Mentryville

Tucked away at the end of Pico Canyon Road in the Santa Susana Mountains, Mentryville is a historic ghost town that traces its roots to the oil industry of the 1870s. Charles Alexander Mentry founded the settlement after oil was discovered in the area, with the first recorded strike dating to September 26, 1876. The community grew up around those petroleum reserves and remained active for years before eventually fading into abandonment.

Today Mentryville falls within Stevenson Ranch and can be reached by driving roughly four miles west of the Lyons Avenue exit off I-5 in Santa Clarita. Visitors come to explore what remains of this early California oil town and to experience the quiet canyon setting that surrounds it.

Access is straightforward by car, making it a manageable day trip from the greater Los Angeles area. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring the site, while summer heat in the canyon can be intense. Winter visits are generally possible but occasional storms may affect road conditions on Pico Canyon Road.