In the hills north of Los Angeles, California, USA, is a wild and scenic river perfect for backpacking. Park at Frenchman’s Flats Day Use Area on the Golden State Hwy Old Rd. It’s only 20 minutes from my home in Valencia. An Adventure Pass is required. From the parking lot, the area looks desolate, devoid of trees and water. You would never guess that a continuously flowing creek is nearby. Rock formations and faults along the creek are unique, providing habitat for endangered and threatened species. The creek is one of two streams in the Angeles National Forest managed for catch and release of wild trout.

I enjoy hiking from the Frenchman's Flats to Lake Lake Piru, a 19.3 mile point-to point trail using the All Trails app on my phone (https://www.alltrails.com). I could walk in the creek, but it is much easier to follow the trail. I often stop along the trail to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. For me, hiking is about the journey not the destination.

Equip Nylon Mosquito Hammock ($39.96 Walmart)

Videography by Ken Kramm, April 18, 2022; iPhone 12 Pro Max; Final Cut 10.6.

Water in the Creek, Josh Woodward, Creative Commons

Blue Creek Trail, Dan Lebowitz, YouTube Audio Library

When My Sprit Calls, Ephemeral Rift, http://ccmixter.org/files/ , EphemeralRift/34006, Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0