Little Tujunga Canyon Rd

Little Tujunga Canyon Rd

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Point and Squirt Heaven: Rates 4.25 on our 5 scale

We rate this drive a 4.25 only because it isn't longer, and its contiguity to other canyon roads is punctuated. Don't let that stop you... An awesome drive. Never takes snow; no winter closures on Little Tujunga, ever.

Little Tujunga Canyon Road links the Lakeview Terrace and Canyon Country conerbations, by extending an asphalt road which traverses various watersheds in the eastern San Gabriels. There are two summits. This northbound 18 mile drive from Hansen Dam consists of 4th and 3rd gear chutes, strung together by natural blind hairpins, punctuated by kinks, doglegs, and intermediate braking zones, which rises to a peak elevation of 2,600 feet before leveling off into Canyon Country.

18 miles of intermediate braking places a premium on good brakes. Little Tujunga is a class 3 undivided county maintained road in fair condition. It crosses several streams, and is prone to ephemeral runoff. No dips (but, there are areas where you'll bottom out). No Botz-Dots. No cattle bars. Poor to fair visibility, but ample opportunity to pass slower cars. You will never hit your terminal velocity on Little Tujunga. And, it's bumpy.

Good handling takes a back seat to acceleration and braking on this particular drive. Dial out as much push as you can afford. Soften up the front, and tighten up the rear; all the better if you can do it with sway bars. Little Tujunga, it's better to get loose ex post apex than ex ante. Little Tujunga is no place for push (e.g., understeer; when adhesion differential is pro rear wheel biased). But, not to the extent Lockwood Valley Rd does, this road favors lightweight, SWB (short wheelbase) turbocharged cars.

At it's northern extreme, Little Tujunga Canyon Road is accessible, going southbound, via the Sand Canyon off ramp, from State Highway 14. At its southern terminus, it is accessible from the Foothill Freeway (I-210) via the Osborne St/Hansen Dam off ramp. Hansen Dam Recreation area is a convenient rendezvous (restrooms, ample parking, and picic benches). Little Tujunga drives best as a hill climb, going South to North, and it can be linked to Bouquet Canyon Rd, via Sand Cny, to Sierra, and Vasquez Cny Rds, but not without crossing a freeway and several metering impediments.

Toward the end of this run, you'll cross a brook that runs across the road during winter and spring. Slow your guys down going through it...Brakes pads absorb moisture.

Best thing about Little Tijunga? It is never patrolled :)

~ Aerial View from Hansen Dam Looking North into the Tujunga Watershed
~ Tujunga Wash
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