Secret canyon is a long hike if you dont have a high clearance truck to drive to the trailhead. The advantage is that if you do, you wont be hiking with annoying people or crowds. The way to the canyon is open to the sun in a lot of places, but the canyon itself is like 20 degrees below air temperature, and a great place to eat lunch on a hot day. It has a completely different ecosystem, with tall pines and leafy shrubs. Worth it.