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S o C a l D e s e r t R o a d Tr i p Article and Photography by Jennifer Merrick
F
or many, a California road trip is synonymous with Highway 1, the iconic route that hugs the Pacific coast. Beautiful to be sure, but this winter-weary Canadian couple craved desert climes, big skies, wide-open roads and off-the-beaten track adventures. And that’s exactly what we found when we rolled inland on the desert roads of the Golden State. Santa Clarita
Easily accessible at only an hour north of Los Angeles International Airport, we couldn’t have asked for a better starting point than this
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valley town. The rolling green hills, speckled with the purples and yellows of the spring desert flowers, greeted us as we drove in. Once in town, the wide main street and historic buildings of the Old Town Newhall neighbourhood looked and felt exactly what a western desert town should except with the added charms of independent shops, breweries and wineries. With so much character, and this being California, we couldn’t help but feel we were part of a movie set. So it wasn’t surprising to learn that Santa Clarita has been the setting for numerous TV shows and movies, including Heroes, Dukes of Hazards and Twilight.
Right in the heart of town was the William S. Hart Park and Museum, a 150-acre site that had once been the ranch of the western silent film director it’s named after. Scenic hiking trails showcased the high desert vegetation, an interesting mix of cacti and hardwoods. We climbed to the top for a panoramic view of the town with the distant mountains peeking through colourful blooms. A 20-minute drive away were Vasquez Rocks, striking boulder formations that have been featured in countless movies and TV shows, including Star Trek, Blazing Saddles and The Flintstones. When we arrived at this 932-acre
