Hiking Placerita Canyon: Gold in Them Hills
Table of Contents
Hiking Trails, Gold, and Rattlesnakes! All await hikers that venture into Santa Clarita’s own Placerita Canyon State Park. Located along the southern edge of the Santa Clarita Valley, Placerita Canyon cuts into the San Gabriel Mountains, creating a shady haven for oak woodland, mountain wildlife, and trails suitable for any hiker.
Placerita Canyon is one of the most popular hiking areas in the Santa Clarita Valley. Along with numerous trails, Placerita Canyon preserves important cultural and historical resources. Placerita is not only a beautiful place to go hiking, but provides a richly educational experience for all visitors.
For a similar, but more challenging hiking experience, Towsley Canyon can be found nearby, located just off of The Old Road. Just south of Placerita is Whitney and Elsmere Canyons-two other great hiking spots.
Related: The 9 Best Hiking Trails in Santa Clarita
Trail Stats and FAQS
Park Hours: Sunrise to 5pm. The Nature Center is open from 9am-5pm, Tuesday through Sunday. It is closed on Mondays.
Dogs Allowed?: Yes! Keep the on a leash.
Is Mountain Biking Permitted on the Trails?: Nope. The Trails are for Hiking only.
Entrance Fee?: No Fee. Placerita Canyon’s Trails and Nature Center is free for all visitors!
What Trails are Available?: Currently, the Manzanita Mountain, Hillside, and Heritage Trails are open for hiking. The waterfall and canyon trails are closed due to a recent landslide.
Bathrooms?: Bathrooms can be found at the nature center.
Can I buy Souvenirs?: Yes, souvenirs are available at the Nature Center gift shop.
Placerita’s Hiking Trails
Criss crossing Placerita Canyon are several hiking trails. The Trails range in difficulty from gentle, to moderately strenuous. At least one path-the Heritage Trail, is ADA compliant, and even features Braille signs for vision impaired visitors.
The trails are well maintained, and great pains have been taken to ensure that quality hiking options exist for everyone. Each trailhead is marked by a useful map showing topography, and elevation change, and signs posted at regular intervals will help to guide you along.
Placerita Canyon Trail Closures
Due to fire and landslide damage, two Placerita Canyon Trails-the Waterfall Trail, and the Canyon Trail are closed. The Canyon Trail is estimated to be repaired and reopened by April, 2020. The Waterfall trail will remain indefinitely closed.
Manzanita Mountain Trail-A Moderate Challenge up a Steep Hill
Spoiler Alert: I didn’t see any Manzanita growing along this trail, but I did spot a Rattlesnake sunning itself across the path.
Clocking in with a 500 foot elevation gain over half of a mile, the Manzanita Mountain Trail is the most challenging hike at Placerita Canyon. This trail heads directly up the hillside to a small summit point overlooking Placerita Canyon, and the Santa Clarita Valley.
Beginning just south of the Nature Center, the Manzanita Mountain Trail begins by climbing a short, but steep trail to a small saddle occupied by a water tank. Just off trail, a cool rock outcropping provides a good places to stop, and look over the canyon.
From the water tank, hikers can take the trail going right, connecting onto the Hillside Trail. To continue up the Manzanita Mountain Trail, take the path immediately beyond the water tower.
At this point, the trail will immediately begin climbing up the mountain. Between here and the summit, the Manzanita Mountain trail ascent doesn’t let up. This is a good spot to hydrate, or take a rest on the bench.
Climbing up along switchbacks, the Manzanita Mountain trail gives visitors an up close look at native California Chapparal, and local geology. The trail climbs to a summit saddle, where the trail forks. Going right, a final, short climb takes you to the Manzanita Mountain Summit, while the left path goes up to a fire break along the ridge.
From the top, hikers can peer down into the Golden Oak Movie Ranch -a Disney owned movie set. Beyond, the mountains and suburbs of the Santa Clarita Valley fill the view.
Hillside Trail-A Gentle Hike in The Shade
Hikers looking for an easier go at Placerita Canyon will be pleased to trek up the Hillside Trail. The hillside trail is an easy hike, with some gentle hill climbing. The trail starts at the same trailhead as Manzanita Mountain, but diverts west at the water tank.
It’s a good way to get some decent views of Placerita Canyon, all the while enjoying a shady canyon walk. Alternatively, hikers can start this trail to the west of the visitors center, and hike it in reverse. This option allows for an easier initial climb.
Heritage Trail, and the Oak of the Golden Dream
Placerita’s most pleasant walk is the Heritage Trail. A sunny, concrete path, the Heritage Trail is an interactive hike, allowing visitors to get up close and to some of Placerita Canyons historical touchstones. Best of all, the Heritage Trail is ADA compliant, and features Braille Signs to assist vision impaired visitors!
Along the way, oil production, wildlife, and geology are all laid out along a calm walkway beside Placerita Creek. As the path crosses beneath Placerita Canyon Road, a mural depicting scenes of Santa Clarita’s early Tataviam inhabitants.
Just beyond the road lies the famous Oak of the Golden Dream. According to Legend, in 1842, a young rancher by the name of Francisco Lopez took an afternoon nap in the shade of this oak tree. In his slumber, Lopez dreamt of being surrounded by gold.
Awake now, and hungry for a snack, Lopez dug up some wild onions growing beside the Oak. To his astonishment, Lopez’ golden dreams proved prophetic. Clinging to the onion’s roots were flakes of gold!
Lopez’ find in Placerita Canyon came to be the first official discovery of gold in California, pre-dating the famous discovery at Sutter’s Mill by six years. A short lived, yet fruitful gold rush descended on the Santa Clarita Valley. In fact, the name ‘Placerita’ is Spanish for ‘Little Placer’-owing to its gold mining history.
Beyond the Oak of the Golden Dream, the paved portion of the trail ends. If you wish, feel free to hike a little bit further along the dirt portion to check out some more oak woodland.
The Waterfall and Canyon Trails
Normally, the highlight of Placerita Canyon is the Waterfall and Canyon Trails. Here, hikers travel deeper into the canyon. If it’s been a wet year, Placerita Creek forms a babbling brook, home to frogs and insects.
The Waterfall trail culminates at a waterfall just atop a short climb. It’s nice destination, creating a unique oasis in the otherwise parched Santa Clarita Valley. A great spot to have a picnic-just be careful to avoid the poison oak!
Both trails rank fairly easy. It’s been years since I’ve hiked either of them, but I don’t recall them proving to be much of a challenge-even for a young tyke.
Unfortunately, both trail the canyon and waterfall trails are closed due to a recent landslide. October 2019’s Saddleridge Fire, also burned nearby Placerita Canyon, exasperating the closure.
Placerita Canyon Nature Center
Taking a break from hiking, it is worth paying a visit to Placerita Canyon’s nature center. Situated near the mouth of the canyon, the Nature Center is designed to provide an educational experience to the Park’s visitors.
Many examples of local wildlife, including snakes, hawks, and even a great horned owl, live at the Nature Center. On Saturdays, Park staff hold Animal Shows where visitors can get an up close and personal look at local wildlife. Be sure to check out the bird watching deck-a sunny spot to get a better look at some feathered friends.
Other exhibits display the cultural and natural history of the park. The story of human activity within Placerita Canyon is told, from the Tataviam People to the Modern Day era of Hollywood Blockbusters.
A beehive lives in the corner of the Nature Center, right beside three rattlesnakes. On my visit, I was greeted by a particularly active Mojave Green rattlesnake. All around are Taxidermy’d Animals-including a fierce Grizzly Bear, and a prowling mountain lion.
Rangers and volunteers hold nature walks, where hikers can take a guided tour to learn more of the plant and animal life that call the canyon home. Twilight Hikes, talks, and seasonal events are also on the agenda.
Directions to Placerita Canyon
Placerita Canyon State Park is best reached from Interstate 14 through Santa Clarita. If coming from Los Angeles, or the San Fernando Valley, take I-5 North to Sacramento. In the Newhall Pass, merge on I-14 towards Palmdale.
After 3 miles, exit the 14 freeway at Exit 3-Placerita Canyon Road. Turn right, and take Placerita Canyon Road 1.5 miles to the state park entrance. Turn right into Placerita Canyon State Park, and take the short road to park at the Nature Center.
Find the Best Hiking Gear
If you’re gonna hit the trails, you need the right gear to see you back to the trailhead. That’s why my list of my favorite hiking gear has all the best trail tested, reliable hiking gear. Every item on this list has been used out on the trail, whether it’s on a Sierra Nevada alpine peak, a Utah Slot Canyon, or a sunny, SoCal hiking trails. This stuff will have you feeling safe, comfortable, and most importantly, looking good!
- The Best Campsites Around Big Bear California - February 26, 2021
- Hiking to the Hollywood Sign Via the Brush Canyon Trail - July 13, 2020
- Dirt Cheap Hiking and Backpacking Gear: The Most Affordable Gear on the Internet - July 4, 2020
nice article, it brought back memories of hiking placenta canyon when you and E were small.
Also, When ever I’d catch raccoons or possums in our live trap. id let them go right across the road from there.