After a long work week, Kona’s big adventure this weekend was a hike up the East Canyon Trail in Santa Clarita’s Woodlands Park. Just north of Los Angeles, this is a  3.8 mile trail in the Santa Susana Mountains. The vegetation is lush and the trail winds though three species of oak, bay laurel, black walnut, big leaf maple and a forest of douglas fir growing at unusually low altitude.

The trail starts out winding along a creek at an elevation of 1500 feet.

It was a bright sunny day and there were many geckos and lizards along the way. This lizard was sunning himself in the morning rays.

After the first climb, a forest of douglas fir (upper right corner) are revealed in a very green valley. These trees usually grow at higher elevations so this forest is somewhat of an anomaly.

The guys check out a ravine. The rocks here are some of the oldest in California with some dating back 1.7 billion years. The land is rich in oil and if you hike up the neighboring Rice Canyon it can sometimes be spotted seeping up.

Taking a rest under a huge old oak tree with great views.

Continuing on into a mountain meadow.

A gorgeous valley view.

The boys pose at the summit of 26oo feet.

It was the perfect day for this hike, not too hot and even though it’s a steady incline, the round trip 8 mile hike can be done in 3 hours at a nice pace. Be sure to keep an eye out for mountain bikers on their way down the trail and the occasional equestrian hiker.

Kona was pooped after his hike and had a nap in the shade of the lemon tree, no doubt dreaming of chasing geckos.