ONE OF OUR BEST HIKES! - Fish Canyon to Piano Box

Saturday, April 30, 2016 - ONE OF OUR BEST HIKES! - Fish Canyon to Piano Box Canyon, led by Dianne!

Distance: ~ 8 Miles total (out and back), including

Gain: ~ 500'

Hiking Time: ~ 4 hours

Rating: Moderate (uphill at end, returning to car)

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Piano Box Canyon

Description:

This is an amazingly 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 river crossings.

This is an 8 mile total, out and back hike, to Piano Box .

The hike starts on the 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. It is fairly level the rest of the way. The trail through Fish Canyon is interspersed with portions of the old cement road from the 1930s. 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 (see above) before returning.

Carpooling from Santa Clarita:

We will meet at the outside gate of Towsley Canyon (24255 The Old Rd, Newhall, CA 91321) at 7:15AM for a 7:30AM SHARP departure to the trail head (see directions below). We will be carpooling to the trailhead above Castaic on I-5, about 30 minutes away.

Please be respectful of your driver's support by contributing something at the end of your carpool to help defray the cost of gas.

Or, meet your leader at the Trail Head /

Directions to Trail head:

Take the I-5 Freeway North from Santa Clarita. About 6 miles north of Lake Hughes/Castaic, exit at Templin Highway. Turn right at bottom of ramp. Follow this curvy road straight (i.e. do not turn off it), 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. We will meet at the white gate at the trail head at 8:00AM for an 8:15AM SHARP departure.

Bring:

Lunch, lots of water (2 - 3 liters), snacks, camera, hiking poles to help at water crossings are recommended.

Wear:

Layered clothing, hat, sunscreen, shoes with good tread, preferably water-proof. Wear long pants in case there is poison oak or ticks about.

It is currently looking unlikely but, if we expect water crossings due to conditions, we will update you on Meet Up. When there are crossings, water shoes are recommended due to algae build up (and 'cos there are 24 water crossings we may encounter, if the creek is running high). If you do not have water hikers, we suggest you wear boots or athletic shoes that can get wet and bring a change of shoes/socks in your car for the return trip home.

Adventure Pass: Not required.

Dogs: Ok, but must be kept on a leash and well behaved around other dogs/ people with poles.

Leader: Dianne

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