TRAIL NAME: Newton Canyon Falls via Backbone Trail
HIKE DATE: Sunday February 25 th , 2018
MEETING TIME: 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM
(At 8:15 AM we’ll drive/caravan to the trailhead, which takes about 15 minutes)
Return time: approximately 11:30AM
LATH HIKE LEAD: Robert Bittner
HIKE LEVEL: Level 4 – (300′ gain out-and- back trail through oak woodlands and chaparral. Dogs must be
on leash and capable of described pace and conditions.)
WHAT IS A HIKING LEVEL?:
Find out more about hiking levels here:
http://latrailhikers.com/about/hike-levels/
HIKE RSVP (Optional, but helps us know who & how many may be attending):
https://www.facebook.com/latrailhikers/events
HIKE DURATION: 3 hours with normal hiking stops
HIKE DISTANCE: 5.5 miles roundtrip
HIKE MEETING LOCATION:
Vons Grocery (towards Starbucks side of store)
5671 Kanan Rd.
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(1/2 mile north of freeway on left side)
Direct Link: https://goo.gl/maps/8WDasXjASay
TRAILHEAD PARKING: No parking fees or permits required. There is a parking lot at the trail head, plus two overflow lots just north of there.
HIKE WALKTHROUGH: Newton Falls sits along the Backbone Trail, a 67 mile route that runs through the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreations Area from Will Rogers State Park to Point Magu near the Ventura / Los Angeles County line. We’ll start near the midpoint at the Newton Canyon Trailhead, a paved parking lot with restroom on the west side of Kanan Road. Our meeting point will be in Agoura Hills, from which we’ll have a 15 minute, 8.5 mile drive to the trailhead just before the third tunnel and on your right. The road will change name from Kanan to Kanan Dume along the way.
Our hike will take us along the Backbone Trail through the oak woodlands and chaparral of Zuma Canyon. We will mostly be on the northerly side of the mountains which should afford us ample shade. After ~2.7 miles we’ll see Upper Newton Canyon Falls. We may or may not actually hike to it, depending on the group & weather, as it requires some off-trail climbing. We’ll then return and, towards the end, take a spur trail to Lower Newton Canyon Falls. Both falls tend to run from first winter rains to May, but it’s still a nice hike the rest of the year with great viewpoints. The Backbone Trail segment can have some brush overgrowth in areas, therefore shorts alone are not recommended. This also protects you from possible ticks, which may be found during really wet seasons, and from poison oak.
REQUIRED: Bring 2 quarts water, food/snack, hiking footwear, hat, & sunscreen. Rain cancels.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Hiking Poles, bug repellent
ONLINE RESOURCES:
- https://trails.lacounty.gov/Trail/90/Backbone-Trail-%20–%20Zuma-Canyon
- https://nobodyhikesinla.com/2011/02/28/newton-canyon-%20falls-lower-%20and-upper/
- https://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/california-newton-canyon-falls.html
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE WITH THE GROUP ON THIS HIKE?
1. Read the Hike’s Details we link at the very top of this page.
2. Make sure that the Hike Level accommodates your hiking experience.
3. If, and only if it suits you, then RSVP for this event and show up the day of the hike with all necessary gear and water (we mention everything you need on the details page for this hike).
MY FRIEND SAID I CAN DO THIS HIKE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT, RIGHT?
We take your safety quite seriously, and would not like for you to attend a hike you’re not ready for. You know your body and hiking experience better than your friends. Whether you are a first-timer or an experienced hiker, please read our hike details page as the hike may not suite your experience level. We have a better experience if every hike has hikers of the intended level.
DISCLAIMER: LA Trail Hikers and its Leads/Organizers/Participa
MAP: