I’d only been to Santa Clarita once before this weekend, and it was before we moved out here, so I had no context; all I remember is nearly getting killed merging on to a freeway full of speeding semi trucks, and being amused by directions that involved turning on Magic Mountain Highway. On Sunday, we headed up to Placerita Canyon to go for a hike, one of the 50-odd hikes left in our book 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Los Angeles. We’ve been chipping away, and since we had a little more time than normal, we did a bit longer hike, a bit further away.



After an easy drive up, we pulled off into the Placerita Canyon Natural Area and headed on the Walker Ranch Trail, a pleasant, rolling trail through the canyon, with signs of the 2003 wildfires all around. Burned tree trunks were surrounded by new plants and bushes, and little lizards skittered across the path every once in awhile.



The morning light in the canyon was really gorgeous, and the cool air as we got further in really made for a pleasant experience. We didn’t get all the way to the “ranch,” but decided to take a side trail off to a waterfall, which was well worth it.



We had breakfast at the Saugus Cafe, the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles County, and headed back home.

More pictures from the hike here.