Trail Review: Waterfall Trail via Walker Ranch Trailhead
Parking: Small dirt turnout at trailhead and a second one near trailhead
Distance: 1.5 miles out and back
Difficulty: moderate to challenging
Placerita Canyon in the Newhall/Santa Clarita area, is really a great place for hiking, especially if you want to get away from the crowded trails of Los Angeles. There are a number of trail options, including the Shadow Glen and Uncle Remi Trail Loop and East Walker Loop, two trails I reviewed previously!
The trail we hiked recently is called the Waterfall Trail and it starts at the Walker Ranch trailhead off of Placerita Canyon Road. There is a dirt turnout that can fit a handful of cars; and if that's full, there's another turnout about 200 feet away. There were maybe 10 cars between the two parking areas when we arrived.
At the first turnout, head past the vehicle gate and park signage. There is technically a small, narrow trail you can take to the right that will get you down the hill as well, but the main trail is to the left and is the obvious choice. I had to actively search for the narrow trail to even see where it was.
The first tenth of a mile is all downhill on a fairly wide path. That of course means climbing back up the hill at the very end of the hike which isn't always the most fun when you're tired... but for now, it's an easy downhill trek to a set of creek crossings (and some port-a-potties).
This trail has eight water crossings but they are all doable without getting wet. The first set of two have plank bridges to help you get across. Just be careful, the first plank was a bit wobbly. It helped having trekking poles to stabilize myself when the board shifted.
From there, you'll walk a short distance to a clearing which will have a short, stone wall and a sign for the Waterfall Trail to the left.
For another tenth of a mile or so, you'll be in a fairly open area on relatively flat ground. But things will get a bit more interesting when you hit the staircase!
There's a set of stairs built into the trail which has about 15 to 20 steps. It's at this point that the trail starts following the stream more closely and the journey gets a bit more difficult. The trail narrows significantly and there was a fallen tree over the path early on which we had to climb over.
Once you hit the curve in the trail and the third water crossing (also the first waterfall) , the journey gets even more challenging. The crossings are all doable but the third crossing does require scrambling up a rock after you get across. Most require rock hopping or balancing on a log bridge. And at one crossing, there is short climb up a rock wall that has some roots you can grab onto.
Here are a few photos at some of the water crossings:
Finally, after the eighth water crossing, you'll come upon the final waterfall. It'll be marked with an "end of trail" sign so you'll know for sure this is the final destination. There's not a ton of room to move around, especially as you get closer to the waterfall. But we only had to share the space with two other people and only for part of the time so it wasn't much of an issue.
With all of the rain Southern California has been getting in early 2023, it wasn't a surprise that the waterfalls and the stream were all very active. I can't vouch for this hiking trail at other times of the year, but with any waterfall hike in this area, it's best to do after rainfall or in the spring after the snow in the higher elevations melts.
After you're all done enjoying the final waterfall, just head back the way you came! (That's another eight water crossings!)
Bonus! Here is some drone video of another waterfall you'll only barely be able to see in the distance at the third water crossing:
Bottom Line: A fun and challenging waterfall hike in the Santa Clarita/Newhall area with eight water crossings and multiple waterfalls. Not a busy trail at all, and it's probably best done after significant rainfall.
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