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

"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

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.

A suburban nature park located in Stevenson Ranch, CA, this is one of the best places to take a…read morewalk and get your exercise in. One of the highlights of this park is what is known as the Pico Canyon stairs, a staircase that is about three flights that will challenge your fitness. It goes from the park up to a residential street and is used by those that want to get their cardio workout in. What is also amazing about the park us that, you'll also encounter deer in the remote part of the park. It's definitely a place to check out.

Nice county park with bathroom facilities although they had soap but no running water in the sink…read moreor water fountain. Spotted three deer under the huge tree.

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.

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.

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.

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.