| Placerita Canyon State Park | |
|---|---|
 Welcome sign of Placerita Canyon State Park | |
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| Location | 19152 Placerita Canyon Road Newhall, California 91321 United States |
| Coordinates | 34°22′33″N118°26′45″W / 34.37583°N 118.44583°W /34.37583; -118.44583 |
| Established | 1950 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Placerita Canyon State Park is aCalifornia State Park located on the north slope of the westernSan Gabriel Mountains, in an unincorporated rural area ofLos Angeles County, near the city ofSanta Clarita.[1] The park hosts a variety of historic and natural sites, as well as serving as a trailhead for several hiking trails leading into the San Gabriel Mountains.
The area of Placerita Canyon, in addition to theSanta Clarita Valley and the surrounding mountains, have been inhabited by the nativeTataviam since time immemorial.
In 1842, the region was annexed underRancho San Francisco, part of the largerMexican land grant system that was dissolved 8 years later withCalifornia statehood inside theUnited States. The park preserves the site of the first documented discovery of gold in California where in 1842, Francisco Lopez found gold flakes onwild onion roots under the "Oak of the Golden Dream".[2]
In 1900,oil was discovered within the valley.
The park is near severalmovie ranches, all historic and active, including theMonogram Movie Ranch—Melody Ranch and theDisney—Golden Oak Ranch.[3][4][5]
Placerita Canyon State Park is located along Placerita Creek in the southeasternSanta Clarita Valley, just outside the city limits of Santa Clarita but within its sphere of influence.[1] It lies between the Santa Clarita neighborhoods ofNewhall andSand Canyon.
The park, under the name Placerita Canyon Natural Area, is currently managed by theLos Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.[2] The Placerita Canyon Nature Center is the park's visitor center and museum. The park also contains the Walker Cabin (a restored and furnished 1920s cabin of the Walker family), and hiking and nature trails.[2][7]
The park is also notable for a seepage of'white' oil - unknown anywhere else in the world. This late 19th century discovery of oil surprised the prospectors because it is naturally filtered so that it is not black but transparent. A small pool of it continues to be active by the trailside leading up from the Nature Center to the Walker Ranch.
Located in the transition zone between theSan Gabriel Mountains'California montane chaparral and woodlandsecoregion, and theMojave'sDeserts and xeric shrublandsBiome in theCalifornia Floristic Province, thePlacerita Canyon Flora is complex. Placerita Canyon State Park is in the east-west trending Placerita Canyon on the Placerita Fault and contains sandstone and metamorphic formations, and seasonal streams. Chaparral andCoast Live Oakwoodland plant communities are represented.
Riparian woodlands at the park include three species of native trees includingarroyo willow,cottonwood, and nativeCalifornia sycamore.[8]
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