EASY FAMILY HIKE - Whitney Cyn to the Cascading Waterfall site

July 4, 2015 - Easy Family Hike up Whitney Canyon to the site of the waterfall cascades

Distance: ~ 4.5 miles, out and back.

Gain: Almost none

Rated: Easy, suitable for newcomers and young families.

Time: About 2.5 hours

Description: A beautiful mostly flat 4 mile hike, along a river bed with shady oak trees along most of the route. This is such a pleasant and easy "out and back" hike that you do not have to leave the kids or dog at home either.

Your hike starts along a dirt road, but after about a half mile, becomes a single track - all the way to the site of a nice little waterfall. The waterfall will not be flowing at this time of year but that will make it easy for your leader to scramble up a short distance with the more adventurous ones to show you a series of rocky waterfall cascades. Expect to see squirrels, woodpeckers and other birds that like this riparian habitat.

Bonus: For all 8 - 10 year olds - a short visit, 20 yds off the trail, to the sulphur springs (PEEEEUUWWW!!) is not to be missed!

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Sitting amongst the waterfall cascades

Bring: This hike is short but you might like to bring a snack to eat at the waterfall, water (~1 liter), sun protection/hat.

Dogs: Allowed, if on a leash and well-behaved around other dogs and people.

Meeting place:

Meet at the Whitney Canyon trailhead (by the gate) at 8:00 AM for an 8:15AM SHARP departure down the trail. We should be back by about 10:30AM.

Directions: From Valencia, take the I-5 Freeway south ; from San Fernando Valley, take 1-5 freeway North. Get on the SR-14 North and be ready to take the first Exit - Newhall Avenue. Take a right at the fork on the off-ramp. and when you reach the stop sign, turn right. This will lead you quickly into the Park and Ride that is adjacent to SR-14 (Note: Do not confuse this with the tree-lined Park and Ride a 1/2 mile down on the North side of Newhall Avenue). Parking here is FREE.

NOTE: If the Park and Ride is full, you may have to park in the MRCA lot (Put $7.00 in the metal box to avoid a Ranger ticket). It is wise to come a little early to secure a parking spot in the Park and Ride.

Look for your leader at the green MRCA gate by the green sign at the top/left of the Park and Ride.

Leader: Steve I.

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