******* RAIN FALLING AT TRAILHEAD CANCELS ALL HIKES *******
Saturday, May 13, 2023 – Time to get your feet wet with 36 Stream Crossings! That’s right kids, we are hiking Fish Canyon to Piano Box Canyon (and maybe beyond a bit up into the Narrows).
Fish Canyon is a BKS Substitute hike for the previously scheduled Mt Lukens hike because of the forecast 90+ degree weather this Saturday.
This substitute hike will give you a great opportunity to stay COOL while hiking Saturday – and you will have to entertain yourself with about 36 separate creek crossing over the fairly fast flowing, fairly high flow rate creek! We just pre-hiked it, and its easy enough and plenty safe enough to cross. It is not possible to cross the creek without walking through it – so you WILL get wet – AT LEAST UP TO YOUR KNEES! Shorts or pants that you can roll up during the crossings are advised, as are water-friendly footwear that you can cross through the creek with and still hike with. Be advised there is a considerable amount of poison oak/poison ivy along the trail, so take that into account regarding long pants.
Many of you have previously been up Fish Canyon, but a LOT has changed after this winter’s rain and storm activity. You won’t recognize parts of the canyon compared to how it was. LOTS of the old asphalt road and the dirt trails are highly eroded, or GONE! The trail is in poor shape in many places, and because of the heavy erosion, the normally good trail is quite rocky and slower to hike. We’ll have to walk up the road in the water in some cases, and bushwhack a bit to find portions of the trail since parts have been destroyed. For anyone who hasn’t been up there since this winter, you will be in for a surprise and many NEW landscapes and topography.
Distance: ~ 8ish Miles total (Min 4 miles in and back out)
Gain: ~ 500′ (mostly the road back to the car from the trailhead)
Hiking Time: ~ 4+ hours
Rating: Moderate (mainly for an uphill stretch of highway at the end along the road, returning to the cars from the gate where we park.
Note – You should to be in good general condition to enjoy this hike.
Normal Hike Description:
This is a beautiful area containing 37 types of endangered species. It is prime yellow-legged frog and Arroyo Toad Habitat. Bring your camera. Not only is the area beautiful, but you might see some of the endangered species along the way. Please stay on the trails here, and watch where you step during the stream crossings.
The hike starts on an abandoned asphalt road, moves onto a dirt road at the north end of Castaic Lake and follows Fish Canyon. The only major hill is the asphalt road coming back up to the cars, the trail is fairly level the rest of the way. The trail through Fish Canyon is interspersed with portions of what is left of the old cement road from the 1930s up into the Canyon.
Then we split off the main trail for the trail to Piano Box Canyon, a beautiful single track wooded trail. We will snack and rest in Piano box and have ample time to enjoy the canyon walls of reddish/orange rock before returning.
Meet your leader at the Trail Head (Trailhead address below) – or put this # into Google Maps (34.6022, -118.6707):
37773 Templin Highway, Angeles National Forest, Castaic, CA 91384
Directions to Trail head (about 30 mins) from SCV / SFV areas:
Take the I-5 Freeway North from Santa Clarita. About 6 miles north of Lake Hughes/Castaic, exit at Templin Highway EAST. Turn right at bottom of FWY off ramp.
Follow Templin Hwy East (a curvy road) straight (i.e. do not turn off it). Drive about 10 mins max, all the way until it ends at a closed white gate/ concrete barrier. You can park along the road beside it, leave nothing showing in your vehicle.
Meeting Time:
Meet at the white gate at the trail head at 7:00AM for an 7:15AM SHARP departure down to the trailhead and Fish Canyon.
Note: No Adventure Pass needed and No bathrooms at trailhead.
Bring:
Lunch/ snack, lots of water (2 – 3 liters), and a camera.
Wear:
Layered clothing, hat, sunscreen, shoes with good tread, long pants in case there is poison oak or ticks about.
There are about 18 separate water crossings in each direction – so be prepared for about 36 total water crossings IN THE WATER. There is no option to cross the creeks without getting wet up to about your knees!
Dogs: NOT RECOMMENDED. The creek is moving fast with moderately heavy flow rates. There are a total of 36 creek crossings total and in many places there is no trail left, or is highly eroded. What is left of the trail is very rocky and will be difficult for a dog to walk on. The trail is missing in quite a few places, and there are sections with tall grasses that have very little visibility regarding snakes and/or ticks. Any dog brought must be kept on a leash and be well behaved around other dogs/ people with poles.
Leader: Gary and Paul
