Day Hikes Near Our Home in Santa Clarita, CA, USA

Nearly every day, I hike the trails near our home in Santa Clarita, CA, USA. This video highlights amazing spring flowers, following record-setting rainfall in January and February 2023. These hikes are not strenuous and are helping me recover from several health issues.

1) San Francisquito Canyon, Valencia community, Santa Clarita. Our backyard faces a paved hiking and biking trail that follows the (mostly dry) river bed. The river and surrounding hills are a magnet for native vegetation and wildlife. This video highlights the scenery along paved and unpaved trails …. starting at our home and walking upstream to the “open space” trails maintained by the city.

2) Golden State Highway, Castaic. This location is a 20 minute drive from our home. Take the I-5 exit North of Castaic, at Templin Hwy, turn onto Golden State Hwy, head the only direction it goes from the exit. North. This an old paved road in poor condition. Drive slowly and stop wherever you want if you see something of interest. The scenery is amazing. After approximately 4 miles, there is a gate, where you may park (with a Forest Service Adventure Pass). Explore the next few miles on foot or bike. I never get tired of this area.

3) Skyline Ranch Road, Canyon Country community, Santa Clarity, CA. This location is a 15 minute drive from our home. I leave my car at Plum Canyon Park and either hike north on the unpaved Plum Canyon Fire Road to experience the beauty untouched hills, valleys and creeks. Or, I hike along the paved path on the south side of Skyline Ranch Road — to see the Santa Clarita Valley.

Videography by Ken Kramm, May 2, 2023; iPhone 12Pro Max, Final Cut Pro. After You’ve Gone, Ain’t Misbehavin’ by James Curran, Creative Commons, WWW.archive.org Sea of Memory, Twinkle in the Night by Aakashi Gandhi, YouTube Audio Library. Wakantanka, Scared Space Album, flute by David Lakota, Drums by Dennis Lind; Public Domain, WWW.archive.org.