Santa Clarita Runners: Santa Clarita Valley Running Trails

DETAILS

Directions - Off Highway 14 in Newhall, exit on Placerita Canyon Road and go northeast. Approximately one mile beyond Placerita Nature Center, you will see a turnout on your right for Walker Ranch. Park in the turnoff and walk down to the camping area. In plain view, you will see the sign for Los Piñetos (or little pines) Trail.

Distance - The route to the top is 2 ½ miles, from 1750’ to 2800’ in elevation. For a longer run, continue to Camp Nine fire camp 3 ½ further along the ridge to complete a 12 mile out-and-back.

Difficulty - Though relatively short, it is of moderate difficulty. It is all single track, which in parts is usually scored with erosion, roots and rocks. The beginning and latter stretches are lushly shaded, but middle sections are exposed to the sun and get quite hot during the peak hours of the day.

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COMMENTARIES

Don McLean -

This is one of the prettiest of trails in our valley, and also one of the most popular, often heavily used during the weekends. There are facilities and a water fountain in the campground.

The trail is also popular for the local ultrarunners, it being the first section of a 12 mile roundtrip to Camp Nine, a Los Angeles County fire unit that is housed in the old United States Army facility that serviced the abandoned Nike missile complex nearby. There is a water fountain for public use at Camp Nine.

Los Piñetos tops out at the Ridgeline road at Wilson Saddle. Go left on the road, that is mostly asphalt and in fair condition, for the additional 3.5 miles to Camp Nine. This stretch is mostly uphill, but is of only moderate difficulty. The views along the way, of Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys are excellent.

In the 1950s and 1960s, to protect Southern California from Soviet bombers, the Army had Nike missile facilities on our mountains. (There was another on Oat Mountain, behind Mentryville.) From Camp Nine, there is a tough 400 yard climb to the remains of the Nike facility, near a communications complex. It’s worth the heavy breathing to get to the plateau. And the views are great.

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P.O. Box 800298, Santa Clarita, CA 91380 · 661.513.9375 · scrunner@scrunners.org

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Directions -	Off Highway 14 in Newhall, exit on Placerita Canyon Road and go northeast. Approximately one mile beyond Placerita Nature Center, you will see a turnout on your right for Walker Ranch. Park in the turnoff and walk down to the camping area. In plain view, you will see the sign for Los Piñetos (or little pines) Trail.
Distance -	The route to the top is 2 ½ miles, from 1750’ to 2800’ in elevation. For a longer run, continue to Camp Nine fire camp 3 ½ further along the ridge to complete a 12 mile out-and-back.
Difficulty -	Though relatively short, it is of moderate difficulty. It is all single track, which in parts is usually scored with erosion, roots and rocks. The beginning and latter stretches are lushly shaded, but middle sections are exposed to the sun and get quite hot during the peak hours of the day.