The Community Hiking Club will be traversing the Walker Ranch and Bear Divide Trails on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Hikers interested should plan on meeting at the Walker Ranch Trail head on Placerita Canyon Road at 7:00 AM for a 7:15 departure to the trail head, leaving some of the vehicles at Walker Ranch. The other cars will drive to the base of Bear Divide trail. You’ll hike 2 miles up the Bear Divide Trail, cross through the wild land fire fighter’s camp, go down 3N17 to Wilson Saddle, then back up the road to Los Pinetos which we will take down to Walker Ranch. Total mileage will be close to 10 with 800 ft gain. Bring water, lunch or snacks and your camera…there are spectacular views! For more information contact Dianne at Zuliebear@aol.com. Hike subject to cancelation depending on local fires!

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing a moderate 10 miles of the Santa Paula Creek which runs year-round and is best known for its intrinsic beauty, and natural deep  pools, waterfalls, and steep cliffs. The trail takes you through picturesque St. Thomas Aquinas College, then along the wooded banks of Santa Paula creek with plentiful swimming holes, capped by a spectacular 25 foot waterfall. There are a few short sections where climbing over big rocks or scrambling up loose dirt is required. (more…)

Ride the Beach Bus to Santa Monica Beach every Saturday and Sunday through September 5, 2010. The bus will pick up passengers from several SCV locations around SCV; Via Princessa Metrolink station; Oak Creek Park n’ Ride; Newhall Metrolink; and the McBean Regional Transfer Station. The cost of tickets is as follows: all children and adults $3.00; Sr. Citizens (60+)* $1.50; Persons with Disabilities* $1.50. Persons boarding the bus under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied minors must bring valid school ID to verify age. For large group accommodations, please call, 661-294-1BUS (1287), at least five (5) business days in advance, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM. For more information click here: Beach Bus

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing Elsmere Canyon on Saturday, July 3, 201. This is a short and easy 5 Mile loop with about a 500 ft gain. You will still have plenty of energy for your evening parties after this one! Those interested should plan on meeting at the MRCA green gate at the end of the Park and Ride located at Newhall Avenue and Hwy 14 at 7:00 AM for a 7:15 departure. Bring lots of water and a snack. The hike is planned to be done before lunch. If you want to increase your mileage, you can opt to do the Whitney Canyon Trail that is close by. For more information contact Dianne at Zuliebear@aol.com

The Community Hiking Club will be hiking in the Cold Creek Preserve this Saturday, June 26, 2010. The Cold Creek Preserve protects the headwaters of Cold Creek, one of the few year-round streams in the Santa Monica Mountains. In 1984 The Nature Conservancy transfered 540 acres to Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT) to establish the Cold Creek Canyon Preserve and the MRT continues to expand this pristine open space. (more…)

Ride the Beach Bus to Santa Monica Beach every Saturday and Sunday beginning June 19^th through September 5^th 2010. The bus will pick up passengers from several SCV locations; Via Princessa Metrolink station; Oak Creek Park n’ Ride; Newhall Metrolink; and the McBean Regional Transfer Station. The cost of tickets is as follows: all children and adults $3.00; Sr. Citizens (60+)* $1.50; Persons with Disabilities* $1.50. Persons boarding the bus under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied minors must bring valid school ID to verify age. For large group accommodations, please call, 661-294-1BUS (1287), at least five (5) business days in advance, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM. For more information click here: Beach Bus

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing Chantry Flats this Saturday, June, 12, 2010. You’ll hike to the 50’ Sturtevant Falls near Sierra Madre. It is a 9 ½ mile hike with a 2100’ elevation gain. Despite the distance it is a fairly easy trail. Bring lunch, snacks, and lots of water and wear sturdy boots. Poles help if you have them. Meet at the outer Gate of Towsley Canyon before 7:00 AM to carpool to the trail head at 7. Sorry for the early meet time, but it is essential to get there early for parking. For more information contact Dianne at Zuliebear@aol.com

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing East Canyon on Saturday, June 5, 2010. Nick Staves will lead hikers on this great hike from O’Melveny Park to East Canyon and back! Those interested should meet Nick at East Canyon at 8:00 AM to carpool to O’Melveny Park. Bring water, lunch. If you can do the hike there will also be a Condor Presentation by Dianne for PNCA beginning at 10:00 AM at Eaton Canyon. For more information on the hike and the presentation contact Dianne at Zuliebear@aol.com

Ride the Beach Bus to Santa Monica Beach every Saturday and Sunday beginning June 19^th through September 5^th 2010. The bus will pick up passengers from several SCV locations; Via Princessa Metrolink station; Oak Creek Park n’ Ride; Newhall Metrolink; and the McBean Regional Transfer Station. The cost of tickets is as follows: all children and adults $3.00; Sr. Citizens (60+)* $1.50; Persons with Disabilities* $1.50. Persons boarding the bus under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied minors must bring valid school ID to verify age. For large group accommodations, please call, 661-294-1BUS (1287), at least five (5) business days in advance, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM. For more information click here: Beach Bus

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing Echo Mountain to Inspiration Point this Saturday, May 29. This will be a 10 mile roundtrip hike with a 2500’ gain. Those interested should plan on meeting at Towsley Canyon at 8:00 for an 8:15 departure to the trail head in Pasadena. There are great sites along the way including an old hotel and railroad ruins; then climb to the top of inspiration point where you will be able to see as far as Catalina, if it is clear. Bring your camera, lunch, and lots of water. Traditionally, hikers wil stop at a Pastrami restaurant called the “Hat” on the way back, so if you’d like to join in for this, bring money for your lunch. Lunch will be late, so bring snacks, lots of water, camera to record the phenomenal view, and maybe a hot drink to take the chill off of the top of the mountain. (more…)

On Saturday, May 22, 2010, the Community Hiking Club will be traversing Deep Creek in San Bernardino. This lovely Creek is being considered for Wild and Scenic Status in California’s new Desert Wilderness Bill. This will be your opportunity to hike a pristine creek that you’ve never experienced before. Carpools will be leaving Towsley at 7:30 AM for the trip to the trail head. A wilderness guide will be meeting us to conduct the hike and tour of the area. The landscape surrounding Deep Creek is unique in a southern California context, and its recreation opportunities are valued at the regional and national levels. Thermal hot springs located here are unique and regionally important. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club has two wonderful hikes planned for this weekend when the weather is suppose to be glorious! The first is on Saturday, May 15, to beautiful Temescal Canyon in Pacific Palisades. Those interested should plan on meeting at the outside gate at Towsley Canyon at 8:00 to carpool to the trail head. This trail has an easy 1000 foot gain and is about 5 miles. If there is a hearty group there may be an extension of the hike to the 2nd trail to Will Rogers. The views are lovely from the top where you can see the ocean. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing the Boy Scout Trail to Whittaker Peak in Castaic on Saturday, May 8^th. The Boy Scout Trail in Castaic is a 10 mile roundtrip with a 2,000’ gain. You should see some lovely wildflowers on the Boy Scout Trail. Part of this hike will be on a single track trail, and part of it will be on a fire road. There are some lovely views from the higher areas of this hike, and the area is also loaded with deer. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club will be traversing Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks this Saturday, May 1. Jerry Happ will lead you on this easy to moderate 7 mile hike, 500 feet elevation gain hike, featuring a waterfall, abundant chalk dudleya, water crossings (easy if no significant rain), and Indian cave. Bring plenty of sun block, lunch/snack and plenty of water. Those interested should plan on meeting at Towsley at 7:45 for 8:00 departure or 8:45 at Wildwood Park. (more…)

The City of Santa Clarita invites visitors to take advantage of excellent forecasted weather this weekend at two great local events: TributeFest on Saturday, May 1 at Central Park and Pet Expo USA on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 at the College of the Canyons. (more…)

The Community Hiking Club will be doing a number of fun hikes on Saturday, April 24, 2010. Option 1-Hike Devil’s Chair at Devil’s Punch Bowl-This 7 mile round trip hike includes some altitude and a mild climb. It is one of the most scenic hikes in our area. The Devil’s Punch Bowl itself is a gorgeous site with the protruding rocks and sheer rock faces. We travel through Devil’s Punchbowl, and go into Pleasant View Ridge which is opposite Cooper Canyon that we have hiked many times from the La Canada area. Bring a snack, poles if you have them, and lots of water. Dress in layers as there may be some snow on the ground. Meet at Towsley Canyon at 6:45 for a 7:00 AM to carpool departure to the trail head. (If you plan to return to SCV after the hike, you will need to make carpool arrangements with people who will be returning) (more…)

The 48^th Annual Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, “Where Fantasy Rules!” returns to the Los Angeles County Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area on Saturday, April 10, 2010.  Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area is located at 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale, CA 91706.  The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire will take place every Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from April 10, 2010 through May 23, 2010. (more…)

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors will again offer its popular Bird Watching Program in Burton Chace Park, located at 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, beginning April 15th.  The outing begins with a brief lecture on an avifauna related topic and an overview of the Ballona Wetlands. (more…)