It's always a fun drive down Sierra Hwy between the hills towards Newhall, but if you've got the…read moretime, turn into Needham Ranch Pkwy. This entire portion has been transformed over the years into the Gate-King Industrial Park. Tucked within these new building are trails for hikers and bikers to explore with benches along the way and even a Little Free Library set up. From Pine St, walk alongside the Amazon warehouse on a paved path which will lead down a switchback. Pine St continues down this path, and on this particular day we went off toward Railroad Mtwy in which we crisscrossed past the railroad tunnel and up the mountain range. Most of the trail is shaded with plenty of trees, most of which are easy with a few exceptions of steep inclines. In the late afternoons, the peak provides a wide view of the horizon to watch the sunset. If you're lucky to line up with the schedule of the train passing by, you can walk directly above the tunnel. Watch your step and go slow. A thrilling experience waiting with bated breath and hearing the rumbling sounds echo louder as the train approaches.

This was a great day for hiking (mid-week, under 70 degrees F.). The hills were still green from…read morethe very wet winter. In a few weeks, the foxtails will be a huge problem if you hike with your dog, but they weren't falling yet. The trail was well maintained except for certain areas where motorized vehicles (motorcycles) have caused damage to the trail and where some of the trail was impacted by heavy water flow. There weren't any areas that were impassable.

Plum Canyon Fire Road offers a great hike and a wonderful place to see many local native plants. I…read morecame in search of an endangered species (which I found, luckily) and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Plum Canyon may have been named in reference to the many Holly-leaved Cherry plants in the bottom of the canyon (Prunus ilicifolia) whose fruit was ripe and edible on my hike. Parking is free (I parked on the east end of the road). Bring water, sunscreen and a camera/phone. The hike itself was moderately strenuous, with some uphill climbs, but nothing too steep. Look out for mountain bikers speeding downhill and enjoy.

There are a couple of different ways to enter this trail. Coming from Plum Canyon Rd enter into the…read morenew housing development by taking a right on La Madrid Dr. Park your car at the end of the road and walk the rest of the way. You will just have to figure out the best way to navigate through the barriers. The other option is crossing the street where Whites Canyon meets Plum Canyon near the new Fire Station. The most interesting thing about Plum Canyon Fire Road is the numerous stacked stone piles that seem to be everywhere. I recently learned that they are called cairns. They can be used as memorials or a landmarks. In this case I think people just made them to have some fun. If your goal is to reach Cruzan Mesa, AKA Mystery Mesa, then be sure to make a left when you come to a junction. If you start to head downhill on Plum Canyon Fire Rd then you've gone too far. Make your way up the nearest hill and walk along the ridgeline until you see it. The entire property is enclosed by a fence.

What another beautiful and HUUUUUGE park in the SCV! Something for everyone here. Lots of great…read morehiking trails in the adjacent hills, many soccer fields, baseball/softball diamonds, basketball courts, Disc Golf, Community Gardens, TWO dog parks(small and large pups welcome to their own space) and for avid stairclimbers, who enjoy (???) walking actual stairs, a DEDICATED exercise staircase. The staircase was the first feature I noticed the first time I passed by at night. I could see something in the distance that resembled the Mulholland aqueduct cascading down the Newhall Pass near my home. So on this beautiful Wednesday evening, we headed to Central Park to "investigate" the lights at the back of the park. How cool! We arrived just as the late afternoon sun was descending o're the horizon and the clouds were moving from white to pink, to grey, to pink, to peach, to orange. Gorgeous! Perfect timing to see the beginning of the "River of Lights" that caught my eye. A beautiful array of 214 programmable lights that seem to "flow" in ever changing colors from the flag pole at the top of the exercise staircase down, down, down the 172 steps and into a main plaza, lined with benches and trees, to encircle a lovely 2025 art installation entitled "When Cloud Met A Cloud" by Sujin Lim. The overall effect is rain falling, cascading down and evaporating into the clouds to cycle again. It's so pretty! Along the plaza are educational displays from the SCV water Agency, highlighting the importance water has in our lives. It does INDEED resemble what we in the SFV see on the "other side" of these hills, as the aqueduct flows into our valley. I may not attempt this staircase walk anytime soon, but we did enjoy walking the forged trail around the park and seeing all the people - and lots of free parking! - utilizing this space. Signs are posted to remind you to watch for rattlesnakes, so hike with care. Cheers! "CC"

We finally got around to checking out Jingle Fest! It's a one day event that's been held at…read moreCentral Park for the past 4 years. Lots of vendors selling specialty foods, handcrafted items, clothing and decor. There's a live band, bar (Newhall Refinery) and food trucks. Kids can visit with Santa for $8, with pics taken with your own phone. Overall a really nice park event. Free admission, pets allowed and lots of parking.

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.

A wonderfully simple, yet impressive trail that's somewhere between easy and moderate difficulty…read more Going from the Old Road, parking is free on the unpaved dirt area between the trail and the road. East Canyon and Towsley Canyon by comparison get more traffic during the week. It's easy to miss the trailhead if you're zooming down the Old Road, so best keep your eyes peeled. Along the path, the hike switches between roads ruggedly paved to those with loose dirt and from steady incline to pretty dang steep. My hiking compadres and I usually take a specific route which is roughly 2 miles one way. Ancient seashells are newly uncovered every time it rains, and during the evenings you can hear an army of frogs croaking away over the lower areas. At the top of the trail are a few points of interest worth checking out, such as the American flag and the pile of rocks in the form of the peace symbol. An evening trek downhill gives an amazing view of the Old Road, and being far enough from the freeway makes it a rather peaceful one to boot.

Las Lomas was suppose to be developer Dan Palmer's 555-acre, 5,800-home, mini-city suburb of the…read morefuture. Thankfully, that plan was eventually blocked by the city who ended up purchasing 540-acres, converting it into open space for us all to enjoy. It also happens to be also another piece of the city's green ring puzzle and a critical wildlife corridor. Having hiked it twice already I have to say that it has become my newest favorite local hike. There are two entrances; the northern entrance which takes you to the 1-mile Cabin Trail and the southern entrance which takes you to the 1-mile McHaddad Trail (named after the former property owner). Both of the trails meet in the middle creating a 4-mile, there-and-back, hike. I recommend starting at the southern entrance. The northern entrance can be a little tricky if you haven't looked at a map. You may be tempted to take a left at the fork which will takes you 0.5-miles up Peach Mountainway where you will eventually encounter a no trespassing sign. Instead, you should veer right to continue along Cabin Trail. Both trails start along a old cement road that later transitions to a dirt road. McHaddad Trail has more of an initial steep incline and also has a better overall view once you reach the ridgeline. You can take in views of the intersecting I-5/SR-14 freeways at the Newhall Pass. There are also great views of the Santa Susana Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains. My favorite part of the hike was the thousands of unique and interesting looking oak trees located throughout the hillsides. Some of them appear as if they are about to topple over from soil erosion. It was also interesting to randomly encounter recent ruins such as foundations of former structures and even what looks like an old abandoned dog kennel. I think the main downsides are that it is obviously not a loop trail so you'll have to backtrack along an already traveled path. The freeway and the nearby gun club can also be a little loud depending of where you are along the route.

I came to Summit Park just to get a walk in while my son and his friends were at Six Flags. When I…read morefirst pulled up, I wasn't even sure there were walking paths! The parking lot is small, and you really can't see what's behind the headquarters building. All I could see were tennis courts. ‍ I'm SO glad I eventually got out of the car and explored because this place is MASSIVE! There are quite a few different directions you can go. The main area, where the playground is located, has a beautiful circular walking path surrounded by lush green grass and trees. Since I was there in the early evening, there were quite a few shady spots along the way. But if you continue walking toward the back...WOW! It opens up into what feels like a vast desert landscape, with several different paths to explore. One of them even has a pretty steep hill! This area also serves as the backdrop to some absolutely beautiful homes. And the best part? It was SO quiet, peaceful and serene. Just the rain, the trees and the sound of nature. I came looking for a place to walk and accidentally found a little hidden gem. Definitely adding Summit Park to my list of places to return to!

Summit Park is a nice outdoor space that's managed by the property that it surrounds, so you'll…read morefind unusual things such as homes and townhomes that back up onto the park and an unusually clean and well managed grounds. There are numerous trails, plus sports courts for both tennis, basketball and pickleball. The space felt safe and has a community center type building that centers it. There were lots of families walking their dogs and playing catch and couples lounging on the grass area. Overall, it's a great community space with one note...there are no restrooms located in the park and the closest facilities will be located across the street at the Whole Foods, so use your judgement wisely.

There are several hiking trails once you exit off the 14 North and turn right onto Placerita Canyon…read moreRd. Large signs will indicate the trailhead and parking area. East Walker Ranch is one such trail. Starting with an incline, the path leads to a couple of water capture structures for local animals to drink from. Every time I hike to this particular spot, I take some time to pause and admire the amazing views especially if timed with the sun setting. Depending on the season and the amount of rain, tall grassy areas will either be a lush green or a golden blaze. Path leads further up where portions tend to be overgrown but still visible. Because of this, I don't recommend wearing shorts or pants with fabric susceptible to stickers. From here, a loop can be taken, where tall trees provide respite from sun exposure. This past visit, our group found a makeshift rope swing that someone left. A few steps away there was a colony of red velvet ants. Further ahead still, we passed by mountain bikers on their way down the hill. Pretty sure their bike tires now have traces of natural red velvet flavoring.

Beautiful loop trail 3.4 miles total. The trail is begginer-moderate. You do have to go through two…read moreshort tunnels (underpasses) which were definitely a highlight for me. The trail is well marked and easily accessible from the parking lot. The trail is only shaded in a couple of spots which are great rest spots or for snack break. Not to many wildflowers since we have not gotten enough rain for a bloom. Creek beds were completely dry.

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