Rim of the Valley Trail (WEST)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Views

Some of this trail is easy fire road. After Haines Canyon, the trail becomes VERY steep. The sharp-eyed hiker may see a wrecked VW bus in the bottom of the canyon at 4.3 miles.

Park at Graveyard Truck Trail parking area. and head up hill near Camp Louis Routh. crossing a wide flat area you'll see the fire road angling up to your right. As you climb out of Big Tujunga canyon at about 0.6 miles there will be a small trail to your left. This is known as Kill 'Em Quick Trail. The fire road is wide here and you may meet neighbors out hiking their dogs. The trail continues to a sign at 1.3 miles announcing "gateway to the rim of the valley" at 1.5 miles you'll come across an alternative trailhead. this trailhead provides two paved parking spots at the end of Alpine Way. There is also a garbage can here for your snickers wrappers.

Continuing on you'll pass through several oak groves. At 3.5 miles you'll meet up with Haines Canyon Road. From here you can continue on the fire road, meeting with the Rim Of The Valley Trail or you may continue on to Mt. Lukens. To continue on singletrack trail from here, head up the canyon, crossing the canyon at a concrete dam. This area is popular with mountain bikers so it's wise to cross the canyon floor with caution. As you cross the canyon, you'll meet a mountain bike trail that goes up-canyon along the side of the canyon and drops down where you just crossed.

There is a clear trail that continues up a small hill to the right. 50 feet beyond this trail junction you'll meet another small singletrack trail. Turn left and head uphill along the ridge line. CAUTION: this area is steep! Keep an eye out for interesting objects in the canyon below. You may see glimpses of "The Magic Bus" and other abandoned vehicles below. Local rumors suggest that the white VW Bus was once owned by the well-known Southern California cult- the source family.

You'll continue on this ridgeline until you intersect the fire road at Haines Canyon Road. Following this uphill will lead you to the turn off to complete Rim Of The Valley Trail.

Deer are frequently seen along the ridgeline portion of this trail. A small pond usually contains ducks and you can often see people fishing in Haines Canyon