Hiking the Haskell Canyon Open Space in Santa Clarita, California
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The Haskell Canyon Open Space is one of the best hiking areas in Santa Clarita. A small network of trails snakes through hills, canyons, and dry arroyos. The views are great, and the hikes are challenging.
Haskell is a popular spot for hikers and runners- great for anyone looking for outdoor seclusion, while staying near the city. Haskell Canyon Open Space is one of my favorite places to go hiking in Santa Clarita, if only because it’s a short walk from my front door.
But first…
Nostalgia
Long before the Haskell Canyon Open Space became established as such, it was the stomping grounds of bored teenagers. It was where they pushed second-hand Toyotas to their limits on the rutted trails, snuck cigarettes, and jumped bikes on makeshift wooden ramps. Hills and chapparal closed off the suburbs for a few hours, where some could find time to think and be alone.
Basically, I like to remember my adolescence as if it was a Smashing Pumpkins Music Video.
Haskell Canyon became the place where I grew my love for the outdoors. When I wasn’t on the annual Family Vacation to Yosemite, Haskell’s canyons were a fair compromise. I spent a lot of time here hiking, thinking, and walking my dog.
All those kids grew up, and moved on. But some keep coming back.
I wax more longingly about public lands and innocence of youth and yadayadayada in my description of the Texas Canyon Rock Climbing Area, located just up the road. I’ll try to stick to the brass tax in this one.
Related: The 9 Best Hiking Trails in Santa Clarita
Haskell Canyon Trail Stats
Difficulty: Easy to Moderately Strenuous, depending on the trail.
Time to Hike: 1-3 Hours
Dogs Allowed?: Heck Yes. Just pick up after them, please.
Bikes?: Yep! Single Track Mountain Biking, and some Makeshift ramps abound
Fees?: Nope. Haskell Canyon Open Space is Free!
On a Scale of 1-10, is there an Archery Range?: You Betcha!
Motorized Vehicles Allowed?: Nope. This means no ATVs, Dirtbikes, Trucks, Jeeps, or Buggies. Instead, head to Rowher Flats off of Sierra Highway.
Bathrooms?: Nope
Water?: Not in the Canyon. Bottled water can be found at a Walgreens, situated just down the road at the intersection of Copper Hill, and Haskell Canyon Road.
Warning: There is not a lot of shade in Haskell Canyon. Be sure to wear good sun protection, drink plenty of water, and stop hiking if you feel tired, fatigued, dizzy, or dehydrated.
Directions to the Haskell Canyon Open Space
Located in Saugus, Haskell Canyon is best reached by taking Bouquet Canyon Road to the intersection of Haskell Canyon Road. Turn north onto Haskell Canyon Road, driving a mile or two until you reach Copper Hill Drive.
Turn right onto Copper Hill Drive. Trail Heads and Parking areas will be on your left.
Haskell Canyon Trail Map
Included are two maps. The trail system here loops around, and dead ends. It’s not too linear, as far as trails go. Thus I had to break it up.
Side Note: I make all my maps with Gaia GPS! Click the banner to get 20% your subscription to Gaia GPS. All Proceeds go to replacing the lunch money that the bullies took.
Haskell Canyon Open Space-Video
During one of our visits, we decided to take some video footage. This might give you a better idea of some of the views and trails at Haskell Canyon
Haskell’s Trails-Choose Your Own Adventure
The trail system in Haskell Canyon was cobbled together from a network of pre-existing mountain biking trails, and service roads. Traversing ridgelines, and following canyon bottoms, the paths here from a roughly oval shaped network. Such varying topography gives hikers options for distance, difficulty, and scenery.
The Open Space is centered on a Horseshoe shaped ridgeline, forming a box canyon that opens south towards Saugus. The ridge is topped by a graded service road lining it’s length. Getting to the ridgetop can be accomplished several ways, and doing so provides the best views.
Related: The Hardest Hiking Trails in Yosemite National Park
Box Canyon
The best (and easiest) way is to hike up the middle of the Box Canyon. The Parking area for this trailhead starts near the intersection of Copper Hill and Benz road. Park here, and pass the green gate next to the wash.
From the parking area, you also have the option to hike directly to the top of the hill. Hike up to a flat area hosting the big, green water tower, and continue up the trail to the apex of Haskell Canyon-the highest “Peak” in the Open Space.
No matter which way you go, all the trails loop and connect to one another. Continuing up the Box Canyon, the canyon walls quickly begin to narrow around the trail. Nearby road noise is muffled to silence, and you’ll notice that the temperature is cooler as cold air pools in the canyon, away from the Heat Island Effect created by the city.
It’s a short hike, with a gentle grade culminating to roughly 400 feet of elevation gain. Hikers emerge from the canyon to a beautiful view of the nearby mountains.
Hill Climbing
Rather than hiking up the Box Canyon, a more challenging option is to tackle Haskell by it’s hills. To do so, start on either end of the “Horseshoe”. These options are less secluded, but are more exposed, with grander views.
With only a few hundred feet of elevation gain, Haskell Canyon is not very tall. As far as hill climbs go, it’s not even the tallest in Santa Clarita.
Even so, hiking up this hill will feel more like a big mountain, than a local dirt pile. It’s one of the most prominent points around, and the sweeping viewshed of the city and mountains makes up for it, while its unrelenting grade is more than enough to raise one’s heart rate.
My favorite starting point for this variation is near Benz Road, a hundred or so yards east of the gated parking area. Hike up to the green water tank, continuing past up the hill. Follow the ridgeline up to electrical towers.
Alternatively, another approach begins just further east, past the mouth of a small draw. This start reaches the same spot, but skip the water tower.
The top is flat and graded, and there’s a nice bench perfect for soaking in the views. The trail continues along the ridgeline, staying flat and easy for most of its length. You can either descend the way you came, walk down the Box Canyon, or finish the ridgeline, where there is a path leading down into the neighboring subdivision. Hikers can also park here, and do the trek the opposite way as described.
Another trail branches off, heading west to the canyon below. This trail will take you down some switchbacks, finally descending to a sandy canyon bottom. This canyon is much wider and longer than the Box Canyon, but it can be used to access the SCV Archery Range.
Turning South, hikers can return to their vehicles by heading towards Copper Hill Road. There is another parking area here, making it easy to start you hike from this trailhead. You can easily make your own trail loop by walking up Copper Hill Road, towards the trailhead near Benz Road.
An Open Space on the Urban Fringe
For me, the appeal of hiking in Haskell Canyon comes from the feeling of remoteness that it fosters. It’s not Yosemite, and it ain’t Joshua Tree, but Haskell Canyon supports a secluded home for grasslands, oak groves, chaparral, and numerous animal species.
The first time that I ever spotted a bobcat was in this canyon, hanging about in a dry stream bed. I’ve seen a huge rat snake, sunning itself across the trail.
Deer droppings are common, as is coyote scat. A share of black bear and mountain lion have likely been through the canyon as well. In late summer, male tarantulas are seen wandering in search of mates-easy prey for the Red Tails circling above.
This biodiversity is due in part to Haskell’s location. Looking at a map, you’ll see that Haskell Canyon abuts the Angeles National Forest. A wildlife corridor is created, forming an unbroken avenue that connects the mountains and deserts of Southern California to the streets of Santa Clarita.
The result is a backyard open space that feels more wild and remote than it actually is. Local Hikers need not travel far to get their peace in the outdoors.
Instead, you can hike to the crest of Canyon rim, where you can see suburbs and city on one side, and rugged canyons and mountains on the other. It is a contrast that has created a nearby place of solitude, coming in handy for when I need a short break from the city.
A Brief History of Haskell Canyon
Human activity in Haskell Canyon dates back pretty far. Every so often, a Tataviam Artifact is discovered. The early people of the Santa Clarita Valley may have lived and hunted in Haskell Canyon.
With the arrival of the Spanish, European style settlements became established around a system of Catholic Missions. Mission San Fernando Ray De Espana being the nearest to Haskell Canyon, exerted the most influence on the area.
As Los Angeles began to grow from a humble Pueblo to a modern metropolis, Santa Clarita became home to a number of industries. Oil, Gold, and other resources were plentiful in the SCV.
Saugus, and Haskell Canyon became home to numerous agricultural and livestock ranches. Haskell Canyon derives it’s name from the Haskell Family, who owned and operated their very own ranch on the land.
In the mid 20th century, the Haskell property changed hands to the Agajanian family-immigrants from Armenia that established a successful hog ranch. In the following decades, Saugus would see an upwelling of development, as housing tracts, schools, and shopping centers came to form the modern bedroom community at the foot of the Sierra Pelona mountains.
Geology, Simply
Of all the states, California may have the most interesting geology. Haskell Canyon is just one slice of the big picture. For those so inclined, looking closely at the landforms will yield a lot of cool geologic knowledge.
First off, California, from its coastline to its mountains and deserts, has been shaped by the movement of the San Andreas Fault.
The rock beds in Haskell Canyon are tilting roughly in the direction of the Antelope Valley-where the San Andreas cuts closest to Santa Clarita. Here, the edges of the North American and Pacific Tectonic plates grind against each other.
This clash has made California famous for it’s earthquakes. They say that we’re overdue for the big one. Any day now…
I don’t have Brunton Compass to check, but I’d surmise that movement along this fault system has turned and upended the rocks here. It is a slow going process, measured in eons, and is likely going on as we speak.
But for the moment, it’s interesting to think that the same mechanics that generate city-shattering earthquakes also give us good hiking opportunities.
TL;DR-Why You Should Go Hiking in Haskell Canyon
As I mentioned, the trails at Haskell Canyon are varied, allowing hikers many different options for challenge, scenery, and distance. It is perfect for all skill levels, and is great for hikers looking for a little seclusion.
Hikers in the Saugus area will find Haskell Canyon to be a convenient place to hike. Ample parking, and ease of access means that Haskell is great for hiking morning, afternoon, and evening.
Get the Best Hiking Gear for Southern California
Hiking in the Haskell Canyon Open Space doesn’t need a whole lot of special gear (you can leave the crampons at home). Instead, I highly recommend bringing along protection from the elements.
I always have good sun protection, wearing long pants, a sun hoody, and wear sunscreen. I always have extra water packed along, just in case.
To see my recommendations for the best hiking gear, check out this list. All of this gear has been trail tested in mountains, deserts, in all sorts of weather conditions. It will serve you well, and make your hiking experience safer, healthier, and most importantly-more fun!
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