Sucks that you have to park a mile and a half down the road because the closed gate, so don't…read moreforget to include that round-trip mileage when you're looking into the trail distance. The trail isn't my favorite, but it's well kept, and you will definitely EARN your reward of the lookout at the Summit! This is one of the few fire lookouts that is still actively demanded, and if they are there, you can go inside and look around and speak to them. Luckily, when we were there, we went up on top of the lookout and a California condo door came in circled us from about 30 yards away for about five minutes and that was just an amazing experience! So yes, go get your hike on and even though there is a Condor sanctuary nearby (not open to the public), you most likely will not actually see a condor, but your chances are higher than most places!

Close to LA. Just off the freeway. Have a $35 Adventure Pass for parking, better yet have a $80…read moreAnnual Pass that covers all federal lands, NP's etc. Long approach hike on paved road, then a long climb up. Then, when you get to the Look Out?, you turn around & do it all in reverse. If you want a good work out?, this is it. Bring lots of water. Since the hike is in then out, you can stash water on the way up to retrieve on the way down. Great views. Interesting historic lookout. It's worth doing once, so every time you drive by it on the 5 with someone, you can nonchalant say, yeah I hiked up there. But if you really want bragging rights for "summits you can see from the 5," go summit Cobblestone Mountain, which is in full view from the 5, brutal hike to the top. Just do it. But Slide Mountain is worth doing.

The Chumash trail is a 2.6 mile hike, one way, that extends from trailhead at Flanagan to rocky…read morepeak located in the NE part of Simi valley. This hike is classified as challenging. This trail is well used by hikers, runners and mountain bikers. Trail provides beautiful vistas of Simi valley and beautiful sights of rock formations. Plenty of parking at trail among residential neighborhood.

Great trail that's nicely maintained for hikers and mountain bikers. Beware of the many…read morerattlesnakes and coyotes around and keep your dogs on leash. There are no restrooms or trash cans on the trail so please pack it out. The trail is a steady incline with minimal shade so start early on the hot days and bring plenty of water. Parking is available all along the residential streets leading up to the trail.

The hike to Fish Canyon Narrows, named the #1 Intense Hike by Los Angeles Magazine, blew my mind…read more Accompanying two twenty-something botanists on a native plant field survey, I knew nothing about this trail prior to our trip. I wasn't prepared for the stunning beauty and challenging hiking conditions in early June 2023. An incredible adventure but not for the faint of heart! Parking: Follow Templin Highway to the east to a locked gate. You will be in the Angeles National Forest; an Adventure Pass is required to park in this location. The Trail: It's probably best to go with someone who's been here before (I was lucky in this regard.) Otherwise, make sure you map out directions ahead of time because there are virtually no trail signs to guide you. It's not too steep; the challenge is more finding the trail and the unique condition it's in at the moment. Due to the recent winter and spring storms, much of the trail is in shambles, with fallen trees and landslides and debris in your path. Then, there are the river crossings (or creek crossings, in less rainy years.) This can be treacherous; the water was at least shin-high in some places, not to mention the slippery algae, the rapid current, and obstacles under the water. We ended our hike after dark; a flashlight and/or headlamp highly recommended. Safety: There is no cell phone service in this location. A personal safety beacon is highly recommended, plus letting folks know where you are going and when you are expected to return. Take a first aid kit, enough water, food, and everything needed for a wilderness expedition. Wildlife: Bear have been reported here. Snakes are around; one of my hiking companions spotted a non-venemous snake in the dark and actually picked it up. I would *not* recommend touching any wildlife unless you are a trained biologist! Be alert. Scenery: The narrows are spectacular. There are springs, ferns, flowers, and the high canyon walls above you once you arrive at the canyon. This is one of the most beautiful destination hikes in Southern California and I feel lucky to have been able to visit. Free admission (but again, parking requires an Adventure Pass.) Highly recommended but be prepared!

OUR PATH: Go LEFT twice at the first and second forks-in-the-road…read more This trail allowed us to walk as far and as long as we wanted. Ryan, Duke (great hike for a dog) and I trekked four hours through the canyon and up the mountains. This is a desolate trail, which is what we enjoy. We only passed a group of three other hikers. Along the was we crossed creeks, brushed through a forrest-like area and climbed (I really mean "walked") up a mountain with a moderate incline. It was a nice cool day in January, and the trail offered several shady areas. The next time we go, we'll go RIGHT at the first fork to explore the trail near the lake.

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

LOLLYPOP, LOLLYPOP, OOH LOLLY, LOLLY, LOLLY LOLLYPOP!!!!…read more BACKGROUND: Amid the arid-looking mountains north of Castaic Lake, Castaic Creek flows the better part of the year through a sinuous gorge flanked by picturesque sandstone outcrops. The creek is perfect for wading - shallow, slow-moving, and warmed by the sun. Fish Canyon Narrows: In the trench-like confines of middle Fish Canyon, aridity and moisture stand side by side, separated by a matter of a few yards. Mountain mahogany, manzanita and other drought-resistant shrubs cling to the walls, while a shallow stream gurgles merrily past a line of oaks, sycamores, willows, and cottonwoods. It is almost as if a little slice of the Pacific Northwest was transplanted to Southern California. STATS: Distance: 8 miles Elevation Gain: less than 1000ft ESSENTIALS: At least 2 liters of water Know your limits Comfy hiking shoes with good lugs Layered Clothing High protein food/snacks Electrolytes Camera Hat (optional) Sunscreen Trek poles (optional) OUR ROUTE: From the parking area me and The Crew headed down an asphalt road which took us to the first canyon. In this first canyon there is a trail in some portions and not so much in other parts. There were a few spots of some minor boulder hopping and very short climbs. If there is any water it could be avoidable. At the end of this canyon is where we encountered overgrown trails, as well as no trail at all as we started our ascent to the loop trail. This section is less than an 1/8 of a mile and brought us to the middle portion of the route. The area does not get much use which can make the trail overgrown and difficult to find in some areas. In this area we had a rather continuous climb as we headed over to Wind Caves. The next portion was where it got interesting. A short portion of bushwhacking and an interesting canyon down climb got us back down and completed our looped route. The scenery is amid arid-looking mountains north of Castaic Lake, Castaic Creek flows the better part of the year through a sinuous gorge flanked by picturesque sandstone outcrops. The creek is perfect for wading - shallow, slow-moving, and warmed by the sun. Fish Canyon Narrows: In the trench-like confines of middle Fish Canyon, aridity and moisture stand side by side, separated by a matter of a few yards. Mountain mahogany, manzanita and other drought-resistant shrubs cling to the walls, while a shallow stream gurgles merrily past a line of oaks, sycamores, willows, and cottonwoods. It is almost as if a little slice of the Pacific Northwest was transplanted to Southern California. DISCLAIMER: Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up. Review 80 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015

Haskell Canyon is a nice hiking spot in the city of Santa Clarita. It is in Saugus and away from…read morethe downtown of Newhall. The trail has a few different paths to take with one being easy and the other providing more of a strenuous hike. You will be able to get great views of the Santa Clarita Valley once you reach the top. No shade on this trail so prepare wisely.

This place is pretty straight forward. This is a hiking trail and mountain biking trail. There are…read morelike 3 different ways to 4 to 5 different ways to get into and out of the trail. Just an FYI, if you go in through the main entrance and decide to take the path around to another exit be warned that there are some pretty steep hills to go down near the end. And I did see a mattress and a used condom lying a round by one of the exits of the trail but hey.. sometimes the moment just can't wait right?? The answer is yes... it can wait... don't have sex on a dirty, disgusting mattress next to a hiking trail. That's weird and gross. This was cleaned up within weeks btw.. Also.. watch out mountain bikers!! They come down the hill at a very high rate of speed and might not be able to avoid you in time if you are walking/running around a corner. If you are a walker while texting just be sure to stay alert! There is also a good sized staircase a few hundred yards inside the entrance which is nice to use for workouts as well. Also watch out for snakes, they are common here. This place is quiet on weekdays but a bit busier on weekends. It's peaceful and I love coming here to Meditate a few times a week. I like it. It's a hike trail, how could it get anything but a 5 star??

My wife's favorite local hike. Hilly and can be slippery in some spots, but otherwise wide pa th…read more Nice views. Mile markers every quarter mile, bike tool station at fork to Butterfly trail. Nice rock formations ie Turtle rock and oven mitt rock.

One of my favorite short little hikes in the area. And if you seek a longer hike, this hike…read moreconnects to other routes. If you want a hike that goes straight up gradually with great views along the way then this is your hike. At sunset it offers great views of Simi valley and at sunrise you can see great views of LA county. Plus you get see cool rock formations and some caves a long the way. The hike does get busy on the weekends. It is a well traveled hike. The parking lot at trailhead is small but across the highway there is a larger parking lot. Just be very careful crossing the roads to the trailhead: the crossing are very dangerous with fast traffic.

There were so many native plants even though most things were dead this time of year. I got to see…read morewhite sage, purple sage, deerweed, black walnut, coastal live oak, buffalo gourd and a few other plants. Sadly there was some nonnative and a ton of invasive weeds such as the caster plant that castor oil is made from. Apparently the fruits of that plant are VERY toxic and can kill a human so I wish those plants were removed. Parking is very ample and it appears to be a hidden gem in some ways. I went on a recent Sunday morning and really enjoyed it.

Perfect day for a short hike/walk. With recent rains Happy Camp was extremely green and so fresh. A…read moregood hike for those with young children. We have two toddlers and we didn't finish, but had a wonderful time exploring. We even saw a few poppies! Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills in Moorpark, the views on the trail are breathtaking. A good fall, winter and spring hike. Not the most challenging, but great for a quick walk. We saw a few people on horseback, and only passed a handful of other hikers. I love an uncrowded trail Free parking and easy to get to. Not challenging or long but great views and fun. Looking forward to bringing the pup and kids again!

This is a very special hike. Just over 6 miles to complete this hike. You start this hike at last…read morellajas then you turn off the trail and go uphill. The turn off point is not marked so best to go with a knowledge person. Your reward on this hike is to see the remains of machinery from when this area was mined. Plus you'll see really cool fossils of shells. Who would know that you would see this in Simi Valley. Lastly there is amazing views from this trail. In a clear day you might be able to see the ocean. This hike is totally worth the climb!

I was just coming out of Covid and chose this as it's a simpler trail, but I must say that I truly…read moreenjoyed this hike much more than anticipated. The 'mine' is NOT what you have pictured in your head; It's an old Limestone strip mine (1929-35), so there's no mine to spelunk, there is a cool backhoe that makes a great subject to capture with the stunning views. The trailhead starts off simply in a fire road, stay left or right, because trucks, towing horse trailers, and a lot of bikes come by. Well this part of the trail is also very nice, it's not until you get on the actual trail that you start gaining good elevation and her horizon from every angle is spectacular. Now, don't miss the turn for the trail; if you hit the 2 mile marker on the fire road, then you will have to turn around and go back, keep all trails open to make sure you had the right way. Extremely maintained trail, easy parking and an excellent trail that you can take other trailsfor as long as your legs will last.