KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Placerita Nature Center
With its rich history of human activity Placerita Canyon Natural Area, the native Tataviam people harvested acorns gathered from the oak trees as the main source of their diet. In 1769 the Santa Clarita Valley commissioned the Portola Expedition and in turn ushered in the mission era. Francisco Lopez discovered gold near the Oak of the Golden Dream, which was then followed by cattle ranching, oil production, and Hollywood movie production.
The Placerita Canyon Natural Area was owned by the Walker family from the early 1900’s to 1950. It was later sold to the State of California for a park. The Walker’s had the goal in mind to keep the land in its most natural state and pass this everlasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. Tours are available on Saturday’s and the historic Walker cabin has been restored along with the family nature hikes.
Sitting on the northwest side of the San Gabriel Mountains the natural park is surrounded by the Angeles National Forest. With its unique east-west running canyon featuring cool, shaded oak woodlands, chaparral covered slopes and a seasonal stream. The Placerita Canyon Natural Area offers covers over 12 miles and offers eight trails, it is also the home of the famous “Oak of the Golden Dream” where gold was first discovered in California in 1842. A local cattle herder was working in the Placerita area when he decided to take a rest in the shade of a tree.
While he was dreaming he dreamed that he was floating on gold when he woke up he took a short walk and dug his knife into the ground for onions but much to his surprise found gold instead. After this important discovery he petitioned the Mexican government who controlled California at the time for permission to mine in the area, and making it the first ever documented discovery of gold in California.
With the new “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” visit the Walker Cabin and experience early pioneer living, or enjoy a unique animal presentation with live animals. Group camping are available for reservation for picnicking by calling the park office.
In the Placerita Canyon Natural Area is also home to hundreds of plant families from the sunflower family to the milkweed family, and the mustard family just to name a few. It also has forty three mammals in the Placerita Canyon from deer mouse to mountain lions. Not to mention the birds that live there the numbers continue to grow with new habitats forming every year.
19152 Placerita Canyon Rd
Newhall, CA 91321
(661) 259-7721
Visit their website at placerita.org
We hope you can join us on April 29th and 30th, 2017 at one of the largest California Home and Garden Shows right here in Santa Clarita!
