One of the things I love the most about Los Angeles is that when you get sick of it, all you have to do is jump in your car and drive for a little while and you soon find yourself in a whole new world.
Placerita Canyon. Photo copyright 2016 Anna Boudinot.
Folks in New York try to disparage Los Angeles by saying that you can't get anywhere in LA without a car, and my response to that is, "Yes, isn't it great that you can afford to have a car in addition to paying your rent, and then you get to drive around and see all of these wonderful places?" Of course then whichever New Yorker I've just dissed immediately intones, "But what about the traaaafffic?" Allow me to address that in a future blog post.
For now, let me introduce you to my new favorite spot: Placerita Canyon. It's just a short drive away from LA but it is such a lovely respite from city life, it'll make you feel like you're going on vacation. And it's so easy to get there! Have you been to the IKEA in Burbank? Of course you have. If you're willing to drive along the 5 freeway for 30 minutes past that IKEA, you will find yourself in Placerita Canyon, a beautiful spot to picnic, hike, and learn about nature and California history.
Oak of the Golden Dream. Photo copyright 2016, Anna Boudinot
Placerita Canyon is home to state historic site #168, the "Oak of the Golden Dream." In 1842, a gentleman named Francisco Lopez fell asleep underneath an oak tree and had a dream that he made a fortune by gold mining. When he woke up he foraged for wild onions, which is something I also do upon awaking from a nap. As he plucked one from the ground he noticed that there were gold flakes clinging from its roots. Eureka! His discovery of gold in this area pre-dated the California Gold Rush by six years, meaning that Placerita Canyon is the very first site where gold was discovered in what is now California.
There's no gold left there today, but a visit to Placerita Canyon Natural Area is rich with other experiences. Stunning views of the western San Gabriel Mountains, a plethora of flora and fauna, miles and miles of hiking trails, and the Walker Cabin are a few reasons to pay a visit. Walt Disney Studios have maintained the nearby Golden Oak Ranch since 1959, and chances are one of your favorite movies was filmed there. I paid a recent visit to Placerita Canyon to enjoy the hiking trails and check out the Placerita Canyon Nature Center.
The Nature Center is free and is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Mondays and Christmas. Its staff offer guided nature walks, wildflower walks, and bird walks monthly, giving you the opportunity to learn more about California plants and animals. If you can't make it on a walk, the expansive trails in the park are a delightful way to explore the area on your own. Before you embark, stop by the Nature Center to see its collection of animals and learn more about native wildlife. I got to watch a turkey vulture, a red tail hawk, and a common raven devouring raw meat in outdoor cages. Nature in action! Other animals thrive inside the Nature Center, including toads, turtles, snakes, and honeybees. Placards indicated that all animals at the center have been obtained from folks who had kept them as pets, or have been rescued after the animals were found too injured to live in the wild.
Mexican elder in Placerita Canyon. Photo copyright 2016, Anna Boudinot
After you've had your fill of the Nature Center, you can easily select a hike that fits your skill level and your time limit. I recently followed the Canyon Trail, a 1.85-mile stretch (each way) that connects to the Waterfall Trail. Plentiful shade trees, diverse plant life, and sightings of butterflies and hummingbirds were highlights of this hike. A point of interest along the way was a natural spring of "white oil," or translucent petroleum, that the Walker family once used to heat their home. You can't miss it: it's right next to the trail with a sign explaining "what's that smell"!
The Walker Ranch, where the two trails meet, features a quaint stone fireplace from the original 1940s homestead, plus toilets and water fountains for those who need to make a pit stop. The Waterfall Trail, 1.5 miles round trip, is home to striking rock formations, ferns, toadstools, and some less pleasant natural elements including mosquitos and poison oak. Bring insect repellant, educate yourself on what poison oak looks like, and you will be fine. The waterfall at the end was a mere trickle at the time, thanks to California's five-year drought, but the surrounding scenery was gorgeous and wildflowers were in full bloom.
Neither trail has much elevation gain, meaning they are kind of long but not that hard. A walk from the Nature Center, along the Canyon Trail, up to the waterfall, and back to the Nature Center is 5.2 miles and took me about three hours with stops to take photos. By the end of the afternoon, I basked in the feeling that I was not in Los Angeles at all, even though I was in fact, in Los Angeles County. Then I got back in my car and drove home -- and no, there was no traffic.