Heritage Valley Day Trip Highway 126 Points of Interest

State Route 126 directly connects Interstate 5 in Santa Clarita and U.S. Route 101 in Ventura. This California highway was built in the late 1950s and ran alongside the Santa Clara River, offering scenic views of Heritage Valley.

Highway 126 passes through the towns of Piru, Fillmore, Santa Paula, and the national landmark of Spanish Rancho Camulos, all bursting with citrus and avocado orchards, roadside stands, as well as historic landmarks, antique airplanes, and railroad history.

Heritage Points of Interest

• Rancho Camulos Museum
• Piru Murals
• Bennett’s Honey Farm
• Fillmore Fish Hatchery
• Fillmore Western Railway
• Roadside produce stands
• California Oil Museum
• Santa Paula Train Depot

Learn about the Valleys History at Rancho Camulos

When embarking on your westward adventure from Santa Clarita Valley, visit the Rancho Camulos Museum in Piru as your first stop. This museum was designated a National Historical Museum in 2000 and is situated on 40 acres of immaculate agricultural land within the Camulos Ranch Company, a working ranch spanning 1,800 acres.

The museum features 15 structures built in the 19th century, including the main adobe, a gorgeous water fountain, an outdoor chapel, a bell structure, and a winery surrounded by lush, tranquil gardens. It is one of the last examples of Old California.

Knowledgeable docents share stories with visitors about the people who once lived and worked on the ranch. They also share the story of Ramona, a novel from 1884 written by Helen Hunt Jackson. This love story highlights the struggles of American Indians.

Check Out the Murals Piru California

Before leaving the Piru area, it’s a short drive to the Piru Murals along the Camulos Bike Trial. These 16 superb portrayals of old land grants and historic families are the works of renowned artist and muralist Carlos Callejo and tell the story of Piru’s place in Old California. Just steps from the murals and scattered through the downtown district of Piru are 17 two-foot diameter mosaic circles placed on the sidewalk at each corner of an intersection, aptly called the Piru Circles.

Designed by mosaic artist Helle Scharling, these unique pieces of art illustrate different aspects of the history, nature, and economics of the upper Santa Clara Valley. A brochure explaining the significance of each mosaic can be obtained at the Piru Visitors Center.

Stop at Bennett’s Honey Farm for a Free Taste

As you continue heading west on State Route 126, stop at Bennett’s Honey Farm. The Bennett family has been creating and packaging their tasty honey for over two decades. When you visit, you can enjoy a wide range of flavors in the cozy tasting room, surrounded by adorable wax candles shaped like honey jars. Don’t miss out on this sweet experience!

You can find some unique creations here that you won’t encounter elsewhere. These include avocado honey, sage honey, and lip balm from beeswax. Additionally, there’s a bee wall in the gift shop, where you can observe these tiny creatures busy at work without worrying about getting stung.

Feed The Fish Fillmore Fish Hatchery

The Fillmore Fish Hatchery is a few miles west of Bennett’s, adjacent to the Santa Clarita River Bed. The incubator is open all year to the public. Vending machines dispense fish food that visitors can toss into the trout runs. Fillmore Fish Hatchery is worth a stop, especially if you have kids on your road trip. 612 E. Telegraph Road, Fillmore, California. Open 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., all year.

Next up, nestled at the base of the Las Padres National Forest, you will find yourself in the small, picturesque town of Fillmore.

As you make the slight departure off rural Highway 126, you will be greeted by a 1920s-era business quarter where you are instantly immersed in an eclectic mix of agriculture, small industry, and the history of the Fillmore Western Railway.

Take a Scenic Train Trip Fillmore Western Railway

(Currently closed) Once abandoned and restored, the historic tracks are used today to transport families year-round on various tours that take you through mountains, rivers, creeks, nurseries, and the century-old citrus and avocado orchards of the Heritage Valley.

You can enjoy the only murder mystery dinner train in southern California, climb aboard a romantic wine or dinner excursion, or depart for one of the many seasonal destinations.

Highway 126 Produce Stands

As you pass the numerous roadside produce stands along your route, it’s hard not to stop and peek at the goodies they offer. And a road trip through the Heritage Valley countryside would not be complete without pulling off the road and shopping for the freshest and sweetest fruits.

These mini-markets offer the very best deals on the freshest produce that may have been picked that same day from a farm not too far away. Stocked on fresh fruit, your next stop will land you in a town embedded in the historic preservation of early California’s oil discovery—Santa Paula.

Visit Historic Santa Paula

Your first stop should be at the California Oil Museum, where rotating exhibits of science, technology, transportation, history, and art accent the permanent petroleum exhibits that tell the story of the black gold that put this tiny town on the map.

There are many other historical landmarks and unique places to see, including the Museum of Aviation History at the Santa Paula Airport, the Santa Paula Train Depot and Railroad Plaza Park, and the Santa Paula Murals. So make sure you allow plenty of time to take them all in.

Finally, after your trip through the Heritage Valley, stretch your legs and enjoy the refreshing breeze of the Pacific. Enjoy a breathtaking sunset as you end your day with a laid-back stroll down the Ventura Pier,

Enjoy a Romantic Escape at Ojai Valley

To get to the town of Ojai, take Highway 150 from Santa Paula. The drive is scenic, taking you through rolling hills and into the charming city. You’ll find delightful shops, art galleries, and unique restaurants to explore. For the return trip, head back to the Heritage Valley, or take Highway 33 to Ventura, California.

Where is the Heritage Valley

The Heritage Valley stretches from Valencia to the Pacific Ocean in Ventura, with Highway 126 passing through Piru, Fillmore, and Santa Paula at its center.

Highway 126 from Santa Clarita to Ventura is 44 miles and will take approximately 2-3 hours with stops.

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