Trail Guide
Mentryville: California's First Oil Boomtown, Just Up Pico Canyon
A preserved 1870s oil ghost town at the base of Pico Canyon, about two miles from Newhall, where the state's first commercially successful oil well still stands next to a derrick, a schoolhouse, and a canyon full of oak-shaded hiking. Fall is the perfect season, and the paved trail makes it one of the most family-friendly history hikes in the Santa Clarita Valley.
October 2, 2026 Sam Silver 6 min read
Trail
4-7 mi
Pico Canyon out-and-back
Difficulty
Easy-Mod
paved road, gentle grades
Parking
$5
pay machine at the lot
Best Season
Fall-Spring
shady canyon, gold in autumn
The Hike & The History
What to Expect at Mentryville
Mentryville sits at the base of Pico Canyon, part of the Santa Clarita Woodlands Park near Newhall. The townsite grew up in the 1870s and 1880s around Pico No. 4, drilled by French immigrant Charles Alexander Mentry, and it is recognized as the first commercially successful oil well in the western United States. When production peaked, the canyon hummed with a school, a general store, and the company houses of a working oil town.
What survives today, protected by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, is a remarkable ghost town you can walk through freely: Mentry's restored Big House with its wraparound porch, the little Felton Schoolhouse, a barn, and a reconstructed Pico No. 4 derrick standing over the old well. A short, easy loop around the townsite takes you past them all in under a mile, which is why teachers and grandparents love this place as much as hikers do.
The longer outing is the Pico Canyon Trail, a quiet out-and-back along what used to be the oil company's service road, now a walking, biking, and equestrian path. Most hikers make it 4 to 7 miles round trip depending on turn-around point, gaining about 900 to 1,300 feet as the canyon narrows. The tread is paved for much of the lower section, so it works for strollers and bikes, and it ends up at Johnson Park, a former workers' picnic spot with running water, grills, and restrooms.
Sam's Mentryville Quick Facts
- Address: 27201 Pico Canyon Road, Newhall, CA 91381
- $5 parking paid at the on-site machine; cards accepted at the lot
- Typically open about 8 AM to sunset, year-round
- Paved lower trail: strollers, bikes, and leashed dogs welcome
- Restrooms and picnic tables at the townsite and at Johnson Park
- Mentryville Falls flows only after good winter rain, usually late winter to spring
The Drive
Getting There
From Old Town Newhall, take Placerita Canyon Road east, turn onto Pico Canyon Road, and follow it about two miles to the parking area. The entrance road is paved, and the large dirt lot sits right at the townsite gate. Type "Mentryville" into your maps app and it routes you straight to it.
Arrive by 9 AM on weekends: the lot fills steadily on nice mornings, and the shade means the trail stays pleasant even at midday in fall. The nearby Placerita Canyon Nature Center is an easy second stop on the same drive, so a Mentryville outing pairs naturally into a full morning in the canyon country.
The Season
When to Go
Fall through spring is prime time. October and November bring the canyon's golden-oak color, crisp mornings, and low sun on the old derrick. If you want to see Mentryville Falls, that window comes later: the small seasonal cascade on the Pico Canyon drainage only runs after significant winter rain, typically from late winter into spring, so follow the canyon after a good storm and check current conditions before you plan around it.
Summer is workable but hot by midday, especially on the upper, less-shaded sections of the trail, so start early and carry extra water. Whenever you go, stop first at the townsite: the interpretive panels and the old buildings tell the story better than any map, and they are the reason this hike sticks with kids.
Sam's Mentryville Packing List
- A liter of water per person, plus extra on warm days
- Hat and sunscreen; the townsite is open, and the upper trail is less shaded
- Walking shoes with grip; the paved sections turn dusty and the trail beyond them is dirt
- Camera for the Big House, the derrick, and the winter-creek crossings
- Picnic supplies for Johnson Park, the classic turnaround picnic spot
- The $5 parking fee; keep a card handy for the pay machine
Know Before You Go
- Hours are roughly 8 AM to sunset; gates close in the evening, so start early enough to be back at the car by dark
- The buildings are historic: admire from outside, please do not climb on the derrick or furnishings
- Rattlesnakes share the canyon in warm months; watch the trail ahead and give them room
- Allow 90 minutes to 2 hours for the townsite plus a paced 4-mile out-and-back
More SCV Trails Worth Hiking
Mentryville is a one-of-a-kind history hike, but the valley has plenty of favorites closer to home. Here are more of Sam's picks.
Sam's SCV, Canyon by Canyon
Sam Silver has hiked every canyon in the Santa Clarita Valley, coached on its fields, and sold homes in all of its neighborhoods for 22 years. Considering a move near the trails or the canyon country? He knows exactly which streets back up to which open space. Reach out anytime.