Towsley Canyon Loop

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Time: 3 Hours
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet

Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon is an impressive segment of Santa Clarita Woodlands Park, located on the north side of the Santa Susana Mountains (http://www.hikespeak.com/tag/santa-susana-mountains/) at the north end of Los Angeles County.

The trailhead is located just off the 5 Freeway north of the San Fernando Valley, not far from Six Flags Magic Mountain. You don’t need a ticket for an adventure in this park, which has its share of natural attractions, like the narrows of Towsley Gorge and seeps of oil and liquid asphalt that pool along the trail.

Towsley View Loop Trail delivers a scenic hike up two canyons and across the ridges in between, passing pleasant oak groves and panoramic views.

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There is free parking and pay parking at Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon. The pay lots largely serve as overflow parking when the free lots fill. The first free lot is right along The Old Road at the bottom of Towsley Canyon Road. Drive a tenth of a mile up Towsley Canyon Road to a larger free lot. This is the ideal parking area, and there is pay parking another tenth of a mile up Towsley Canyon Road.

To get to the trailhead: Take the 5 Freeway to exit 166 for Calgrove Boulevard (located 7 miles north of the merger of the 5 and 405 Freeways. At the end of the off-ramp, turn southwest on Calgrove Boulevard, which immediatly becomes The Old Road. A quarter mile from the freeway, turn left up Towsley Canyon Road, where there are signs and a mailbox for the park. Drive a tenth of a mile up Towsley Canyon Road to the parking area on the right. The lot is labeled by a sign that reads, “Rivendale Ranch at Towsley Canyon” and the free parking is provided by the City of Santa Clarita.

Dogs are welcome

Lee Zebold / Hike Leader