Porter Ranch Wander and Ponder

Hike Limekiln Canyon Park in Porter Ranch

04.15.2021

Hidden Canyon? Yes! Rock Garden? You got it! Redwoods? Wait … really? Yes! Head to Limekiln Canyon Park in Porter Ranch for a highly accessible, street-to-street 3.75-mile out-and-back hike. On this adventure you’ll find some super San Fernando surprises in the quaint northern part of the valley.

Park on Rinaldi Street, right before Corbin Avenue, and find the nondescript trailhead and city park sign on your right. There’s also a charming wooden sign that lets you know Sesnon Boulevard is likely your turnaround point. The wide dirt trail descends immediately into the canyon, and the suburban bustle of Porter Ranch immediately fades away. You’ll pass two community rock gardens on your left, full of a wide variety of colorful stone creations beckoning locals to add to the collection.  As the trail flattens, picnic tables, workout areas, a rope swing over the stream (on your left), and a multitude of hulking trees appear—oaks and pines of course, but look for the two redwood trees! Continuing, take the left path at any junction (they all eventually reconnect).

During your secluded canyon stroll, you’ll rock-hop across the stream a couple of times, which provides a constant (and very welcome) peaceful babble throughout the journey. It truly is an oasis, with the sycamores, willows, and fan palms lining the water alongside rolling grassy hills. There are also spur trails to ascend the canyon for different perspectives, but the trail does eventually climb quickly above the stream at the intersection with Moonshine Canyon (no accessible trail here) and heads under a bridge at Hollow Springs Drive.

This gives you the most expansive views of the hike, stretching into the canyons and beyond to Porter Ranch suburbia. Through the remainder of the trail to Senson Boulevard, the trail rollercoasters a bit for a little extra workout. When you reach Senson, head back and take the return trip slowly, enjoying this pleasing private (public) paradise.

To get to Limekiln Canyon Park south entrance (trailhead and street parking), take the CA-118 to the Tampa Ave. exit and head north. Take the first left onto Rinaldi St. and after 0.2 mile the park (and parking) will be on your right. Dog-friendly! 

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik

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. 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

  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View