Post by Tribune Story on Jul 17, 2004 7:53:21 GMT -8
Take a Hike
By Keith Lair, Staff Writer
With millions of people living in its environs, the Southern California basin is definitely an urban area.
But don't necessarily tell that to hikers. There are hundreds of trails that zig and zag through hills and small, almost clandestine areas in the basin, and particularly in parts of the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas.
Having the San Gabriel Mountains and Puente Hills at our doorsteps is an added bonus, too. It makes getting out for quick day trips easy and adventurous.
Many of the in-city hikes only mean parking the car in friendly neighborhoods. Some require a parking fee. Those in the Angeles National Forest require an Adventure Pass visible in the vehicle. And those venturing in the nearby Sheep Mountain and Cucamonga wilderness areas need to obtain a free Wilderness Permit.
Here are some popular half-day and day hikes:
Ben Overturff and Monrovia Canyon Falls
Trail head: Monrovia Canyon Park
Distance: Seven miles for the Ben Overturff, one mile for the falls.
What's in store: A cabin with a nice view on the Overturff trail. A pair of falls at the end of the trail. There are nice grass and picnic areas nearby. The park is closed Tuesdays.
Cost: $2
Parking: Monrovia Canyon. Myrtle north to Hillcrest. East to Canyon Drive.
Phone: (626) 932-5562
Big Santa Anita Canyon
Trail head: Chantry Flat
Distance: Six miles
What's in store: Sturtevant Falls is the primary attraction, but trails zigzag through the canyons, including a final destination at Mount Wilson. It's also possible to reach the San Gabriel River's West Fork.
Closed: The Chantry Flat Road closed May 1, making the hike start at the bottom of the canyon in the wilderness preserve in Arcadia and adding several miles -- more elevation -- and scrambling across water to the hike. To get to the preserve, take Santa Anita Avenue north to Elkins Drive. Go East to Highland Oaks and go north.
Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park
Trail head: Several along Via Verde and the west side
What's in store: Numerous trails surround the lake, several crossing streams and some cresting on bluffs above the lake.
Park hours: Sunrise to 10 p.m. March 1 through Oct. 31, sunrise to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 through Feb. 28.
Parking: $6 per car.
Phone: (909) 599-8411
Eaton Canyon
Trail head: Eaton Canyon Park
Distance: Three miles
What's in store: A nice hike up the wash along Eaton Canyon. It meets the Mount Wilson Toll Road for more strenuous adventures. Hikers can bypass the toll road and continue up the canyon.
Parking: Eaton Canyon Park. Altadena Drive in Pasadena north to just past New York Drive. There is no fee for parking.
Phone: (626) 396-5420
Fish Canyon
Trail head: Encanto Parkway lot, or Vulcan Materials lot
Distance: Eight miles, or four miles
What's in store: They're not the highest, but the trio of Fish Canyon Falls may be the most spectacular on the front range of the San Gabriels. The easiest access, through the mining operation, is almost always closed, but there are negotiations to open it on selected weekends. There is a much steeper trail that is open year-round, though. It goes up and over the ridge, avoiding the mining property.
Parking: From Route 66, go north on Encanto Parkway in Duarte. After the last set of houses, there is a parking lot on the left and the trail head is just on the north. Continue on Encanto to the Vulcan site if that trail access is open. There is no fee to park.
Phone: (626) 359-5671, Ext. 316
Gabrielino
Trail head: Switzer Picnic Area
Distance: Six miles
What's in store: Bear Canyon offers water, water and more water, including Switzer Falls.
Parking: Angeles Crest (2) Highway to the Switzer Picnic Area. Start the hike going downstream.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Trail head: Main parking lot on Oak Grove Street, Avenue? in La Canada Flintridge, or in Humanonga Park.
What's in store: There is easy access to several trails above Altadena and La Canada Flintridge, including Arroyo Seco.
Marshall Canyon
Trail head: Parking lot at the top of Stevens Ranch Road in La Verne
What's in store: Numerous dirt trails head off into the foothills above La Verne, San Dimas and Claremont.
Millard Falls
Trail head: Chaney Trail Road, north of Altadena
Distance: Two miles
What's in store: A relatively easy hike to a waterfall
Parking: Millard Campground. Lake Avenue to Loma Alta Drive. West to Chaney Trail Road. North to the campground.
Mount Wilson Toll Road
Trail head: Old Mount Wilson Toll Road, the top of Eaton Canyon, Pasadena
What's in store: The trail tops out at the 5,710-foot peak
Parking: Street parking at Alta Loma Drive and Crescent Drive. However, pay attention to the no-parking signage in the area. Or park in the Eaton Canyon Park parking lot and add an extra two miles to the trail.
Mount Waterman
Trail head: Buckhorn Campground
Distance: 5.8 miles
What's in store: Three peaks define the Mount Waterman trail, which affords a nice view of the San Gabriels. About a 1,500-foot elevation gain.
Parking: A dirt area just west of Buckhorn Campground. Drive Angeles Crest (2) Highway 38 miles to the site.
Pacific Crest
Trail head: Numerous spots along the backside of the San Gabriels
Distance: From the Mexican border to the Canadian border
What's in store: It's one of the three fabled treks across the United States. No bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail. About 300 people try to hike the entire length each year.
San Gabriel River East Fork
Trail head: End of East Fork Road. Take Highway 39 to East Fork bridge.
Distance: Eight miles.
Crossings: The trail can be sinister in the spring. There are at least 14 crossings. Five miles in is the Bridge to Nowhere. There are pristine fishing spots above the Narrows Campground.
Parking: A dirt lot is at the end of the road.
San Gabriel River West Fork
Trail head: Highway 39 West Fork bridge.
Distance: Cogswell Dam another eight miles.
Going on: At Cogswell, there are trails to the Devil's Canyon trail, which then connects to numerous other dirt trails. About two miles up the trail, the Lower Bear Creek Trail merges. The Upper portion of the trail, which finishes along the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, is currently impassable.
Parking: There is a paved parking lot to the north of the trail head, across the bridge. There is a small dirt parking area directly at the east of the trail head, on the south side of the highway.
Silver Moccasin
Trail head: Clear Creek
Distance: 53 miles
What's in store: Thousands of Boy Scouts have been on this trail, which earns them the coveted Silver Moccasin Award for its completion. Hikers can pick up the trail at various points for shorter trips.
Parking: Just past the Upper Chilao Picnic Area. Angeles Crest (2) Highway north 28 miles to the Chilao Visitors Center. Go left and past the picnic area.
Soldier Creek
Trail head: Soldier Creek at Highway 39
Distance: 2.25 miles
What's in store: It's a scramble up the creek to Lewis Falls with the trail disappearing in spots.
Parking: Highway 39. Go north to 2.4 miles past Coldbrook Campground. If you reach Falling Springs Resort, you've gone too far.
Vetter Mountain Lookout
Trail head: Charlton Flat Picnic Area
Distance: 2.2 miles
What's in store: A fire lookout, open on many weekends, is on this easy hike.
Parking: Charlton Flat Picnic Area, near pump house. Angeles Crest (2) Highway 23 miles north to Charlton Flat. Go left at the picnic area.
Vincent Gap to Mount Baden-Powell
Trail head: Sign at southwest corner of Vincent Gap
Distance: Eight miles
What's in store: The climb is one of the most popular for serious Southern California hikers. There are 2,000-year-old limber pine en route to the 9,399-foot peak, named after Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. A plaque at the peak honors him.
Parking: Vincent Gap. Angeles Crest (2) Highway for 53 miles.
Walnut Creek
Trail head: San Dimas Avenue and Orange (57) Freeway.
Distance: Four miles
What's in store: The trail follows Walnut Creek from Puddingstone Reservoir to just by the Eastland shopping center. There are sycamores and a couple of stream crossings.
Parking: There are numerous access points. One trail head is on San Dimas Avenue at the Orange (57) Freeway in San Dimas. Starting points are also at Valley Center Drive, Greer Ave? and Scarborough Ave? and Reeder Ave? and Puente Street? in Covina. There is no fee for parking.
Wildcat Loop
Trail head: Schabarum Regional Park
Distance: 2.3 miles
What's in store: There are many trails within the park. This one is popular in the evenings.
Other popular trails in the Puente Hills area: Powder Canyon (Old Fullerton Road near Pathfinder Road), Arroyo Pescadero (Colima Road, across from the Murphy Ranch Little League fields), Skyline (Colima Road and Azusa Avenue), Hellman Park (Greenleaf Ave? and Orange Street?), Sycamore Canyon (Workman Mill Road near Strong Avenue), Hacienda Hills (end of Seventh Avenue in Hacienda Heights).
Parking: 17250 E. Colima Road, Rowland Heights. The park is currently open from sunrise to 6 p.m. It's free on weekdays, $4 on weekends.
Phone: (626) 854-5560
-- Keith Lair
u.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,213~24341~2276977,00.html
By Keith Lair, Staff Writer
With millions of people living in its environs, the Southern California basin is definitely an urban area.
But don't necessarily tell that to hikers. There are hundreds of trails that zig and zag through hills and small, almost clandestine areas in the basin, and particularly in parts of the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas.
Having the San Gabriel Mountains and Puente Hills at our doorsteps is an added bonus, too. It makes getting out for quick day trips easy and adventurous.
Many of the in-city hikes only mean parking the car in friendly neighborhoods. Some require a parking fee. Those in the Angeles National Forest require an Adventure Pass visible in the vehicle. And those venturing in the nearby Sheep Mountain and Cucamonga wilderness areas need to obtain a free Wilderness Permit.
Here are some popular half-day and day hikes:
Ben Overturff and Monrovia Canyon Falls
Trail head: Monrovia Canyon Park
Distance: Seven miles for the Ben Overturff, one mile for the falls.
What's in store: A cabin with a nice view on the Overturff trail. A pair of falls at the end of the trail. There are nice grass and picnic areas nearby. The park is closed Tuesdays.
Cost: $2
Parking: Monrovia Canyon. Myrtle north to Hillcrest. East to Canyon Drive.
Phone: (626) 932-5562
Big Santa Anita Canyon
Trail head: Chantry Flat
Distance: Six miles
What's in store: Sturtevant Falls is the primary attraction, but trails zigzag through the canyons, including a final destination at Mount Wilson. It's also possible to reach the San Gabriel River's West Fork.
Closed: The Chantry Flat Road closed May 1, making the hike start at the bottom of the canyon in the wilderness preserve in Arcadia and adding several miles -- more elevation -- and scrambling across water to the hike. To get to the preserve, take Santa Anita Avenue north to Elkins Drive. Go East to Highland Oaks and go north.
Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park
Trail head: Several along Via Verde and the west side
What's in store: Numerous trails surround the lake, several crossing streams and some cresting on bluffs above the lake.
Park hours: Sunrise to 10 p.m. March 1 through Oct. 31, sunrise to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 through Feb. 28.
Parking: $6 per car.
Phone: (909) 599-8411
Eaton Canyon
Trail head: Eaton Canyon Park
Distance: Three miles
What's in store: A nice hike up the wash along Eaton Canyon. It meets the Mount Wilson Toll Road for more strenuous adventures. Hikers can bypass the toll road and continue up the canyon.
Parking: Eaton Canyon Park. Altadena Drive in Pasadena north to just past New York Drive. There is no fee for parking.
Phone: (626) 396-5420
Fish Canyon
Trail head: Encanto Parkway lot, or Vulcan Materials lot
Distance: Eight miles, or four miles
What's in store: They're not the highest, but the trio of Fish Canyon Falls may be the most spectacular on the front range of the San Gabriels. The easiest access, through the mining operation, is almost always closed, but there are negotiations to open it on selected weekends. There is a much steeper trail that is open year-round, though. It goes up and over the ridge, avoiding the mining property.
Parking: From Route 66, go north on Encanto Parkway in Duarte. After the last set of houses, there is a parking lot on the left and the trail head is just on the north. Continue on Encanto to the Vulcan site if that trail access is open. There is no fee to park.
Phone: (626) 359-5671, Ext. 316
Gabrielino
Trail head: Switzer Picnic Area
Distance: Six miles
What's in store: Bear Canyon offers water, water and more water, including Switzer Falls.
Parking: Angeles Crest (2) Highway to the Switzer Picnic Area. Start the hike going downstream.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Trail head: Main parking lot on Oak Grove Street, Avenue? in La Canada Flintridge, or in Humanonga Park.
What's in store: There is easy access to several trails above Altadena and La Canada Flintridge, including Arroyo Seco.
Marshall Canyon
Trail head: Parking lot at the top of Stevens Ranch Road in La Verne
What's in store: Numerous dirt trails head off into the foothills above La Verne, San Dimas and Claremont.
Millard Falls
Trail head: Chaney Trail Road, north of Altadena
Distance: Two miles
What's in store: A relatively easy hike to a waterfall
Parking: Millard Campground. Lake Avenue to Loma Alta Drive. West to Chaney Trail Road. North to the campground.
Mount Wilson Toll Road
Trail head: Old Mount Wilson Toll Road, the top of Eaton Canyon, Pasadena
What's in store: The trail tops out at the 5,710-foot peak
Parking: Street parking at Alta Loma Drive and Crescent Drive. However, pay attention to the no-parking signage in the area. Or park in the Eaton Canyon Park parking lot and add an extra two miles to the trail.
Mount Waterman
Trail head: Buckhorn Campground
Distance: 5.8 miles
What's in store: Three peaks define the Mount Waterman trail, which affords a nice view of the San Gabriels. About a 1,500-foot elevation gain.
Parking: A dirt area just west of Buckhorn Campground. Drive Angeles Crest (2) Highway 38 miles to the site.
Pacific Crest
Trail head: Numerous spots along the backside of the San Gabriels
Distance: From the Mexican border to the Canadian border
What's in store: It's one of the three fabled treks across the United States. No bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail. About 300 people try to hike the entire length each year.
San Gabriel River East Fork
Trail head: End of East Fork Road. Take Highway 39 to East Fork bridge.
Distance: Eight miles.
Crossings: The trail can be sinister in the spring. There are at least 14 crossings. Five miles in is the Bridge to Nowhere. There are pristine fishing spots above the Narrows Campground.
Parking: A dirt lot is at the end of the road.
San Gabriel River West Fork
Trail head: Highway 39 West Fork bridge.
Distance: Cogswell Dam another eight miles.
Going on: At Cogswell, there are trails to the Devil's Canyon trail, which then connects to numerous other dirt trails. About two miles up the trail, the Lower Bear Creek Trail merges. The Upper portion of the trail, which finishes along the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, is currently impassable.
Parking: There is a paved parking lot to the north of the trail head, across the bridge. There is a small dirt parking area directly at the east of the trail head, on the south side of the highway.
Silver Moccasin
Trail head: Clear Creek
Distance: 53 miles
What's in store: Thousands of Boy Scouts have been on this trail, which earns them the coveted Silver Moccasin Award for its completion. Hikers can pick up the trail at various points for shorter trips.
Parking: Just past the Upper Chilao Picnic Area. Angeles Crest (2) Highway north 28 miles to the Chilao Visitors Center. Go left and past the picnic area.
Soldier Creek
Trail head: Soldier Creek at Highway 39
Distance: 2.25 miles
What's in store: It's a scramble up the creek to Lewis Falls with the trail disappearing in spots.
Parking: Highway 39. Go north to 2.4 miles past Coldbrook Campground. If you reach Falling Springs Resort, you've gone too far.
Vetter Mountain Lookout
Trail head: Charlton Flat Picnic Area
Distance: 2.2 miles
What's in store: A fire lookout, open on many weekends, is on this easy hike.
Parking: Charlton Flat Picnic Area, near pump house. Angeles Crest (2) Highway 23 miles north to Charlton Flat. Go left at the picnic area.
Vincent Gap to Mount Baden-Powell
Trail head: Sign at southwest corner of Vincent Gap
Distance: Eight miles
What's in store: The climb is one of the most popular for serious Southern California hikers. There are 2,000-year-old limber pine en route to the 9,399-foot peak, named after Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. A plaque at the peak honors him.
Parking: Vincent Gap. Angeles Crest (2) Highway for 53 miles.
Walnut Creek
Trail head: San Dimas Avenue and Orange (57) Freeway.
Distance: Four miles
What's in store: The trail follows Walnut Creek from Puddingstone Reservoir to just by the Eastland shopping center. There are sycamores and a couple of stream crossings.
Parking: There are numerous access points. One trail head is on San Dimas Avenue at the Orange (57) Freeway in San Dimas. Starting points are also at Valley Center Drive, Greer Ave? and Scarborough Ave? and Reeder Ave? and Puente Street? in Covina. There is no fee for parking.
Wildcat Loop
Trail head: Schabarum Regional Park
Distance: 2.3 miles
What's in store: There are many trails within the park. This one is popular in the evenings.
Other popular trails in the Puente Hills area: Powder Canyon (Old Fullerton Road near Pathfinder Road), Arroyo Pescadero (Colima Road, across from the Murphy Ranch Little League fields), Skyline (Colima Road and Azusa Avenue), Hellman Park (Greenleaf Ave? and Orange Street?), Sycamore Canyon (Workman Mill Road near Strong Avenue), Hacienda Hills (end of Seventh Avenue in Hacienda Heights).
Parking: 17250 E. Colima Road, Rowland Heights. The park is currently open from sunrise to 6 p.m. It's free on weekdays, $4 on weekends.
Phone: (626) 854-5560
-- Keith Lair
u.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,213~24341~2276977,00.html