Saturday, July 8, 2023: LOCAL – Pacoima Wash Canyon to Dutch Louie’s Tunnel and Dagger Flat
***** RAIN OR SNOW FALLING AT TRAILHEAD CANCELS THIS HIKE ******
DISTANCE: 6 miles (out and back, REVERSE style – that means uphill on the way back!)
GAIN: ~ 850′ elevation gain, all on the way back
RATING: Moderate + (for the Gain on the way back up). You should be in good physical condition for the climb back up from the Wash.
DESCRIPTION: This is another rarely visited local gem close to SCV. THANK YOU GARIN!
The hike starts at Dillon Divide, a trailhead/ turnout, on Little Tujunga Canyon. We follow a dirt road for a short distance until a single-track trail turns off left into Pacoima Canyon. It is a nice hike downhill into the canyon. Once in the canyon, we follow trails and the creek bed: we cross the creek several times. Bring poles to help with stepping stones. The trail will take us to Dutch Louie Tunnel which has water flowing out of it. You do not need to got into the tunnel but if you do, your feet will get wet, so plan accordingly (water shoes?).
(History: A prospector carved the tunnel through the rock to divert the creek, so he could mine for gold in a dry creek bed. The tunnel is a 100-150 feet long and it still has the creek running through it. Here is some fun stuff about the mine, Dutch Louie, and other historical and geological stuff about the area:
https://www.secretmines.com/p/pacoima-canyon-mines.html )
After the tunnel, we will continue a little further up steam to the picturesque Dagger Flat area to snack before heading back the same way up out of the canyon.
MEET YOUR LEADER:
At Dillon Divide at 7.00AM for a 7:15AM start down the trail.
BRING: Plenty of water (3 liters recommended), electrolytes (e.g. Gatorade). Sunscreen, hat, lunch/ snacks, hiking poles (helpful on the uphill portion and stream crossings), and a camera. Wear layered clothing in case it gets hot or cold (we will post forecast). Wear boots with lots of tread.
Going in the short wet Tunnel – Bring a small flashlight/headlight. !! You will get wet feet – wear waterproof hiking boots or have water shoes.
NOTE: FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY, IF YOU WANT TO GO IN THE TUNNEL WITH OTHERS – BRING/ WEAR A CLOSE-FITTING MASK WHEN IN IT.
CARPOOLS: We do not Organize these. However, due to LIMITED PARKING at the Trailhead, if you can carpool with friends you trust, you can meet in NORTH SCV by STARBUCKS (address: 16548 Soledad Cyn Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91387), in the Sand Cyn / Soledad Cyn Rd, VONS strip mall lot, off 14 Hwy. Dillon Divide TH is 10.6 miles from this Starbucks ( ~ 22 mins).
DIRECTIONS to Trail head (34.34461, -118.34959):
From South:
Take I-5 North to SR-14 North (Lancaster / Palmdale). Exit at Sand Canyon, and turn right on to Sand Canyon (South/East).
(Note: If you are coming from anywhere in SFV South or East of of 5/ 14 HWY split, Google may route you along the 210 and up Little Tujunga Canyon Road, as the shortest route. If you are familiar with this route, take it).
From North (A/V):
Take SR-14 South. Exit at Sand Canyon – Exit 9. On the off ramp, keep in left lane and go up left on to Soledad Canyon. Almost immediately, at the light, turn left over the highway and keep going straight on to Sand Canyon – watch out for the 4 way STOP after the In-n-Out burger!
Both directions:
Next (it’s another 10.6 miles total from 14) … Continue on Sand Canyon, passing all the mansions, past Placerita Canyon Rd. on your right, etc., keep going straight, as you enter the Angeles National Forest and continue up!up!up! along Sand Canyon Road, until you see a winged memorial at a bad corner (on the right side). Shortly after this, you will go around a sharp left hand bend and crest the hill (on this saddler you are now 6.1 miles from the highway and have another 4.2 miles to go); Bear Divide Vista picnic/parking area is immediately on the right.
Continue 4.1 miles down the other side and eventually up around some bad curves, until you see Dillon Divide, a white gate on the left ( 34.34461, -118.34959).
PARKING: BE AWARE OF FAST CARS, AT TRAIL HEAD, PLEASE PARK STRAIGHT IN, close as possible together, and do not block the white gate.
LIMITED PARKING but there are several turnouts below and above the gate – SEE DIAGRAM IN PHOTO ALBUM.
Adventure Pass: No. There are no bathrooms at trail head but plenty of bushes.
Dogs: OK, if kept on a leash and well behaved around other dogs and people with poles.
Leaders: Paul Huskey and Gary S
