Barbara and I wanted a good summer hike in the mountains with plenty of shade, not too long, not too steep or deep or dangerous. It was a bit of a drive from the SFV (37 miles east on the 210) but we found what we both agreed was a perfect mountain hike in the foothills of Angeles National Forest in Big Dalton Canyon Wilderness Park. I couldn't find a lot of history on this slice of wilderness—the park area offers hiking, camping, bridges (we like bridges). The trails are clean, wide enough, and well kept. This particular hike parallels a stream that parallels Dalton Canyon Road for a mile up to the entrance to the Big Dalton Dam, a 2.5-ish out-and-back trek. The trail is flat for the most part, with gentle elevation, three bridges to cross, two stream hops, a small waterfall stop, and a mystery at the turnaround at the top—all in the shade of sycamores and wild southern oaks. NOTE: remember this shady hike for one of our summer scorcher weekends. The stream originates from the 1929 Big Dalton Dam, one of the first multiple arch dams, and flows south. Hikers and bicyclists not allowed inside the gates leading up to the dam, and visitors have to check in, so it's a no-go to investigate the spaceship-like structure sitting at the top of the hill above the hike's turnaround point. From what I read it could be part of Rubel Castle or could be part of Big Dalton Dam (opening day photo of the multi-arch dam below) but since we couldn't get there, the mystery remains a mystery for another day. The Big Dalton Wilderness Area, a public park in the foothills, covers 563 acres that include 14 hiking trails. With its amphitheater, rest room on the trail, and campgrounds, this hike felt like a fun centerpiece for a beginners camping weekend in the San Gabriels. At your own risk, of course. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

AllTrails Old Boney and Wendy Connector Trail Loop, 2.76 miles. 

May Gray provides perfect days for hiking the treeless trails that fry us in the summer. This week Barbara and I drove up to Santa Clarita, a classic "boom burg" (rapidly growing not-a-city-city but big) 30 miles NW of DTLA. Incorporated in 1987, Santa Clarita has the same respect for nature the original Chumash practiced on this land as far back as 3000BCE and carried on by the Tataviams from 450AD until European settlement. Today's Santa Claritans made open space preservation a priority by creating an Open Space Preservation District to preserve natural land from development, create more community parks, protect the flora, fauna, and geology. Hunting is not permitted, and the trails are clear. The space may look meh in the photo, but that's the magic of learning about land in person and on the ground. Along the flat middle of the trail we walked along the edge of a dry, rocky riverbed. The closer to the dirt we got the wider the variety of wildlife. Yucca in every stage of growth, many topped by crows watching us come and go. Prickly pear cacti provided the only red on the hike (Mother Nature LOVES yellow in the spring). There was purple sage, broom snakeweed, desert broom, and several flowers too tiny to document. The first half of our counterclockwise hike was flat. The second half led us up and down an overgrown trail through surrounding hills for a panoramic view of the area. Santa Clarita is 30 miles NW of DTLA, just slightly N of Magic Mountain, so the Open Space trails are a trek, but if you're in the neighborhood, take a hike in Santa Clarita's Open Space and keep your eyes on the ground. Another great way to cozy up to our amazing cities and state.

Windmills, waterfalls, creeks, bridges, historical ruins, and killer views of Mother Nature's spring art palette in bloom—there were so many reasons for Barbara and me to return to Solstice Canyon for a twist on our hike #141: Charles Fleming's LA Times hike around Solstice Canyon. Fortunately, Solstice Canyon was out of reach of January's Palisades fire. We saw some of the damage on our way in from the SFV along Malibu Canyon Road—an eerie mix of charred and blackened trees and bright green new growth, Solstice Canyon burst with green and hints of purple, yellow, and white flowers and flora. This three trail hike from the TRW Loop Trail (signaled by a windmill) and featuring the TRW Overlook, one of the best nature photo shots: a view of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island tucked in the cleavage between two Santa Monica Mountain mounds. The Rising Sun Trail led us up the side of the mountain counterclockwise, peaking at 758 ft. elevation, accompanied by a lot of lizards, a few bunnies, a chorus of birdsong, and a few hikers coming and going, some with very happy dogs on leash. About a mile or so in, we started the descent into the canyon. The dirt trail is tough, but someone way back when took amazing care in constructing a staircase of 10"+ boulders to mark the trail and support hikers. Also on the way down we spotted the remains of one of the chimneys on the Roberts Ranch, the 1952 "Tropical Terrace House." But first...the trail took us off route to a stream to log and rock hop for fun. From there, we found the log fences and stairs that framed a narrow trail up to the small waterfall literally at the side of the Roberts Ranch property. Imagine a house where your water source was the waterfall in your backyard. Just a small one, not very loud. When we finally walked around the ruins, we played the "what room was that" game, trying to identify what fireplace (at least 4-6) served what purpose. Fascinating. The house and garden, completed in 1952, stood until the 1982 Dayton Canyon fire destroyed everything but the brick fireplaces and metal ovens. Somehow, some of the plants in the "Tropical Terrace" garden survived. Today Mother Nature treated us with Birds of Paradise in bloom and a glorious banana plant beginning to fruit. The Tropical Terrace front steps led down to Solstice Canyon Trail, the entire west side of the trail loop. The final oddity of the hike, the Keller Stone House, inherited by Keller in 1887 in the 13,316 acre Spanish Land Grant, Rancho Topanga. In 1903 the original log cabin burnt and was rebuilt as a "fireproof one room cabin," stone with a tin roof. Roberts bought the property in 1950. In 1997 the land became a national park. A magnificent hike—it's no wonder that Solstice Canyon Loop is the most popular hike in the canyon. If you go now, you'll catch Spring in bloom!