Afternoon hike Needham Ranch/Gates Family Preserve Loop

This is another trail in my quest to find hidden hiking gems in and around Santa Clarita. This easy 3.3-mile local hike is great for beginners or anyone looking for a lighter outing. It’s also conveniently located just off Newhall Avenue, so it’s easy to get to, and makes a very nice late afternoon hike.
We’ll start at 3:30 pm at the trailhead, so be there at least a few minutes early or we may leave without you! This hike take about 1½ hours to complete – so we should be back no later than 5:15 PM at the latest. We won’t be taking a snack break on this one since its so short.

Recommended for:
Beginner/Intermediate: 1-7 miles, less than 700 feet elevation gain.

Because this trail shows signs of mountain bike use, we’ll begin at the top and work our way downhill, which also makes for the easier route overall for beginners. There will be some fairly steep downward parts of the trail, so hiking poles are recommended.

The route itself is made up of various connected trail segments that form a 3.3 mile loop. We’ll start through a shaded wooded flatland area near the trailhead, then start climbing the Needham trail where you’ll be treated a hillside of flowering purple sage. That trail ends and transitions to a nearly flat paved walking trail as it winds around some Needham Ranch industrial buildings. We’ll climb another access road to some water towers, where the trail picks up again. We’ll follow the ridges for a while, taking in some great views of the Santa Clarita Valley to the north, the 14 Freeway and Sierra Highway below us to the east, and the mountainous expanses of the Gates Family Wildlife Preserve to our south and east as the sun drops into the west.

We’ll then pick up the Gates Trail, and eventually drop down into a heavily wooden canyon trail, which will end at the Romo Trail near the bottom, where we’ll wind back down the canyon to the trailhead on a dirt access road.

Pets are welcome, but since it’s summertime, please stay alert for rattlesnakes along the trail. The Newhall Pass Open Space covers 540 acres and was purchased by the City of Santa Clarita in 2016. It serves as an important wildlife corridor between Interstate 5 and the 14 Freeway. The trailhead near the Gates Family Wildlife Preserve offers easy access, picnic benches, and even a chance to watch trains pass by.

The Gates Family Wildlife Preserve is located at the end of Pine Street in Newhall and is located 23980 Pine St, Newhall, CA 91321. Turn off of Newhall Avenue, going southbound on Pine Street until the road literally ends at the entrance to the Gates Family Wildlife Preserve. Park outside the gates.