Get up close and personal with some of the rarest primates in the world! The Gibbon Center is a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation and conservation of gibbons and is home to the largest population of gibbons in the Americas. Educational tours are available on weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Enjoy the song of the Gibbon! Hear the sounds of these “songbirds” and watch them leap and swing from branch to branch. The Center offers a picnic area suitable for parties and gatherings so plan your adventure in advance and the Center will work with you to make it a fun experience!
Travel back in time to the Wild West! Come see American bison at William S. Hart Park, named after the 1920s silent film star. In 1962, Walt Disney donated eight buffalo to the park and the descendants of those mighty animals roam the 265 acre park today. While in the park you can explore the numerous trails, hike to the Hart Museum for a fun tour and make sure to stop at the barnyard to visit the horses, deer, ducks and pigs.
Placerita Canyon Nature Center
Bring your binoculars! Placerita Canyon Natural Area is a 350-acre wildlife sanctuary. See indigenous species of wildlife like deer, coyotes and birds. Enjoy nature and hiking trails all the way to a waterfall at the pinnacle of the Santa Clarita Divide. This nature center offers a Family Nature Walk and a Live Animal Presentation each Saturday along with the center itself that is filled with educational opportunities. The Placerita Canyon Park features different trails covering 12 miles, some leading to seasonal waterfalls. Some trails have spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands! Have a picnic and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
Get up close and personal with exotic animals! Take a wildlife-educational tour that will leave you with a lifetime of memories. Visit with monkeys, wolves, pythons, alligators and more! For adults 21 and over, enjoy a Wild Wine Tour during the summer when they partner with Agua Dulce Winery.
Gentle Barn is home to over 170 rescued animals living in ongoing sanctuary. Groom the horses, brush the cows, hold the chickens, give the pigs tummy rubs, hug the goats and sheep, sit under the shade trees and make new friends in this six-acre paradise. Rehabilitated animals stay at the Gentle Barn for the rest of their lives. Be inspired and learn how these animals help teach the kid in all of us reverence for all life.
The Shadowland Foundation is dedicated to teaching children of all ages about wolves and their interactions and contributions to the environment. You’ll visit the pack of beautiful hybrid wolves! The 11 acre ranch offers awe-inspiring and educational experiences meeting, feeding and playing with wolves. Experience living in harmony with each other and our planet.
Whether you are planning a family hike with the kids or a more difficult climb, you will find your new favorite spot right here on our Santa Clarita trails! Be sure to check out HikeSantaClarita.com to learn more about where to go hiking, find maps and info on upcoming hiking events. Southern California’s mountains and canyons are home to an abundance of wildlife. Hikers can expect to see lizards, birds, rabbits, deer and squirrels. Occasionally, visitors may also observe snakes, including rattlesnakes, deer, bobcats, coyotes, and in very rare occasion, mountain lions. *Tips-If you see wildlife, keep a distance and remain calm or if you encounter a large mammal, make noise and try to make yourself bigger. Our wildlife, such as snakes, play a vital role in the natural ecosystem and are even protected by law. Please respect the wildlife during your visit. You are a guest in their home.
Find peace and harmony amongst the exotic! The Roar Foundation, founded by actress Tippi Hedren, supports exotic felines. This preserve, on 80 beautiful acres, is home to over 27 endangered wild felines like Bengal tigers, leopards, and bobcats. Shambala Preserve offers families educational, safari tours and overnight stays in an African tent.
You know you have arrived at a special place when you visit this farm. Explore this peaceful 26-acre farm and shelter which is located on a beautiful ranch just outside Santa Clarita. The ranch is home to more than 100 rescue cows, pigs, turkeys and other animals. Learn of their heart-warming stories and how they are thriving today. Farm Sanctuary Animal Acres offers guided tours on Saturdays & Sundays.
Visit a unique zoological park in an olive grove where visitors can learn about animals from around the world. See over 100 rescued and zoo-born animals from about 50 different species like monkeys, eagles, foxes, alligators, lizards and snakes! Group tours, private parties and educational programs are available.