This blog will detail 1,000 video hikes in Southern California. By Southern California, I am drawing a line from San Luis Obispo to the Nevada Border. Anything south of that line will be declared "Southern California". In a way, it is a personal challenge to do so many hikes. Mainly, however, it is my way of showcasing how many hiking opportunities there really are right in our own geographic back yard. As a blog, it serves as a companion piece to my Youtube channel "Mike On The Trail". It is also a work in progress, as I don't actually have 1,000 edited videos completed. This will take effort for quite some time before it is declared done. Even then, there will still be more out there. Here's to hiking and all the positive effects it has had on my life...and possibly yours!
Summary Golden Valley Ranch Open Space is a subsection of the San Gabriel Mountains. This is a hilly section of the range as it begins to descend toward Santa Clarita and Placerita Canyon State Park. Mountain bikers often utilize the trails, since they are ideal for them. Hikers are normally the exception here rather than the rule, so more often than not, I found myself stepping aside to let them pass.
Approaching Horse Benchmark.
If the goal is reaching Horse Benchmark, as it was on my visit, there is no truly established route to reach it. Numerous mountain bikers routes will get you there. An effective route that I chose forms a loop hike of the region and is a very enjoyable hike. I started out by going left onto Nadeau Motorway. Most of the climbing on the hike happens right away while the road climbs up to a ridge. Eventually, as Nadeau Motorway branches off the left, I stayed right and aimed for the prominent peak on the ridge: Horse Benchmark.
On the summit.
As the road makes a sharp bend to the north, a use trail leaves the road and goes toward Horse Benchmark. This is the time to leave the road. The hike gradually climbs to the summit of Horse Benchmark, with a nice steep final ascent that makes it seem more like a hard fought prize.
Horse Benchmark.
Great views from the summit in all directions. Returning the same way is perfectly acceptable. However, I wanted to see if I could form a loop. I did so by turning right after the summit trail and continuing on the ridge. This trail sticks to the ridge line as it bends back toward the parking area. Upon returning to the trailhead, this hike forms a nearly perfect loop of the area.
View of Horse Benchmark from a different angle on the ridge.
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