trail suddenly ended. I had read that the trail went 7 miles in and we had only gone in about 1 mile, so we figured we must have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. We found some fire roads that were very steep, but we had not been out hiking for so long that we were not really in shape to climb those steep hills. We finally just gave up and turned around and headed back to the car. We still got a pretty good workout though.

Linda following me up the trail

A small oak grove

Linda and me

4.5 Mile Hike In Placerita Canyon With My Friend Linda

2011-07-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Took advantage of the marine layer and cool weather to take a 4.5 mile hike through Placerita Canyon with my friend Linda this morning. There was still a little bit of water in some areas of the canyon and even a few wild flowers.

Hike With My Brother - Placerita Canyon

2011-07-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

My brother Keith came to stay with me July 2nd & July 3rd. We got up early this morning to take a hike before it got too hot. We went over to Placerita Canyon and hiked a total of 2 miles. At first we were the only people along the Canyon Trail but then we started passing people who were just starting up the canyon when we were heading back to the Nature Center.

Morning Hike To Towsley Canyon Narrows

2011-06-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

I had not been able to get out on a hike since February 3rd of this year. As most of you know, my husband Ben had complications from a colonoscopy and then had emergency exploratory surgery and ended up in the hospital. He was there for over 3 1/2 months and had to have a second emergency surgery of which he was never able to recover. Sadly he passed away on June 15th and I miss him so much, but I know that he would want me to go on with my life. He knew how much I loved to get out in nature and hike. Today was the first time in 4 months I was able to get out and hike with a couple of friends. My hiking partners were RuthAnne and Linda. We did about 3 miles in Towsley Canyon.

In The Narrows

Tadpoles (Polywogs) in the creek

RuthAnne and Linda along the trail

RuthAnne, Linda & Me

Looking up from The Narrows

Darkling Beetle

On the other side of The Narrows

Towsley Canyon

Hoping To Get Back Out On The Trails Soon

2011-06-18T00:08:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to getting back on the trails. Was not able to hike for over 3 1/2 months due to my husband being in the hospital. He passed away on June 15th. I think getting back on the trails will be good therapy for me. I think my husband would want me to get out into nature again.

Hike To Towsley Narrows With My Friend Linda

2011-02-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

Since I met Linda in person last December (actually knew her online longer), we have been going on hikes together around the Santa Clarita Valley. Linda had not hiked this area before. I had been hiking alone, but it is so much more fun having someone to hike with. So far we have done four hikes and today we went on our fifth. One of my favorite places to hike is The Towsley Canyon Narrows. There are many rock formations and a creek runs through The Narrows during our "wet season". Towsley Canyon also has areas where oily tar seeps up through the ground. The area used to have oil wells many years ago. We did about a 4 mile hike and had a lot of fun.

Entering The Narrows

Me and Linda

Linda snapping photos

Linda "Queen of the mountain"

Seeping Oil

This stuff is thick

Linda and Me

Hike In Vasquez Rocks County Park

2011-01-23T16:07:00.000-08:00

Today my younger brother Keith and I went over to Vasquez Rocks County Park in Agua Dulce, CA and hiked around on the rocks and in the canyons. These rock formations are thrust faults and an ancient tribe of Native Americans once lived in this region. Every time I hike in this location, I see things I didn't see the times before.

Hike To Placerita Falls

2011-01-10T20:14:00.000-08:00

Today, my friend Linda and I took another hike. This time we hiked up to the Placerita Waterfall in the Placerita Canyon of Santa Clarita, CA.
The hike is 1.5 miles in from the trail head. The trail takes you across Placerita Creek (when we have our "wet" months), then goes up a hill into a narrow canyon. At the end of the canyon you find a waterfall that falls about 20 feet. I've heard that if you climb up the face of the cliff that there is another waterfall farther up, but these two "old ladies" didn't want to temp faith (LOL).
All in all, it was a great day.

Linda next to Placerita Creek

The meadow on the way to the falls

Linda and Me in the canyon

The canyon

The falls

Waterfall

Me and Linda next to the falls.

Hike To Whitney Canyon Falls

2011-01-06T16:33:00.000-08:00

Today my friend Linda and I hiked to the Whitney Canyon falls. After the freak snow we had last week, the creek and falls are really flowing. This creek and these falls do not flow year-round. I have been up there when there is water and also when it is bone dry. They hike is only good when the water is flowing.
These falls have about 6 tiers. I had never hiked up to the high level tiers because I was usually by myself and didn't want to risk climbing the rocks and possibly falling and no one being their to help me. Today we got to go up to about the 4th tier and we could see the other tiers higher up.
There was actually still a little snow on the ground at some of the high elevations.
Linda is new to hiking, so she is really enjoying the places I am taking her. She said so far she enjoyed this hike the most.
I took several still photos during this hike and also made a video of the falls.

Linda looking at the left-over snow

Me looking at the snow

Me and Linda at the lowest tier of the falls

Here is the video I shot.

Pico Canyon Hike With My Friend Linda - 12/16/2010

2010-12-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

This morning, my friend Linda and I went for a hike in Pico Canyon in the Santa Clarita Valley of Southern California. I've shared this canyon with you before. It has a lot of history and I see new things every time I hike there.
Linda is new to hiking and she is enjoying the places I am taking her to hike. She loves the outdoors and history, so Pico was a good place to take her as there is a lot of old oil history there.
The morning started out very cloudy and gray. We were afraid we might have some rain, but then the clouds parted and the sun broke through. We hiked approximately 3.5 miles round trip.

Hiking Collage

2010-09-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

I "created" this hiking collage just before my 60th birthday.

Short Hike In Towsley Canyon With My Brother Keith

2010-08-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

Don't care much for summer hiking as it is usually too hot and everything is dry and brown. Like hiking much more in the spring when creeks are flowing, wildflowers are blooming and everything is green.

This morning my brother Keith and I went for a 2 mile hike in in Towsley Canyon.

Keith

Summer Hike In Placerita Canyon - July 22, 2010

2010-07-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

I usually do not go hiking in the summer. First, it is normally way too hot here in SoCal for summer hiking. Then there is the chance of running into rattlesnakes along the trails in the canyons. But this morning we had a very heavy marine layer. It burned off around 7:00 am but it kept the temperatures in the low 70's so I decided to head over to Placerita Canyon Nature Area and go for a short hike. Actually ended up doing about 2.25 miles.
I can add another reason to my list as to why I don't usually hike in the summertime....everything is so dry and brown. The last time I hiked the Placerita Canyon Trail it was still spring. Everything was green, the creek was flowing and the wildflowers were blooming. Today everything was brown, the creek is almost completely dry and there are no flowers.

I did see a lot of lizards, birds and several squirrels. The birds were singing as I walked along the trail. I could also hear the drone of either bee swarms or fly swarms as I walked through the canyon. The flies were eating me alive. There's another reason to not hike in the summer!

I will say that some of the trees were still green, but the grass under them was brown.

I like to take photos of fresh cut tree logs. They always have such pretty colors and markings on them. Sometimes you can almost see "shapes" in them. Is it just me, or do you see the turkey in this one?

After my hike, I went over to the Nature Center to use the bathroom and stopped by to see their Red tailed Hawk (Kia) and their Great Horned Owl (Orion).

Turned out to be a really nice morning.

Hike At Corriganville Park - Simi Valley, CA - June 27, 2010

2010-06-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

My brother Keith and I drove over to Simi Valley to hike at Corriganville Park. This is the site of the old Corriganville Movie Ranch.

http://www.b-westerns.com/corvlle.htm

http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=99

There are a few trails there. We first hiked the Interpretive Trail where they had signs telling about differnt movie filming site. Then we hiked the loop trail up into the rocks.

Here is another link that gives discriptions of some of the points of interest along the Interpritive Trail, plus tells about the other trails in the park.

http://www.rsrpd.org/park/corrignavilleparkandtrail/twocorriganvillebrochures.pdf

My Favorite Hiking Spots

2010-06-19T15:17:00.001-07:00

Pico Canyon

2010-05-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hiked Pico Canyon this morning. It was pretty windy. The sky was very blue. The creek is dry now, the wildflowers are just about all gone and the grasses are turning brown, so that's a sure sign that summer is near. The birds were chirping loudly. Saw a quail and was able to photograph it. There were a lot of butterflies fluttering around too.

Another Hike In Placerita Canyon

2010-05-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

I hike Placerita Canyon a lot. Probably because it is the closest Natural Area to where I live. It is about 4 or 5 miles from our house. I really love to hike Towsley Canyon too. Actually, Towsley Canyon is a prettier area, but it is about 8 miles from us, so I go to Placerita more.

The weather was beautiful this morning. Perfect for a hike. There is still some water in the stream which surprises me because usually by this time of year, the streams here have all dried up. It's nice to still hear the babbling as I hike the trail.

The birds were out this morning and the were singing up a storm. Even heard a few quail off in the distance.

There are still a few wildflowers, but not like there was during the month of March when the hillsides and canyons were covered with so many colorful plants.

Morning Hike In Towsley Canyon

2010-04-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

Headed over to Towsley Canyon again this morning for a hike. Towsley Canyon is a very popular area with the hikers of the Santa Clarita Valley. Today there were more people there than I've ever seen in all of my hikes there. The parking lots were full, but luckily I found a place to park in the "free" parking area. I saw a few birds out and about and could hear a lot of birds chirping and singing during the entire hike. I did about 3.5 miles today.

Most of the wildflowers have come and gone in this canyon, but now the purple thistle is blooming like crazy. They were everywhere!

The water in the creek was down some, even though we just had a little rain storm come through about 2 days ago.
Today I even saw a "guided nature tour" group. I have never seen that in Towsley Canyon before. Usually I only see "guided" tours over in Placerita Canyon. The hills are still very lush and green, but they will soon be turning brown as we head into summer.

Video of Hiking Vasquez Rocks - Spring 2010

2010-04-23T06:45:00.001-07:00

Hike in Mentryville/Pico Canyon

2010-03-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Today my brother Keith and I hiked in the area of Mentryville, CA in Pico Canyon. This is an historic place located near Santa Clarita, CA.

Friends Of Mentryville, CA

We started out by exploring some of the old buildings that are still standing in Mentryville. There is also a lot of old machinery that was used for drilling oil. This area is very rich in oil and the first commercial oil well in California is located here.

We headed up the trail and came upon a "fork" in the trail that looked interesting. We were looking for wildflowers and this "fork" looked like it would be a good place to find them. We headed across lush green grasses and into a beautiful ravine where huge oak trees were growing. A small stream was flowing down below the trail that climbed up the hill into the canyon.

On both sides of the trail, there were beautiful blue lupins. After about a half mile in, we came to the end of the trail, so we turned around and headed back to the "main" trail we had started out on.

This trail followed the small stream up into the main part of the canyon where the old oil fields were. Along the way we came upon an old oil derrick. Farther up the trail we found the first commercial oil well in our state. We also saw many beautiful wildflowers.

We did about a 3 1/2 mile hike and enjoyed every minute of it.

Springtime In Towsley Canyon - 03/26/2009

2010-03-24T09:26:00.001-07:00

Placerita Waterfall Trail - 03/15/2009

2010-03-21T16:05:00.001-07:00

Took this hike with my younger brother.

Video Of Towsley Canyon - Feb. 28, 2009

2010-03-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hiking Vasquez Rocks - 03/13/2010

2010-03-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

What started out to be a Saturday photo-op at Vasquez Rocks County Park turned into a 3-mile hike. I drove up to Vasquez Rocks to look for wildflowers, but once I got there, I decided to start hiking some of the areas in the park that I had never investigated before. Usually when I head up there, I stay mainly around the “famous” rocks, the ones that everyone has seen in the movies and on TV shows, but today, I hiked out behind the “main rock” then headed over to a section of the Pacific Crest Hiking Trail. The Pacific Crest Trail, or PCT, travels from Mexico to Canada through 3 western states, California, Oregon and Washington. Here is a link to information about this trail:

http://www.fs.fed.us/pct/

I had hoped that there would be wildflowers, but the only ones I saw were some little purple ones that blanketed the floors of the canyon and a couple of others that were actually some bushes that were in bloom, one being Bladderpod. There were a lot of people there enjoying the park and even some rock climbers.

All in all, I had a great morning. Spent 2 ½ hours exploring and loving every minute of it.

If you are interested in reading more about Vasquez Rocks County Park, here are some links that you may find interesting:

http://parks.lacounty.gov/Parkinfo.asp?URL=cms1_033383.asp&Title=Vasquez%20%20Rocks%20Natural%20Area%20and%20Center

http://www.santaclaritaguide.com/VasquezRocks.html

http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/la/scandals/vasquez.html

The Narrows Hike - March 11, 2010

2010-03-11T15:42:00.000-08:00

Took another hike in the Towsley Canyon Narrows this morning. The weather was perfect.
I love hiking this area this time of the year. Everything is so green and the stream is still flowing. I love the rock formations here.

I was looking for wildflowers. Found some, but they are all very tiny. I do not know what any of them are, but the are pretty.

Saw several hawks and turkey buzzards. After walking through the Narrows, I climbed a little higher up the trail and found a nice flat walk where I sat for about 20 minutes and just cherished the scenery.

Whitney Canyon Waterfall Trail - Feb. 24, 2009

2010-03-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

Video Of Placerita Canyon - Feb. 19, 2009

2010-03-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

THE NARROWS AT TOWSLEY CANYON - 01/15/09

2010-03-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

I've been on hikes in Towsley Canyon before, but today I decided to explore The Narrows area of the Towsley Loop Trail a little more.

The Narrows is on the "back" side of the loop. I parked up by the ranger station and headed up the hill.

There was a little bit of water running in the creek today.

The Narrows have interesting rock formations and areas that appear to be "caves" but do not go back into the cliffs very far.

After exiting The Narrows, I climbed the path as it went up the mountain, but only went as far as the first major turn where it starts to become very steep. Here I turned around and headed back down the trail, hiking approximately 2 to 3 miles. I had hiked this entire 5 mile loop in 2008, which I consider an accomplishment for me.

Seems like everytime I hike I see more and more "seniors" out enjoying the trails. The folks are in their 60's and 70's and they are staying healthy by hiking

PLACERITA CANYON TRAIL HIKE #2 - 01/07/09

2010-03-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Beautiful morning when I looked out this morning so decided to go on another hike in Placerita Canyon. Again I hiked the Canyon Trail....2 miles in and 2 miles back.

Along the way a nice young man (maybe 40sh) passed me on the trail and spoke to me. Asked me how far it was to the waterfall. I was just below the bubble pot when he came along. I told him about how far it was and that there wasn't any water right now. He went on up the trail and when I got to Walker Ranch he was there looking at the fireplace hearth. He asked me if I knew anything about it so I told him that the cabin down at the center used to be there. He sat on the bench with me and told me that he doesn't work Wednesdays, so that he is trying to get out and hike once a week. He said he'd hiked up around Castaic lake and over on the Piru Creek Trail but had never hiked the Canyon Trail and he was really enjoying it. We talked for about 15 minutes while we rested and then I told him I had to start back down the trail. He seemed like a nice guy.

Then coming down, I came across 4 senior citizens hiking....2 men and 2 women. I'd say they were in their late 60's early 70's. They stopped and talked for a few minutes too. You meet nice people out on the trails.

Golden Valley Open Area - 03/01/2010

2010-03-01T17:45:00.000-08:00

Today I decided I wanted to hike an area I had never hiked before. I drove up into Placerita Canyon to the Golden Valley Open Area, parked the car and started up the trail. This area is very grassy. During our wet season, there a small creeks running all through the grasses.

The area was very muddy due to our past rains, but I continued to trudge up the trail, which kept getting steeper and steeper.

Along the way I saw some early wildflowers and some great views of the area. After about 1/2 mile in, I decided that this trail was way to steep for my liking, so I turned around and headed back for the car. I usually don't give up this easy, but this time, the huffing and puffing really got to me.

I got back into my car and drove 1/2 mile back down the canyon road to the Placerita Canyon Natural Area and walked around there for awhile.
I really want to take advantage of all of these flowing creeks and green grasses while I can because by June all of this will dry out, turn brown and die.

PLACERITA CANYON TRAIL TO WALKER RANCH - 12/28/08

2010-02-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Placerita Canyon Trail is approximately 4 miles round trip if you start at the Placerita Nature Center and turn around and come back.

Along this trail, you follow a meandering creek with tall granite canyon walls.

This is a good hike year-round and perfect for families as it is a very easy trail with only small gains.

There are benches along the trail where you can stop to rest or just sit and take in the sites.

The trail starts at the Nature Center and heads to Walker Ranch where you can also pickup the Waterfall Trail or the Los Pinetos Trail if you want to take a longer hike.

Highlights: Rock formations, Oak Groves, Creek, "White Oil" seeping out of the ground at bubble pot.
Near: Newhall, CA

Distance: 4.0 miles round trip
Hike Time: Approx. 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Condition: Excellent, well maintained trail.
Hike Type: Out and back, or you can leave at the Walker Ranch Trailhead.

Trailhead: Exit SR14 at Placerita Canyon Road. Look for the Placerita Canyon Natural Area (marked by wooden sign). Trailhead is to the right of the building.

PLACERITA CANYON WATERFALL TRAIL - 12/27/08

2010-02-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Waterfall Trail in Placerita Canyon is a short hike, but very pretty.

It's a "one-way" trail that dead-ends at a 25 foot waterfall that runs from November to June in normal rain years. There was not much water there when we went, even though we've had some rain.

My brother and I hiked this trail on a very cold morning.

Highlights: Rock formations, Oak groves, Waterfalls.

Near: Newhall, CA
Distance: 1.5 to 2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 265 ft
Hike Time: Approx. 1.5
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Trail Condition: Good
Hike Type: Out and back

Trailhead: Exit SR14 at Placerita Canyon Road. Look for turnout marked with a wooden sign reading "WALKER RANCH TRAILHEAD".

The video below was taken 3 to 4 months later on another hike to the waterfall.

TOWSLEY CANYON HIKE #3 - 12/10/08

2010-02-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

Once again I went for a hike in the very interesting area of Towsley Canyon. The reason I say this canyon is "interesting" is because it contains rare rock striations, faults and a tar pit! As you walk up the trail, you start to smell oil. There are oil fields deep under this canyon, but as you start to come near the faults and cliffs, you will find a small tar pit where you can see the oil bubbling up to the surface from deep under the earth.

EAST CANYON HIKE - 10/30/08

2010-02-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

East Canyon Trail is a nice wide trail in the Santa Clarita Woodlands area. I hiked the Rice Canyon Trail earlier this month which is in the same natural area.

If you do the entire trail, it is approximately 3.5 miles one way, but my friend Sandi and I only went in maybe 1.5 miles before we turned around and headed back out. This is because this trail is a steady uphill climb and us 2 "old ladies" were starting to get tired!

The trail is actually a fire service road, so it is in very good condition.
You will go through several oak groves during your hike and you will see some great views.

I hear there is a Bigcone Douglas Fir forest if you get all the way to the top. We could see some of them from the lower part of the trail, but never made it to the actual forest.

Highlights: Groves of Oak, California Black Walnut and Bigleaf Maple trees. running creek in the wet seasons, pretty meadows and great views. Plus those Bigcone Douglas Firs if you get to the top.

Near: Newhall, CA
Distance: Approx. 7 miles round trip
Hike Time: Approx. 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail and very well marked.
Hke Type: Out and back

Trailhead: Exit Interstate 5 at Calgrove and proceed south on The Old Road. You will see a small sign on the right indicating the parking area for East/Rice Canyon.

Today's Hike...Whitney Canyon Falls - 02/17/2010

2010-02-17T16:19:00.000-08:00

This morning I hiked up into Whitney Canyon near Newhall, CA to check out the waterfall at the end of the trail. With all of the rain we've had, every stream and every waterfall is flowing in the Santa Clarita Valley. Everything is so green right now. The Oak Groves were filled with the sounds of birds and the babbling of the stream.

WHITNEY CANYON HIKE #2 - 10/23/08

2010-02-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

Took the hike below back in the fall of 2008. I'm planning on going up there on a hike tomorrow (02/17/2010) while Ben is at work. The stream and the waterfall there should be running. Hopefully I'll get some good photos.

Today I took my second hike into Whitney Canyon. It looks very different in the fall than it does in the spring. Everything that was green and lush is now brown and dry. There are no wildflowers The creek that runs along the trail and the waterfall at the end of the trail are bone dry.

The last time I hiked this trail was with my brother Keith. This time I went alone. I took my pedometer this time and if the reading is correct, this is a 2 mile round trip hike. Because I stopped along the way and took pictures, it took me about 1 hour 45 minutes to complete.

Hike To The Towsley Canyon Narrows - 02/13/2010

2010-02-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Ben had to work today, so I decided to head over to Towsley Canyon and hike into the Narrows. The Narrows is a narrow canyon with tall cliffs on both sides. During the wet season, there is a stream running through the canyon. There are a lot of fossilized rocks in the cliffs and some really cool rock formations.

RICE CANYON HIKE - 10/11/08

2010-02-12T09:05:00.000-08:00

Rice Canyon is located in the Santa Clarita Woodlands. It is actually in East Canyon and there are 2 major trails there...the East Canyon Trail and the Rice Canyon Trail.

This trail is an easy, sloping canyon. About the last half miles or so, you start to climb a little, but most of the trail is pretty level. It is a pretty hike and very family friendly.

When you reach the end of the trail, you will be in a meadow high on the ridge of the mountain were you will see great views of the canyon in all directions.

There are many places where you will cross a stream in the "wet seasons". Today when I was there, the steam was dry.

Highlights: Wildflowers in the spring, groves of oak trees, running creek in the wet seasons, pretty meadows and great views.

Near: Newhall, CA
Distance: Approx. 4 miles round trip
Hike Time: Approx. 1 to 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail and very well marked.
Hike Type: Out and back

Trailhead: Exit Interstate 5 at Calgrove and proceed south on The Old Road. You will see a small sign on the right indicating the parking area for East/Rice Canyon.

BILLIE PARK NATURE TRAIL - PARADISE, CA - 10/07/08

2010-02-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

Billie Park is in Paradise, CA. It dates back to 1907 when it was an olive and grape orchard. Many Indian artifacts and dwelling caves were discovered at this site.

This is a "city park" but has a nature trail that leads out to a "look-out point" where you will see beautiful views of Butte Creek Canyon aka The Little Grand Canyon. It is a "short" hike but the views are fantastic.

The trail is a little steep in some areas and tends to slope down the hillside. As it is very shady, which keeps the trail damp and it is covered with leaves, you really need to watch your step so you do not slip. At the end of the trail is a rocky area with a bench where you can sit and enjoy the views.

There is also a trail down to a "grotto" where natural springs flow down a flat faced rock cliff giving the appearance that the water is actually coming out of the rock. There are beautify ferns and another great view of the canyon.

Highlights: Beautiful views of Butte Creek Canyon
Near: Paradise, CA
Distance: Approximately 1 mile round trip to and from "look-out point" and another .5 mile round trip if you take the trail to the grotto.
Hike Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how long you sit and enjoy the view.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trail Condition: Well Maintained Trail
Hike Type: Out and Back

Trailhead: From downtown Paradise, take The Skyway to Billie Road and turn left. Head 1 mile west. Park will be on your right-hand side.

Placerita Canyon - Walker Ranch Trail and Creek - 02/08/2010

2010-02-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

Went for a 2 1/2 mile hike this afternoon over in Placerita Canyon. Hiked up the Walker Ranch Trail along the creek. This creek ONLY runs during our "wet" season which is January through March.

Placerita Canyon has a nature center with birds and reptiles on display and also has many trails to hike.
It is also a great area for birders. Every Saturday, the nature center offers a nature walk and a bird walk.
Everything is turning very green because of the rainstorms we have been having, but by the end of June, beginning of July, the green wall turn to brown.
I'm hoping that all of this rain will make for a good wildflower year so I can get some good photos.

There is also much history in this canyon. It is the actual location of the first gold to ever be found in California, 12 years before the gold find at Sutter's Mill which started the California Gold Rush.

California's First Gold

YAHI TRAIL BIDWELL PARK - CHICO, CA - 10/06/08

2010-02-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

My younger brother and I go to Paradise, CA every year to visit our older brother. This year we were able to go for a couple of hikes. The first hike was on the Yahi Trail in Bidwell Park in Chico, CA.

Bidwell park is a "city park" but it is also a "wilderness park". The lower part of the park is the grassy area with the picnic tables and swimming pool. The upper part of the park is the wilderness area with the hiking trails.

There are approximately a dozen trails in this area of the park. We chose the Yahi Trail because it runs along Big Chico Creek. The trail is about 4 miles to the end. We went in about 2 miles.

As this is also a botanical park, you will see signs along the way pointing out the plant species and also birds and wildlife. We came upon a deer and also a lot of woodpeckers. We also came upon a man fly fishing for salmon.
One great thing about this trail is that there is an outhouse about 2 miles in "just in case you need one".

Highlights: Beautiful views, Big Chico Creek
Near: Chico, CA
Distance: 4 Miles Round Trip
Hike Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trail Condition: Well Maintained Trail
Hike Type: Out and Back

Trailhead: On Wildwood just off of Manzanita. From Highway 99, take E. 8th Street and head east to where E. 8th Street becomes Chico Canyon Road. Bear to the left onto Manzanita. Take Manzanita to Wildwood Avenue and proceed to the dirt parking lot.

PLACERITA CANYON HIKE #1 - 09/11/08

2010-02-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

Botany Trail and Ecology Trail are 2 short trails at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center in Santa Clarita, CA. They are not very long trails, maybe a total of 2 miles round trip. In the winter and spring, there is a creek running alongside the trails and there are a lot of wildflowers, but today, being the end of summer, everything was dry and there were no flowers.

This hike is very nice as it is not very steep. There are a few areas where you climb a little and there are some good spots to stop and check out the surrounding scenery.
It is possible to see Grey Fox, Deer and Squirrels in this area. It’s a great hike for seniors and children as there are several benches in the shade, which make pleasant stopping points.

Highlights: Wildflowers in the spring, groves of oak trees, running creek in the wet seasons.

Near: Newhall, CA
Distance: Approx. 1.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Approx. 100 ft
Hike Time: Approx. 45 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
Hike Type: Loop

Trailhead: Take Interstate 5 north to Highway 14. Exit Placerita Canyon Road. If you are coming from the south, turn right, if you are coming from the north, turn left on Placerita Canyon Road. Turn right into the Placerita Canyon Natural Area (marked by a wooden sign). Park. Trailhead is to the left of the buildings.

WILLIAM S. HART PARK TRAIL - 08/21/08

2010-02-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

William S. Hart Regional Park is located in Newhall, CA. William Hart was a popular cowboy during the silent movie era. In 1921 he purchased a ranch house in Newhall and built a 22 room mansion on top of the hill. This mansion is now the William S. Hart Museum. You can go on a free guided tour on weekends.

Next door to the reginal park is the Santa Clarita Heritage Junction which houses the Saugus Train Station and some other historical buildings from around the Santa Clarita Valley. This is the historic museum for the city of Santa Clarita and is open every weekend.

The trail starts at the bottom of the hill at the parking lot for the park. It winds up the hill to the mansion and if you want to continue, you can go behind the mansion where you again find the trail as it winds through the hills.
This hike took me about 45 minutes to an hour - round-trip. I only walked to the mansion and then headed back down.

Highlights: Views of Santa Clarita Valley, Historic Museums, live buffalo, picnic areas in park.

Near: Newhall, CA
Distance: 1 mile round trip
Hike Time: Approx. 45 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
Hike Type: Out and back

Trailhead: Take State Route 14 to Newhall Avenue (formerly San Fernando Road) and head west. Park will be on your left about 1 mile from the freeway.

WHITNEY CANYON HIKE #1 - 04/20/08

2010-02-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

Discovered another "natural area" in Whitney Canyon closer to our home. The trail here runs along the Whitney Canyon Creek.

My brother Keith was visiting for the weekend, so he and I got up early Sunday morning and headed out for a hike.

The trail starts out in a flatland full of wildflowers (in the springtime). Eventually you come upon a beautiful grove of oaks. You can hear the birds singing and the sound of the babbling creek. We found pools full of polywogs everytime we crossed the creek.
This trail never does get very steep. It stays mostly flat until you get close to the end of the trail. Here you start to run into a rocky area and you start to do a little climbing, but it is well worth it because at the end of the trail is a nice waterfall. It's a nice place to stop had have lunch if you packed one.

Once you start back down the trail, you see a beautiful view of the Santa Clarita Valley from the rocks and before you know it, you are back in the wooded area.

This is a short trail but still worth the hike.

Highlights: Wildflowers in the spring, groves of oak trees, year-round springs, waterfall.

Near: Newhall, CA
Distance: Approx. 1.5 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Approx. 100 ft
Hike Time: Approx. 2 hours for entire hike
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
Hike Type: Out and back

Trailhead: Take Interstate 5 north to Highway 14. Exit San Fernando Road/Newhall Avenue and head towards Park & ride. Turn left at dead-end and park in dirt lot.

FERN DELL PARK - GRIFFITH PARK, CA - 12/11/06

2010-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

Right in the center of the city of Los Angeles is Griffith Park. Within Griffith Park is Fern Dell Park, a beautiful trail that follows a year-round stream up the mountain side.

You can do a short hike (which I did) or you can go all the way to the top where the Griffith Observatory is.

The lower part of the trail is very lush with native as well as non-native plants. Once you've gone past the main area of the park, the trail starts to climb and is very steep in some places.

When on the lower part of the trail, it's hard to believe that you are in the city.
If you take the upper trail, you will see spectacular views of the city and if it's a really clear day, you can see all the way to Long Beach and Catalina Island.

Highlights: Beautiful views of Los Angeles and beyond. Views of the Griffith Observatory. Ferns and other tropical plants.

Near: Hollywood, CA/Glendale, CA
Distance: Lower trail is about 1 mile one-way.
Hike Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how long you sit and enjoy the view.
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Condition: Well Maintained Trail
Hike Type: Out and Back

Trailhead: From Interstate 5, head west on Los Feliz. Turn north on Fern Dell Drive.

TOWSLEY CANYON HIKE #2 - 04/10/08

2010-01-30T14:26:00.000-08:00

After my first hike in Towsley Canyon, I started looking for a hiking partner. I found out that a woman I used to work with, who is also retired, enjoyed hiking, so I contacted Sandi and asked if she would like to go hiking with me.

On April 10, 2008, we headed over to Towsley Canyon and started our 5.1 mile hike on the loop trail. We started out in a slightly wooded area and then came upon what is referred to as "The Narrows".

While in this deep narrow canyon, you can see fault formations and there is a small creek running along the canyon floor, which you cross back and forth a few times.

Once you are out of "The Narrows", you start the climb up the loop trail. It "snakes" along the sides of the mountain topping out at an elevation of approxmately 2200 feet. The views from this point are spectacular.

Next you start your descent down the mountain where you encounter steambeds and small tar pits bubbling up out of the ground. The trail then passes through a grove of oak trees and there is a small babbling creek running along side. The trail eventually brings you back out to the parking area.

While on the trail, you may encounter some turkey buzzards. We did! Plus there are a lot of lizards and watch out for snakes. Thank God we didn't run across any! It was springtime when we took this hike, so there were several species of wildflowers.

See Towsley Canyon Hike #1 for highlights and details on this hike.

TOWSLEY CANYON HIKE #1 - 03/31/08

2010-01-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

This was my very first hike after I retired. Even though I retired in 2006, I did not realize for 2 years that there were all of these wonderful hiking trails and nature areas in the Santa Clarita Valley where I live. I had been going for walks on all of the bike trails in the city limits here, then one day while I was surfing the Web, I came across a site that told all about these nature areas and I was thrilled!

My first hike in Towsley Canyon was a "short" one. I went there by myself to check the area out. The wildflowers were blooming and everything was very green.

Since I had never been there before, I had no idea where the trails were or where they lead. I came upon a sign that read "Towsley View Loop 5.1 Miles". I decided I'd head up this trail a little ways and see where it took me.

The first part of the trail was in an open field, but eventually I came to a grove of oak trees where a small creek ran. The sound of the babbling water and the birds was very relaxing.
After going in about 1/2 mile or so, I decided to head back and take a side trail that I had seen along the way as it lead to a hillside of California Poppies and Blue Lupins. I wanted to take some photos.
This side trail took me through tall green grasses and up the side of a mountain.

The trail kept getting thinner and I felt as though I would fall off the side of it, so I finally turned and headed back for the main trail where I decided to start back to the parking lot and drive home.

My actual hike on this day was only about 1 mile to 1.5 miles as I went late in the afternoon and had not really planned for a long hike.

Highlights: Spectacular Geological formations, Rugged Mountain Views, Tar Pits, Plant Variety

Near: Newhall, CA
Distance: 5.1 miles round trip (if you do the entire loop)
Elevation Gain: 1671 ft (if you do the entire loop)
Hike Time: Approx. 3.5 hours for entire loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
Hike Type: Loop

Trailhead: Take the Calgrove exit from the Golden State Freeway (Interstate 5). Turn west back under the freeway and take the Old Road south to Ed Davis Park at Towsley Canyon. Drive 0.6 miles west on the graded entrance road to reach the picnic area and nature center. Park your car in the dirt lot to the right and the proceed up the graded road towards the floodplain of Towsley Canyon

LATEST HIKE - 01/28/2010

2010-01-28T19:43:00.000-08:00

I'll start off with my latest hike which was this afternoon.
I hiked the Waterfall Trail in Placerita Canyon. Placerita Canyon is in the Santa Clarita Valley of Southern California. There is a nature center there and many fun trails to hike.
During our "wet" months (January and February), there is a waterfall and a nice stream running through the canyon. We just had a 7-day rain storm last week, so there is plenty of water up there right now.
Here is a map of the Placerita Park/Nature Center. You can click on any of the photos to see a larger version of them.

The Waterfall Trail takes you on a 1.2 mile round trip through a green field where old oak groves grow. You start to climb up the hill and into the deep, narrow canyon. The trail dead-ends at the waterfall, which drops about 12 feet.
Sometimes you will see Acorn Woodpeckers in the trees, or you may even see some squirrels or deer along the way.

INTRODUCTION

2010-01-28T11:26:00.000-08:00

I live in The Santa Clarita Valley in southern California.

There are several hiking trails and nature areas around our valley. In the summer, it is too hot to go hiking, but during the winter, spring and fall, the weather is perfect. Several of the trails follow wet-weather creeks and end at waterfalls. Several of them have oak groves and grassy fields. In the springtime, there are wildflowers all over the trails. A few of the trails even have "tar-pits" where oil bubbles up out of the ground to the surface.
I am an amateur photographer, so I combine my love of hiking and taking photos.
I am 60 years old and enjoyed hiking when I was a teen. After I started working, I stopped hiking for many years, until I retired. Now I try to get out when the weather permits. I usually hike alone. I used to have a friend who would hike with me, but she hurt her back and cannot hike now. My brother hikes with me when he comes to visit. If I could find a group of seniors that hike in my area, I might join them.
In this blog, I will share some of my photos with you and I will share information about the areas I hike.
I will start with my latest hike, but I will also tell you about past hikes I've been on.
I hope you will enjoy this blog and will follow it.