How to Hike the Whitney Canyon-Los Pinetos Ridge-Placerita Canyon Loop

Описание: My Hike Guide: https://lc444.weebly.com/whitney-cany...
Description: This hike through the foothills of the San Gabriels of Santa Clarita is one of the best in the area, as it is a very nice first hiking tour of the area, because it goes to all of the main features of the area, including the two most popular local waterfalls, Placerita and Whitney Canyon. The trail also heads through often shaded areas, a rarity in Southern California. These waterfalls and trails are only advisable to visit in late fall-spring, as this area gets easily into the 100s, and the waterfalls are often dry if not for recent rains. Most of this trail is pleasant to mountain bike, as the trails are mostly graded except for Viper ridge and the waterfall accesses, and also all of the main points on this route can be accessed by way easier hiking routes from different trailheads.
Highlights: Waterfalls, views, forests, meadows
Rating: 4.8/5
Links:
Music Used: https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/list...
Official Website for Visitor center: https://www.placerita.org/
AllTrails (does not include the waterfalls): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ca...
Modern Hiker (a variation) :https://modernhiker.com/hike/hiking-p...
Only to the Placerita Canyon Waterfall: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ca...





Day Visited: Sunday, December 21st, 2025
Distance: 10 mi (16.09 km)
Time Taken: 4 hours for a hardcore hiker if completing the full route. The estimate for a regular person is 9:30 hours.
Max Elevation: 3,210 ft (978 m)
Fees/Permits: None
Obstacles: Steep sections, small scrambles at Whitney Canyon, long no shade sections
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 2,448 ft (746 m)
Pets: On leash
Trails In Guide: Hillside Trail, Manzanita Mountain Trail, Viper Ridge trail, unnamed Whitney Canyon Trail, Santa Clarita Fire Road, Los Pinetos Trail, Waterfall Trail, Canyon Trail
Yosemite Decimal System Grade: Class 1, short class 2 sections at Whitney Canyon
Gear Recommendations: Standard hiking gear, 3 liters water, more if hotter, trekking poles for ridge sections, gloves for Whitney Canyon scramble sections