Directions - Follow same directions for Haskell Canyon Trail. Distance - As much as you can manage. Altitude at the start is 1350 feet. At the top it is 1597. Difficulty - It is an easy, mostly level mile jog to the bottom of Stairs I. For both I and II, for the reasonably fit, the trip from bottom to top will cause the greatest, most intense stress you can imagine after about 45 seconds.
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Don McLean -
This is not the usual rural and natural trail to be found in this series. The course starts just like the Haskell Canyon Trail, and you proceed north up the canyon as before. Once you pass the fenced part of the riverbed, you go another 60 yards and look to your left. Across the riverbed and at the back of a feeder canyon, you will see a series of concrete stairs. That is Stairs I. Jog over. At the bottom, the altitude is 1463. At the top it is 1597. Between is 276 stairs. We recommend running up by doing two stairs with each step. It’s faster, more efficient, though also more difficult that way. Some where on up the line, you will crap out and start to walk. That’s ok. In fact, it is entirely ok to walk all of it. Do what you can. You can be sure this will elevate your heart rate like little else. To some of us, running it hard, it is as stressful and painful as an all-out 400.
Stairs II is easier, but more difficult to find. It can’t be seen from Haskell Canyon Trail. In fact, though, it is at the back of the feeder canyon just north of Stairs I canyon. Stairs II is much further back and, especially in the winter, much more green and rustic. There is a huge erosion crevice that runs down the middle of the canyon. At the bottom of the stairs, the altitude is 1598. At the top it is 1680. Between is a mere 197 steps.
After trying these stairs once, some stalwart Santa Clarita Runners have returned no more. Too much, they opined. Perhaps so. Think of running from the bottom to the top of the Rose Bowl. It only has 77 rows. A cake walk! Yet if you want to advance your heart rate quickly to the max, and if you desire an anaerobic workout like no other, these stairs are just the item.
If you prefer hill and trail intervals, an option is to take the fire trail that ends near the top of Stairs I. You will see the start where the riverbed fence ends, about 50 yards south of the opening of Stairs I canyon. The trip from bottom to top will take you about 3 to 4 minutes.
Though not recommended, as it is best to do the stairs or trail with a pre and post mile jog. However, you can access the stairs and trail by driving up Haskell Canyon Road to Rock Canyon Road. Turn right and go to Phantom and turn right. At the end of Glen Canyon, the trail ends. At the end of Applegate, Stairs I tops out. To access the top of Stairs II, continue past Phantom to Chisholm Place. Turn right and proceed to the end for Stairs II.
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