A map on the board displayed the dirt roads (Mitchell Trail and Placerita Trail East) but was missing the singletracks which loop around the park and take you to the summit 1.5 miles away.
This being our first time to Horse, we kept to the roads on the initial ascent.
From Mitchell Trail we had a southern view toward Fire Camp 9 and the radio towers off Santa Clara Road.
Once we reached the junction with Placerita Trail East, we could see the city of Santa Clarita to the north.
There was another singletrack coming up from the residential area below.
We followed the Placerita Trail East for half a mile or so before turning right onto the singletrack that goes up to Horse Peak or back down to the parking. This unsigned singletrack utilizes the road to complete a switchback.
Horse Peak was now only a quarter-mile away along the ridge.
The trail bent around the north side where a steep but brief splinter path took us to the summit.
We replanted an American flag that had toppled in the wind and found the unstamped Horse benchmark.
For our return we followed the singletrack through a small gully system, making it a loop hike of about three easy miles.
