Gold Canyon Trail Restored!
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2022 11:15 am
The Gold Canyon Trail runs from the mouth of Gold Canyon in Big Tujunga up to the Yerba Buena Road (3N30.1) above Sunland. Until recently it had been out of commission since the Station Fire, due to extensive damage and thick re-growth over the years of abandonment. Last year Kristin Sabo and a few helpers started restoring the path where it leaves the creekbed and climbs to the ridge road. They installed the final fixtures this month, and the trail is officially back in business. The route along the creek, however, hasn't been restored, but this part is an easy scramble with minimal rock-hopping and a few flags to guide you.
The biggest problem is getting to the trail from Big Tujunga Road, as a property owner has blocked the original access point. For now you can reach the route by dropping in at mile marker 1.38, just beyond the bridge, which is what Cecelia and I did yesterday.
Park by the mile marker sign and take the steep use path down the drainage area. You'll probably find a bunch of trash here. But once you reach the bottom, away from the road, it'll get nicer. Turn right to head down Big T and pass under the bridge. Follow the river bank path and flags about a quarter-mile to a gully coming in from the right. This is Gold Canyon and the beginning of the old trail. Cross the creekbed and go up this canyon, turning right and leaving Big T behind.
Most overhead branches have been cleared, so it should be a pleasant creek scramble. Right now the water is low, but still flowing. It might dry up in the summer.
Once you enter Gold Canyon, there is a split about six-tenths of a mile up. Stay to the left as the main courseway turns westward. Eventually the water disappears and you should then follow the sandy bottom as much as possible.
If you do this hike now you'll find an amazing assortment of flowers, as they are all over the canyon and trail. Also, an earthquake fault runs through this area, so there are some cool rocks and cliff features to see.
After turning westward continue for another three-quarters of a mile to the restored portion of the trail that leaves the wash. This is on the left (south) bank under some oaks and can be difficult to spot from the other side of the wash. Look for cairns in the creekbed that indicate the location.
Also, as you approach the area, you might spot a solo pine tree on the left side of the wash.
The restored trail is just beyond this tree and looks like this.
From this point it is about two miles of climbing up to the road. The trailbed is wide for horses but it is already overgrown in parts with small flowers and grasses. These upper sections were worked months ago, and the plants are enjoying the relatively unbeaten path.
The lower sections were the last to be restored and are still clear of vegetation.
As you climb higher the views of Mendenhall Ridge and white cliffs become more and more impressive. The cliffs were formed by the active faultline at the head of Gold Canyon.
For the mine hunters, there is a small test dig along the trail.
There used to be a mine near the bottom of Gold Canyon but I am told it was dynamited closed.
The trail was absolutely exploding with flowers.
At the junction with the Yerba Buena Road, Kristen has installed new signage for all you sign hunters.
Note that this junction is higher up the road than it appears on the old 1995 topo, as a landslide forced the Forest Service to reroute the upper section.
We then turned left and followed the road upward for about a mile, topping out at the Yerba Buena Ridge's southern highpoint.
As we reached the summit area, there was a small rise on the left side of the road, which is the highpoint (3892'). There was a small cairn on the summit, and a wildlife water station on the north slope.
There was also a water tank a little further along the road.
Here's the view of the highpoint looking east from the water tank.
We sat on the tank enjoying views of the city while eating lunch. Cecelia did jumping jacks to stay warm, and I walked westward to another summit bump (3839'), but there was nothing on this one except a better view into Little Tujunga and points westward.
We then packed up and headed back the way we came.
The biggest problem is getting to the trail from Big Tujunga Road, as a property owner has blocked the original access point. For now you can reach the route by dropping in at mile marker 1.38, just beyond the bridge, which is what Cecelia and I did yesterday.
Park by the mile marker sign and take the steep use path down the drainage area. You'll probably find a bunch of trash here. But once you reach the bottom, away from the road, it'll get nicer. Turn right to head down Big T and pass under the bridge. Follow the river bank path and flags about a quarter-mile to a gully coming in from the right. This is Gold Canyon and the beginning of the old trail. Cross the creekbed and go up this canyon, turning right and leaving Big T behind.
Most overhead branches have been cleared, so it should be a pleasant creek scramble. Right now the water is low, but still flowing. It might dry up in the summer.
Once you enter Gold Canyon, there is a split about six-tenths of a mile up. Stay to the left as the main courseway turns westward. Eventually the water disappears and you should then follow the sandy bottom as much as possible.
If you do this hike now you'll find an amazing assortment of flowers, as they are all over the canyon and trail. Also, an earthquake fault runs through this area, so there are some cool rocks and cliff features to see.
After turning westward continue for another three-quarters of a mile to the restored portion of the trail that leaves the wash. This is on the left (south) bank under some oaks and can be difficult to spot from the other side of the wash. Look for cairns in the creekbed that indicate the location.
Also, as you approach the area, you might spot a solo pine tree on the left side of the wash.
The restored trail is just beyond this tree and looks like this.
From this point it is about two miles of climbing up to the road. The trailbed is wide for horses but it is already overgrown in parts with small flowers and grasses. These upper sections were worked months ago, and the plants are enjoying the relatively unbeaten path.
The lower sections were the last to be restored and are still clear of vegetation.
As you climb higher the views of Mendenhall Ridge and white cliffs become more and more impressive. The cliffs were formed by the active faultline at the head of Gold Canyon.
For the mine hunters, there is a small test dig along the trail.
There used to be a mine near the bottom of Gold Canyon but I am told it was dynamited closed.
The trail was absolutely exploding with flowers.
At the junction with the Yerba Buena Road, Kristen has installed new signage for all you sign hunters.
Note that this junction is higher up the road than it appears on the old 1995 topo, as a landslide forced the Forest Service to reroute the upper section.
We then turned left and followed the road upward for about a mile, topping out at the Yerba Buena Ridge's southern highpoint.
As we reached the summit area, there was a small rise on the left side of the road, which is the highpoint (3892'). There was a small cairn on the summit, and a wildlife water station on the north slope.
There was also a water tank a little further along the road.
Here's the view of the highpoint looking east from the water tank.
We sat on the tank enjoying views of the city while eating lunch. Cecelia did jumping jacks to stay warm, and I walked westward to another summit bump (3839'), but there was nothing on this one except a better view into Little Tujunga and points westward.
We then packed up and headed back the way we came.
