Community Hiking Club Schedule

Saturday, December 7-East Canyon to Mission Peak

This is a great hike to the top of East Canyon, and beyond to Mission Peak. The trail is actually a dirt road, which is currently in use by the SCE. You will follow this up approximately 3 miles before taking a traverse to the left which will lead you up to Mission Peak. This hike offers spectacular view of the surrounding canyons, Santa Clarita, and from Mission Peak, if you’re lucky, you may even be able to see the ocean!  This hike is approximately 8 miles with 800 ft of gain.

Meet at the MRCA green trail head gate at East Canyon at 8:00 AM for an 8:15 departure. Dress in layers as it can get colder and windier on the ridge and up on Mission Peak.

Bring: Water, snacks, lunch. Poles are helpful too.

Rated: Moderate

Leader: Steve

Saturday, December 14-Devil’s Punchbowl to Devil’s Chair

This 7 mile round trip hike includes some altitude and a mild climb. It is one of the most scenic hikes in our area. The Devil’s Punch Bowl itself is a gorgeous site with the protruding rocks and sheer rock faces. We travel through Devil’s Punchbowl, and go onto Pleasant View Ridge which is opposite Cooper Canyon that we have hiked many times from the La Canada area. Bring a snack, lunch, lots of water and poles if you have them. Meet at Towsley Canyon at 7:45 for an 8:00 AM carpool departure to the trail head. If you wish to meet us at the trail head, we should be there between 9:00 and 9:15. The address of Devil’s Punch Bowl is 28000 Devil’s Punchbowl Rd., Pearblossom Ca. 93553

Directions to Trail head: Take the SR-14 North to the Angeles Forest Hwy exit, Exit 30., and go towards Pear Blossom Highway. Keep left to take the ramp toward Pearblossom Hwy/Littlerock/Victorville. Merge onto Sierra Hwy. Stay straight to go onto Pearblossom Hwy. Turn right onto Pearblossom Hwy/CA-138. Turn right onto 87^th St E. Take the 2^nd left onto Fort Tejon Rd. Turn right onto Longview Rd. Turn left onto Tumbleweed Rd. Turn slight right onto Devil’s Punchbowl Road. 28000 Devil’s PunchBowl Road is at the end of the road. Park. We will meet in the parking lot near the porta potty.

Rated: Moderate (plus altitude)

Leader: Richard

Sunday-December 15-Foot Fitness Workshop

Saturday, December 21-Easy Hike from Placerita to Walker Ranch

This easy, EASY hike is 5 miles RT on a mostly flat trail. There are a few small hills, but they are short and not too high. You will have a pleasant walk through the riparian area along Placerita Creek. Dave will have you back by noon, so you can join in the festivities of the Community Hiking Club Pot Luck Christmas Party if you’d like!

Meet at Placerita Nature Center at 9:45 for a 10:00 departure down the trail. This is a good hike for beginners and will also stimulate your appetite for the Pot Luck!

Rated: Easy

Leader: Dave

Saturday, December 21-COMMUNITY HIKING CLUB POT LUCK CHRISTMAS PARTY-Everyone is invited! Bring your significant other, the kids, and a dish for everyone to share….bring sides, salads, desserts, and main courses and your own drinks. Your dish should serve 10. We will have some hamburgers and hot dogs on the Barbie! We will be in the picnic area at Placerita Nature Center, just across the bridge. The party is from 12:00 NOON to 2:00. No alcoholic drinks are allowed in the park.

Saturday, December 28-Golden Valley Ranch/Canyon Country

Historical Hike

This hike starts at the parking lot of the Golden Valley Ranch Open Space (http://hikesantaclarita.com/where-to-go/golden-valley-ranch/), approximately 2 miles east of the entrance to Placerita Canyon Nature Center. We’ll meet at 8:15 AM for an 8:30AM departure.

Part 1 of the hike is a relatively moderate walk up a fire road where we will encounter the trail that leads to the top of Horse Peak, the highest point in the City of Santa Clarita at an elevation of 2,391 ft.  The trail is a little overgrown with brush so long pants and shirts are recommended. It’s about a 500’ elevation gain over 2 miles. Along the way we’ll discuss the history of the land, including stories about the pioneer Walker, Nadeau, and Mitchell families. Beginning hikers can then retrace their steps back down to the parking lot.

Part 2 of the hike will be a more advanced scramble along ridges with some steep drop offs to a peak with a marvelous 360 degree view of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Part 1 is about a 3-mile round trip, doing both parts 1 & 2 is about 5 miles and will take about 4 hours to complete.

Rain will definitely cancel this hike because the parking lots, roads, and trails get too muddy and slippery.

Hike Leader: Ron

Rated Easy for Part 1, Moderate for Part 2.

Sunday,December 29-Easy stroll from Placerita to Walker Ranch

For those of you who may have missed this hike earlier this month, this easy, EASY hike is 5 miles RT on a mostly flat trail. Sylvia invites you to stroll the canyon with her, and enjoy the flora and fauna you can always find along the way. There are a few small hills, but they are short and not too high. You will have a pleasant walk through the riparian area along Placerita Creek.

Meet at Placerita Nature Center at 8:00 for an 8:15 departure down the trail. This is a good hike for beginners and will also stimulate your appetite for the Pot Luck!

Rated: Easy

Leader: Sylvia

Wednesday, January 1-Los Pinetos to Wilson Saddle

Join us for our annual New Year’s Day hike! Today we’ll meet at the Walker Ranch Trail head and take the Los Pinetos Trail up to 3N17, then follow it all the way to Wilson Saddle. Total Mileage is 6 1/2 miles with about 800 ft gain.

Bring snacks, lunch, lots of water and wear boots with good tread. If you have poles, they will be helpful going up Los Pinetos.

Bring your camera too….there will be ample opportunity for some nice shots!

Meet at Walker Ranch Trail head (by the road) at 10:00.

Directions to Walker Ranch Trailhead: From the I-5 freeway, take the SR-14 North to Placerita Canyon Road. Exit. Turn right. Go about 4 miles into the Canyon. You will see the Walker Ranch Trail head on your right side. There will be a large wooden sign.

Rated: Moderate due to gain

Leader: Steve