Aliso Canyon (Granada Hills)
Looking for a local hike to try?
Aliso Canyon is at 18041 Rinaldi Street in Granada Hills between Reseda Blvd and Zelzah Avenue.
Alltrails.com states the Aliso trail is about 3.4 miles long. Hikers and leisurely walkers describe Aliso as easy or moderate. If this sounds up your alley, keep reading!
Parking and Picnic Tables
Once you turn off Rinaldi, you’ll feel like you hopped onto a roller coaster ride. This steep descent will take you into the canyon’s parking lots which always seem to have plenty of open spots.
Enjoy this dip into the canyon!
Both times I’ve been to Aliso, there were people having either a company party or picnic at the benches beside the parking lot. It’s an easy place for a quick snack break or highly anticipated lunch after your hike!
If you’ve decided to bring your pooch along, Aliso is a great choice. You can make the hike as long or as short as you and your furry friend prefer. Once you begin the trail, you’ll come to this bridge.
This bridge will appear within the first minute of the walk. It will lead you to the main and slightly dusty trail.
I like how there’s a trash can that appears out of nowhere. It sent us a message to keep the trail free of litter. Here’s an opportunity to toss out what you don’t need!
If you’re tempted to throw anything away during your hike, save your trash, and dispose of it once you’re exiting the trail.
Although my dog likes the comforts of home, he definitely enjoys every chance he gets to go outdoors! I saw that he enjoyed this hike and even found flowers and plants he took pleasure in sniffing along the way.
Take caution as you walk along the trail as some people mention how often they see horse poop. With a ranch and horse training facilities just off the Aliso trail, unfortunately, I think the droppings will be a given each time you venture out here.
Shade Happy
About 10 minutes into the hike, I was relieved and a little astonished at the change of scenery we stumbled upon. Not only could we get a closer view of the creek, but there was also an incredibly shaded area where my dog and I rested for a few minutes.
The temperature drops significantly here. This spot along the trail encouraged my dog and me to catch our breath, take a water break, and cool off from the sun before continuing on.
Interested in the creek, my dog checked it out from a safe distance. He’s never set paw into a creek before. Even though the creek is very shallow, he had zero interest in jumping in!
My dog is also not a hiker. Actually, neither am I! Although, I did complete the Inca Trail in 2013! We ventured into the Aliso trail for about 15-20 minutes and turned back to complete about a 40-minute walk together.
Since I’ve only completed a small percentage of the Aliso trail, I’m hoping you’ll be able to scope it out even further! Share what you discover! Perhaps it’ll inspire the next person on their journey through Aliso Canyon.
Happy trails!
