Canyon Country

Castaic Canyons is located in the northern part of Los Angeles County, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It is situated in the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to the Interstate 5 freeway, which makes it a convenient location for commuters traveling to and from the greater Los Angeles area. “It’s a great area if you really want to get away from it all,” says local real estate broker Gail Kopp. “And if you can find a place up there. If you really want to experience nature, without getting too far away from a major city, that’s probably the place to go.” The housing in Castaic Canyons is diverse, single-family home styles. Properties in the area range from modern suburban developments in the foothills around Santa Clarita to classic ranch-style houses in the mountains that often come with significant acreage. Prices range from $1.1 million for a 3,300-square-foot New Traditional style home in a new development, which is also about what you can expect to pay for a 900-square-foot mountainside ranch with 20 acres attached. The community is perhaps best known for the Castaic Lake Recreation Area, a large reservoir surrounded by a regional park. This popular outdoor destination offers a range of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, jet skiing, and hiking. There are also several campgrounds in the area, making it a popular spot for weekend getaways. There are also endless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing in the area. The world-famous Pacific Crest Trail passes through the neighborhood, while the regionally renowned Texas Canyon is one of the most popular rock climbing spots in north LA County. Dining options in Castaic Canyons are somewhat limited, but there are a handful of local restaurants and fast food establishments. For a wider selection of dining and shopping options, residents often travel to nearby Santa Clarita or Valencia. Multiple school districts serve the area, including Saugus Union School District. Highlands Elementary has an 8 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools. Many older students attend Arroyo Seco Junior high or Saugus High School, which has a 9 out of 10 rating and is known for its nationally competitive dance team. Commuting from Castaic Canyons is relatively straightforward, thanks to its proximity to the I-5 freeway. However, traffic can be heavy during peak hours, and it is not uncommon for residents to have a commute of an hour or more each way. Public transportation options are limited, so most residents rely on their cars for transportation. Castaic Canyons is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, particularly the Castaic Lake Recreation Area. The housing is diverse, with a mix of modern and older homes. The schools in the area are well-regarded, and the community is relatively safe and quiet. However, the limited dining and shopping options, as well as the long commute to Los Angeles, maybe drawbacks for some residents. If you’re really looking to get away from it all, though, Castaic Canyons could just be the perfect place for you.

Green Valley, a community cradled in the Sierra Pelona Mountains in northwest Los Angeles County, offers a serene rural retreat for those who value privacy over convenience. The census-designated place comprises roughly 1,000 residents over 13 square miles amid landscape that is not what people think of when they think of southern California. In fact, Green Valley is more like Appalachia than Los Angeles. So much so that the first three seasons of the TV show “Justified,” set in Harlan County, Ky., were filmed in the community. Homebuyers seeking space will have no problem finding it, as many of the community’s homes occupy expansive lots covering several acres. Among the acreage, you can find a variety of styles – from traditional ranch homes to renovated country compounds to new homes built as recently as 2023. Because of the additional land, those homes range in price from $900,000 to $1.2 million. On smaller but still spacious lots, featured housing includes a collection of cozy country remodels exuding rustic charm and custom multi-level homes that typically range in price from $400,000 to $600,000. In addition, Green Valley offers something that is increasingly hard to find in Los Angeles County – empty land. For homebuyers seeking to put their own architectural stamp on a property, options range from a 5,000-square-foot lot for $15,000 to 20-plus acres for $1 million-plus. Students can attend Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes K-8, a B-rated school by Niche that is 8 miles from the center of the community. Quartz Hill High School, an A-rated school that serves ninth- through 12th-graders, is 15 miles away in the city of Lancaster. The community’s residential areas are concentrated around two main arteries – Spunky Canyon and San Francisquito Canyon roads. Spunky Canyon Road leads directly to the Green Valley Community Club, where residents gather for regular events highlighted by the annual Fourth of July parade. Green Valley Market & Gas is a conveniently located country store at the intersection of the two roads, as dining and retail options require a bit of a drive. San Francisquito Canyon Road leads north into Elizabeth Lake, where the recently reopened Salt Lick Tavern has added outdoor seating and a new menu that focuses on comfort food favorites. The tavern is roughly 5 miles from the country store at the center of Green Valley. The nearest full-service grocery store is in Lancaster, about 17 miles away. Rural recreational options are available closer to home. Residents can hike the terrain in and around the community, and just south is the Green Valley Tree Plantation nature preserve and the adjacent Jupiter Mountain Loop, one of the many picturesque trails available to residents. With land spreading out so far and wide, Green Valley is the place to be.