Hagen Canyon Trail Hike (California)
| In This Guide |
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| Distance | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) |
| Hike Time | 30 Minutes (Total) |
| Difficulty (?) | Easy |
| Total Ascent (?) | 120 feet (37m) |
| Highest Elevation | 2,508 feet (764m) |
| Fees & Permits | Free |
| Dog Friendly | No |
| Park Website | Red Rock Canyon State Park |
| Park Phone | 661-946-6092 |
| Stay In Touch | Newsletter - Instagram - YouTube - Facebook |
The easy Hagen Canyon Trail hike takes you through a colorful geographic landscape that was once all underwater. The colorful layers are sediment washed down from the old Sierra Mountains. Over the last 10 million years plate tectonic movement and erosion have formed what you see today. At one point it was a tourist attraction run by the Hagen family, today it’s a state park. The hike is short and shouldn’t take you more than an hour.
Getting To Hagen Canyon Trail
The trailhead address is: Abbott Dr, Cantil, CA, 93519, USA. If you’re driving to the Eastern Sierras and Mt Whitney, or Death Valley, Hagan Canyon is a nice place for a stop.
There are bathrooms nearby at the Visitor Center and at Red Cliffs Natural Area (another great hike). There’s also a primitive campsite up the road by the Visitor Center if you want to spend the night.
Gear for the Hagen Canyon Trail
This is a short hike and you don’t need any special hiking gear. However you’re in the Mojave Desert, it can get hot. It’s a short hike but you should bring water.
The La Sportiva Spire boots feel like comfortable sneakers but offer the protection of hiking boots. They’re great on everything from short hikes to longer hikes of 10+ miles. You don’t want to skimp on your feet.
Reviews & Lowest Prices: Women – Men
I test a lot of gear, and for short to medium day hikes, travel, and everyday use, the Osprey Stratos (men) and Osprey Sirrus (women) are consistently the best. They’re lightweight, hold a hydration bladder to make drinking water easy, have lots of pockets to organize gear, and most importantly, are incredibly comfortable. Check out the reviews; they are impressive.
Reviews & Colors Here: Osprey Stratos (men) and Osprey Sirrus (women)
If you’re hiking, I’m guessing you’re a fitness conscious person. That’s where a GPS tracking watch like the Garmin Instinct comes in. You can load the GPX file from this hike onto the watch and make sure that you’re on the trail at all times. You can also track your pace and calories for the hike, runs, bike rides, workouts, and almost everything. If you’re not ready to spend the money on a watch like the Fenix 6, the Garmin Instinct is a great way to get a lot of the same features without the cost. Latest Low Prices Here
Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend.See All of My Best Gear Picks Here
No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps offset website expenses. There is no cost to you.
What To Know For the Hike
- Hagen Canyon is named after German immigrant Rudolph Hagen, who bought most of this area as mining claims. He eventually turned it into a tourist attraction, complete with diner, bar, camping, and post office. Eventually the Hagen family turned it over to the state in 1969, when it became Red Rock Canyon State Park (California).
- All the landscape that you see on the Hagen Canyon trail used to be underwater.
- If the area looks familiar, you might have seen it on a TV show or movie. More recent productions shot here are Jurassic Park and Westworld.
- You’ll get the standard Mojave Desert wildlife cast of characters here. Lizards, snakes, and desert hares. A ranger told me that desert tortoises are active here too.
Hagen Canyon Trail Maps
Hagen Canyon Trail Hike (California) Map Downloads
Hagen Canyon Hike Directions
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Video Directions
Turn By Turn Hike Directions
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