Boomburb Brew

Exploring the Santa Clara River Trail in Santa Clarita

Well away from the LA hustle, the boomburb of Santa Clarita has nearly 80 miles of public trails ripe for exploring, including this 6-mile out-and-back along the Santa Clara River, featuring a midtrip coffee break.

Park at the Iron Horse Trailhead and start on the Santa Clara River Trail, first heading briefly west to have a look at the trestle bridge that was featured in The Lost Boys vampire flick. Then reverse course, going east on the multiuse paved trail. You can hike it, bike it, skate it, run your dog on it—even ride your horse—as the path hugs the richly vegetated, but currently dry, river.

At just under a mile, stay left for the South Fork Trail as it parallels the sandy wash and goes under a bridge. Now it’s time for an art show! First comes a colorful mosaic mural. Then at just under 2 miles, you will pass by a series of unique empty frames—an art project called Framing Santa Clarita—and finally a recycled-material piece called The Spirit of Santa Clarita. When you reach Valencia Boulevard, turn left and follow the sidewalk briefly, followed by another left onto the Chuck Pontius Commuter Rail Trail. Continue on this route for another mile, passing under another bridge. Soon you’ll see a set of stairs on your right leading to a strip mall. What’s that aroma? Your halfway point! Time for a sip before the return trip.

BONUS BEVERAGE: Follow your nose to the eastern end of the strip mall to Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders. Enjoy a latte with perfect foam, a specialty “farm to cup” drip, or take home a growler of their cold brew. Either way, enjoy a truly awakening experience before heading back to your car.

To get to the Iron Horse Trailhead, take the I-5 to Magic Mountain Pkwy. and exit east. After 0.8 mile, make a U-turn at Avignon Dr. and look for the small spur road to the trailhead on the right, just after the big dirt lot. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View