Saturday February 22 2025 – Elsmere – (Visiting the Jack Plant Area, Eagle Pass, New Elsmere.
Then its choose your own adventure:
Option 1. (6.5 Miles)
If interested in getting a little extra cardio you can follow us,up and over to Whitney Canyon to check out the water falls. That means a bit of uphill.
Option 2. (5.5 Miles )
If you do no wish to do the Extra cardio, you can sign out and follow the Creek Side Trail back to the Parking lot where we started.
***** RAIN OR SNOW FALLING AT TRAILHEAD CANCELS THIS HIKE ******
Distance: ~ 5.2 miles, elongated loop hike, or 6.5 for the extra Credit to Whitney Canyon.
Gain: ~ 1500 ft spread over the hike, steepest bit at start, and for the Extra Credit to Whitney Canyon.
Rating: Moderate (due to a section with some reasonable gain over a short distance, early on). This hike is a next step for Beginners in pretty good condition who want some added Gain and to explore a new local area/ challenge.
Description:
The beautiful Elsmere Canyon area in Santa Clarita Valley can be explored in several ways. This latest route looks like a “9”. The area has greened back from the Tick Fire, and ‘cos many of the oaks survived, the area is still very picturesque. The fire also revealed many old discarded artifacts of oil and gas exploration in the area.
Hike:
We start by climbing the steepest part of the hike to the Jack Plant area, where there is evidence of Elsmere oil production from about 100 years ago. Here is a super write up with lots of old / new photos – look out for some of these items.
https://www.elsmerecanyon.com/oil/jack/jack.htm
Then, using the Eagle Pass trail, we cross SE along cliffs above Elsmere canyon with views into the canyon below, passing an interesting “peek a boo” rock and views of Los Pinetos Peak high above, to the East.
At the junction at the top of the Elsmere Canyon trail, we turn South and descend into a more heavily wooded area that finally takes us up a steep service road into the expansive New Elsmere area. All of a sudden – WOW, we are perched on a grassy overlook with the I-5 and SR-14 interchange below and the SFV laid out before us.
Here we will have a snacky time, and try to stay out of the wind. We will maybe spot several more discarded oil and gas artifacts (they tend to be in that area).
Choose your own Adventure option 1:
We return as we entered the area, this time descending steeply into the most wooded shady riparian area of Elsmere canyon, with a beautiful seasonal stream (currently flowing). After a short 1 mile alongside the creek, we are back where we started.
Choose your own Adventure option 2:
Extra Credit Cardio. Go with us up yet more uphill and over to Whitney Canyon to check out the waterfall, then back to where we started.
Meet your Leader:
At the trail head, the “Park and Ride at the end of Newhall Avenue”, just east of the SR-14 freeway. (Google calls it “Whitney Canyon Park”/ See Map); meet in the lower Parking Lot (more space). DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES SHOWING.
Meet at 9:00AM for a 9:15AM SHARP departure.
Bring: A minimum of 2 liters water and some Gatorade, snack/ sack lunch, hiking poles (recommended), hat, sunscreen and wear good boots with lots of tread. Bring an extra layer if morning is cold. Also snack spot can be windy.
Adventure Pass: Not required.
Leader’s NOTE: There are no bathrooms at this trail-head, make plans accordingly. CARL’s Jr’ is close by, on the corner of Newhall Ave and Sierra Hwy.
Dogs: OK, if on a leash and well behaved around other dogs and people with poles.
Hike leader volunteer(s): Paul
Meet: Newhall Ave/14 Freeway Park N Ride
Whitney Canyon Road · Newhall, CA at 8:45am, departure at 9 :00 am sharp.
Distance: Approximately 6.6 miles to 12 Miles.
Elevation gain: Approximately 1,423 feet.
Time: Approximately 3.50 hours hiking including a snack break.
Conditioning: You need to be in generally good physical condition.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
Restrooms: None.
Adventure Pass: Not Required.
IMPORTANT NOTES: We’ll hike at a brisk pace and ask everyone to stay with the group for a friendly and safe outing. Hiking may be hazardous due to uneven footing, stream crossings, exposures, snakes, bugs, poison oak, etc. Please be aware of your abilities and their limits. You are responsible for your own safety and well-being. This event may be cancelled due to inclement weather or other conditions. You can check the weather and other conditions on the AllTrails GPS Trail Map link below.
ESSENTIAL GEAR: Hiking boots and poles. Clothing layers recommended. Snacks and 2+ liters of water and electrolytes or salt tablets. Hat and sunscreen.
The Ten Essentials of Hiking (https://americanhiking.org/resources/10essentials/)
THIS HIKE RANKING: Level 3, Intermediate (see chart below).
Please only sign up to attend hikes that are consistent with your ability. Based on your hiking during the last 90 days, how would you score on the CHC Hike rating scale of one to five assuming a brisk pace?
CHC HIKE RANKING SCALE:
1. Beginner: 1-3 miles, less than 500 feet elevation gain.
2. Beginner/Intermediate: 1-7 miles, less than 700 feet elevation gain.
3. Intermediate: 5-10 miles, 1000-2000 feet elevation gain.
4. Intermediate/Advanced: 7-12 miles, up to 3000 feet elevation gain.
5. Advanced: 10-17 miles, 3000 feet or more elevation gain.
TRAILHEAD LOCATION:
Newhall Ave/14 Freeway Park N Ride
Whitney Canyon Road · Newhall, CA
Driving Directions
NAVIGATION: We highly recommend the AllTrails app be installed on your cell phones and/or you print a copy of the trail map so you can personally navigate the trail if you need to.
The Community Hiking Club is a Non-Profit 501C3 organization. We rely on donations to continue sponsoring hikes like this. Please contribute by donating via: Cash contribution (at each hike), or via Zelle at 6617135610; or via Venmo at: @Heidi-Webber-5
DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY – IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ
BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY:
When you sign up for this event, you are releasing Community Hiking Club from any liability or responsibility with your participation in this group activity. While safety is a priority for everyone in the group, hiking can be inherently risky. By participating in any posted event, you are assuming responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Community Hiking Club (CHC) Meetup Group and its organizers and hike leaders are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in our events. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions. If you choose to sign up for any Community Hiking Club Meetup events, you are releasing the Community Hiking Club Meetup Group and Hike Leaders from all liability in case of possible injuries or death as stated in paragraph 6.2 of the Meetup “Terms of Service” located on the bottom of the Meetup website. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience. If you sign up for this hike, you are verifying that this hike is within your abilities.
