This morning I decided to check out a couple bits that had caught my interest on satellite imagery in the lowest reaches of sand canyon, right before it terminates into the Santa Clara river. I've done 12 or so different adventures around Sand Canyon since 2021, and these were the final two.
First up was the Fair Oaks Trail, as it is called on Alltrails. What once was a rancher's road, then became a hiking trail, has now evolved into a neighborhood trail for morning dog walks as housing developments have proliferated on either side. These are the front lines of Los Angeles sprawl.
The only access point I could find that wasn't from a gated development was from Rolling Hills Ave. It dated back to the ranching days, and was completely overgrown. You can just see a chain across what once was a gravel road. .
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Up a little oak-studded canyon I came upon the proper trail, with bike tracks and the like. .
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At the high point is a bench and nice view of the Santa Clara valley. .
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Nice views across the valley at the Los Padres. Here you can see Baldy and Modelo Peaks, which had caught my eye recently on a visit to lake Piru. After doing some research, I believe there is real potential for an Eispiraten expedition here at some point in the future....
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And the latest housing development, under construction. Can I just complain for a second about obnoxious no trespassing signs? I think it's decidedly in poor taste to threaten people with violence and murder like this. If it's no trespassing just tell us it's no trespassing - I don't need the menacing scare tactics. I'm trying to have a peaceful hike on a trail I'm entirely allowed to be on, not needlessly feel like my life and my family's life is suddenly at risk from you and your gun. It sure isn't neighborly. AAAAAANNNNNYways..... .
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Next up I wanted to investigate what aerial imagery suggested was some kind of abandoned golf course a shimy further down the canyon. I was a little hesitant to dive in there, but there weren't any no trespassing signs, even polite ones, so I figured I'd give it a go.
I followed a concrete golf cart path that must have been massively expensive to construct. Its in great condition except is rapidly being overgrown by a variety of cali chaparral brush.
The fairways and greens are completely replaced by wildflowers and brush - you would never have known they were ever anything different. .
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You can tell where the water hazards were because those are now thick with 10-foot tall reeds, here completely blocking the cart path. .
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Wildflowers overtake either side of the concrete. .
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I decided to summit a little hill on the north side of the golf course that was made up of the miocene Mint Canyon formation. It was rugged a required a bit of class 2 scrambling. First class 2 scrambling I've done on a golf course. .
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View south from the top where you can see the overgrown cart paths and beyond that still-active golf course where the Sand Canyon Country Club maintains the artificial environment. .
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The California sage made for a particularly ethereal golfing experience. Much more so than manicured turf. .
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At least the bathrooms are still in great condition. Though I didn't try to use them. Obviously a WHOLE lot of money went into this place. I wonder why it was all closed down? It's not like the neighborhood is struggling. To the contrary, it is experiencing much growth. .
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Spoke briefly with the homeowner in an adjacent property who told me the golf course has been shut down for only 4-5 years. Amazing how fast the California chaparral ecosystem reclaims what is rightfully its own.
Fair Oaks trail: 1.78 miles, 458 ft of gain
Abandoned Golf Course: 1.04 miles, 234 ft of gain