2 min
Overview
A 5.3 mile loop trail through some rugged Santa Clarita terrain. This hike features a decent workout in its elevation gain, some spectacular views of the Santa Susana Mountains and lots of geologic activity – including several small tar pits and natural asphalt in the nearby creeks. This route also has a few fun scrambling opportunities and an area called The Narrows – an area of stark uplift that the trail squeezes through in Towsley Canyon. A really fun and fascinating trail! Towsley Canyon is a fascinating little gem of a trail nestled in the Santa Susana Mountains. It’s just off the Golden State Freeway and minutes away from the amusement parks and In-N-Outs of Santa Clarita, but in a quick 5.3 mile loop you’ll work up a sweat, hop near frothy streams, dodge natural tar pits, and walk through a narrow slot-like canyon area of upturned sedimentary rock called The Narrows. The hike starts out innocuously enough at a large parking area just off the 5. You’ll be on a paved road for the first part of the trail, as it passes a few old buildings and works its way through two parking lots. For the purposes of distances, this trail starts at the parking area closest to the street. At 0.2 miles, you’ll pass two small signs on the south side of the road for the Towsley View Loop and Canyon View Loop Trails. Hikers have differing opinions as to which direction you should do this loop in. Both directions have a good incline workout, but the clockwise route is a bit more steep, while the counterclockwise route is slightly more gradual in its incline. For this route, I chose counterclockwise – so ignore these trails for now and stay on the road. The road passes through another parking area that, for some reason, you have to pay to use ($7 at the time of writing). Drop off some cash in the metal box if you parked here or if you’re feeling generous, then continue on the road. The road stays fairly flat and takes you west, further away from the freeway. At 0.6 miles, there is a short spur trail that leads to the Towsley Lodg
Trail Stats
9.2 km
336 m
744 m
401 m
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