Name: Pacoima Canyon to Dutch Louie Tunnel
Start: 2016-02-20T08:00:00-08:00
End: 2016-02-20T11:00:00-08:00
Location: See Description Below

Saturday February 20, 2016 : Pacoima Canyon to Dutch Louie Tunnel

Distance: 4.5 miles (out and back, reverse style - down first)

Gain: ~ 850' elevation gain, on the way back up

Rating: Easy to Moderate (for the Gain on way back up). You should be in fair physical condition for the climb back up from the wash. Children under 12 might find the going difficult.

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Description: The hike starts at Dillon Divide on Little Tujunga Canyon. We will follow a dirt road for a short distance until a single track trail turns off into Pacomia Canyon. It is a nice hike down into the canyon. Once in the canyon, we should encounter a small creek.

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Fun fact: The trail will take us to Dutch Louie Tunnel. A prospector carved the tunnel through the rock to divert the creek, so he could mine for gold in a dry creek bed. The tunnel is a 100-150 feet long and if it has been raining, it may still have the creek running through it.

We will continue on a little further up steam to visit the Dagger Flat area and the lower entrance to the Dagger Flat trail. Here, we will have a snack before turning around and heading back the same way.

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Meeting your leader/ Mandatory Carpool due to limited parking:

Due to very limited parking at the Dillon Divide turnout, please meet at Bear Divide between 08:00-08:15AM and then we will make arrangements for a short 3 mile carpool down Little Tijunga Road to the trailhead (leaving the rest of the cars at Bear Divide).

Directions to Meeting spot/ Carpool area

(You can Google "Bear Divide Vista Picnic Site, Santa Clara Truck Trail, Santa Clarita, CA 91321 ") :

From South:

Take the I-5 North to the SR-14 North (Lancaster / Palmdale). Exit at Sand Canyon, and turn right on to Sand Canyon (South/East).

From North:

Take SR-14 South. Exit at Sand Canyon - Exit 9. On the off ramp, keep in left lane and go up left on to Soledad Canyon. Almost immediately, at the light, turn left over the highway and keep going straight, on to Sand Canyon.

Then....

Continue on Sand Canyon, all the way past all the mansions, past Placerita Canyon on your right, etc., keep going straight. You enter the Angeles National Forest and continue up!up!up! along Sand Canyon Road until you see a memorial at a bad corner (on the right side). Shortly after this, you will go around a sharp left hand bend and crest the hill. The Bear Divide Vista picnic/parking area is immediately on the right. Park here to form carpools. Put all valuables etc. out of view in trunk.

Bring: Plenty of water (3 liters recommended), electrolytes (e.g. Gatorade). Sunscreen, hat, lunch/ snacks, hiking poles (helpful on the uphill portion), and a camera. Wear layered clothing in case it gets hot or cold. Wear boots with lots of tread (check forecast). Bring a small flashlight/headlight, if you have it and want to go in the tunnel (we will have a few extras too).

NOTE: There may be small biting flies out and about, so please wear long sleeves/ bring insect repellent and a bug net for your face.

Adventure Pass: Required to park at Bear Divide but not at Dillon Divide. Passes are available at Sports Chalet, Big-5 or Ranger Station, $5 for a day pass or $30 for an annual pass.

Dogs: OK, if kept on a leash and well behaved around other dogs and people with poles. If you bring a dog, please drive yourself.

Leader: Dave

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Sweep: Steve I. (on Dagger Flat Trail, above Pacoima Canyon)

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Steve i

Dianne Hellrigel

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Pacoima Canyon to Dutch Louie Tunnel

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Pacoima Canyon to Dutch Louie Tunnel

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