The hike starts at the Switzer Picnic Area parking lot.  It is located approx. 1/2 mile passed the Angeles Crest/Angeles Forest Highway Junction.  Adventure Pass is required to park your car here.  From the parking lot the trail will lead us pass the Switzer trail Camp, dropping in the Arroyo Seco (On the way down there are good views of Switzer Falls).  From here we will walk up the creek a short way than backtrack and follow the gorge past numerous pools and mini cascades.  At Bear Canyon Junction we will turn around and head back.

There are many stream crossings.  Be sure to bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen, snacks, hiking poles, good hiking boots, and a camera.

Meet at Towsley between 7-7:15 to carpool to the trail head. If you’d like to meet at the trail head, we’ll see you there at 8:00.
Directions to trailhead: Take 5 south to the 210 frwy and exit on the Angeles Crest Hwy (2 north).  Drive up the Angeles Crest Hwy 10 1/2 miles to the side road down to the Switzer Picnic Area, which is 1/2 mile past the junction of the Angeles Crest and Angeles Forest Hwys.  Turn right and descend 1/4 mile to the parking area outside the picnic area.

Restrooms are located at the trail head.

Leader: Dave Pulsifer Rated: Easy

March 3-East Canyon
A Moderate 8 miles, 1400' gain hike.

We will explore a few of the lesser used trails in East canyon, The East Canyon  takes you through three species of oak, California bay laurel, California black walnut, and bigleaf maple. As we get up in elevation we will find an unusual forest of bigcone Douglas-fir. This species is more ideally suited to the climate of 18,000 years ago. The dirt fire road travels
on a steady climb to magnificent views of Santa Clarita
Woodlands Park and the Santa Clarita Valley.
Some of the terrain will be steep, the pace will
be moderate, NOT recommended for beginners.

Directions to Trailhead: Meet at East/Rice Canyon trailhead sign at 9AM, About 1 mile south of Towsley/Ed Davis park on the Old Road. Park on the street for free (You will see cars parked on the right side)
 or in the parking lot and Pay the Iron Ranger $7

Bring hat, sunblock, lunch and snacks and 2 quarts of water,
waterproof boots WITH TREAD.
Leader: Dave, Assistant Leader: Steve
Rated: Moderate

March 10-Hike to Fish Canyon Falls, one of the top natural attractions of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Hike Length:  9 miles round trip, out-and-back
Hiking Time:  6 hours round trip
Elevation Gain/Loss:  3000'/3000'
Difficulty:  STRENUOUS
Trail Use:  Dogs allowed

Fish Canyon Falls has moved into my all time 10 best water falls.  The falls are a spectacular delight, plunging some eighty feet in stairway fashion.  The topmost fall is the longest, shooting out from the narrow gorge above, then swishing down into a sparkling pool 40' below.  Then there is a short cascade, followed by a 30' plunge into a lower pool, with one final 8' drop below that.  A fine spray dampens the canyon walls causing them to be embossed with lush green mosses and grasses.  In the amphitheater below there is a roar of the falls with a small flat area for lunch that is shaded by oaks and overhanging rock.

Although Fish Canyon and the Falls are worth the effort, it is a strenuous hike.  The trail is STEEP, needs trimming, sections of the trail are covered with POISON oak and if the water is running high there is one stream crossing where your feet will get wet.  This is a trail you will need to man/woman up.

For those in the club who would like to do this hike but think that the 3000' gain/loss is too much, the rock quarry has Saturdays when they open the quarry up for access to the trail head, which would make this a moderate 5 mile hike.  You can go to azusarock.com for details.  (At the time of the pre-hike the rock quarry had not yet set up a schedule for the hikers)

Directions:  Take I-210 pass I-605 and exit at Irwindale Ave.  Turn left under the freeway making a right turn onto Huntington Drive.  Proceed 0.6 mile to Encanto Parkway.  Turn left and follow the parkway northeast for 1.4 miles.  Turn left into the dirt parking lot, which is just short of the Vulcan rock quarry entrance. Those who would like to carpool can meet a Towsley Canyon Park at 06:45 for a 07:00 departure.  Or meet at the trail head at 08:00.

Leader: Dave Rated: Strenuous

March 17 - Hike Liberty Canyon/Malibu Creek State Park
This hike will be a fast-paced, 9 mile loop with apx 900 ft gain in the Santa Monica Mountains through Liberty Canyon, connecting to the Phantom Trail, then down into Malibu Creek State Park to the south end of Century Lake. We will then take the Forest Trail along the north end of the lake before completing the loop back to the trailhead. Bring water, lunch, snacks, and shoes with good tread. Meet at Towsley Canyon OUTSIDE the gate at 6:50 AM for a 7:00 AM departure to the trail head. You may also meet the group at the trail head at 8:00 AM. To meet at the trailhead:
Take the 405 Fwy South to 101 Fwy North and exit at Las Virgenes. Turn left on Las Virgenes. Turn right at the light for Mulholland Hwy (if you pass the sign for the entrance to the State Park you have gone too far). On Mulholland Hwy, there is parking on the dirt shoulders on both sides of the road. There is an opening in the fence and a sign on the RIGHT (north) side of Mulholland Hwy for the North Grasslands trail, which is where the hike will begin about 0.1 mile from Las Virgenes.
Leader: Nikki  Rated: Moderate+++

Saturday, March 24-East Walker Ranch
A moderate 8 mile loop through the rarely visited eastern portion of
Placerita canyon through the recently acquired East Walker Ranch open space. This is a very pretty hike. There are lovely meadows
enroute filled with grasses and wildflowers. We will see the remains of early 1900s Oil industry machinery.  Some of the terrain will be steep, the pace will
be moderate, OK for energetic beginners.
  
Meet at 8:30AM at Placerita Nature Center near the steps to carpool at 8:45 to the trailhead. There is very limited parking at the trailhead.

Bring hiking poles, hat, sunblock, lunch and snacks and 2 quarts of water,
waterproof boots WITH TREAD.
Leader: Helen
Rated: Moderate

Saturday, March 31-Allen will be leading you on a 5 mile RT tour of Whitney Canyon today. There is almost no gain on this trail, but there are many stream crossings. Be sure to wear shoes that can get wet. Bring poles if you have them to stabilize you on the crossings.  Allen will take you past the sulphur springs, all the way to the waterfall. You will be done before lunch, but bring lots of water, snacks, and wear good shoes with tread! Bring your camera. We have often seen deer in this canyon! Meet at the trail head at 8:15 for an 8:30 departure.
Directions to Trailhead. Take the SR-14 freeway North from Valencia. Exit at the first offramp, Newhall Avenue, veer to the right. Turn right at the bottom of the offramp. You will enter the park and ride facility. Park. If there are no spaces to park, you can park for $5. In the MRCA parking lot to the left of the park and ride. The trail head is to the left of the park and ride. Look for everyone assembling at the SECOND green gate to the left.
Leader: Allen Rated: Easy