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STURTEVANT FALLS HIKE
   
     DISTANCE: 3.4 Miles Roundtrip

     ELEVATION:  2200'
     ELEVATION GAIN:  440'

     TYPE: Out-and-Back
     HIKING TIME: 1.5 Hours
     RATING:  Mostly easy except for a steep .6 mile climb 

                      back to the parking lot, several benches provide
                      resting spots
     FEATURES: 50' waterfall, man-made water features, rustic
                           cabins, dense forest

TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS


Removed from the high rise towers of downtown Los Angeles by a mere 20 miles, hiking to the falls is like taking a step back in history.  Gold discovered in 1850 created a small flurry of interest around the canyon, but no ore of any consequence was removed from the area.  The canyon was later slated for logging, but the establishment of the Angeles National Forest preserved the canyon in its natural state.  The early part of the 20th century saw the construction of numerous cabins and hiker's hotels.  Of the 350 original cabins only about 80 remain today; the others having succumbed to floods and fire.  If you are looking for a true wilderness hike, you may find the rustic cabins and heavy crowds a bit disconcerting, but the historic nature of the canyon, the foliage and the water features make this a trip worth taking.
Click the full frame icon in the upper right corner for a larger map in a separate window.

Directions to Trailhead

Exit the 210 at Santa Anita Ave and head north for 1.7 miles.  N Santa Anita Ave will become Chantry Flats Road as you enter the national forest.  Make sure you have an Adventure Pass for parking.  Passes may be bought at the pack store at Chantry Flats.

Continue on Chantry Flats Road for 3.3 miles until you reach the Chantry Flats Recreation Area.

Parking at Chantry Flats requires an Adventure Pass.  Passes are $5/day or $30/yearly and can be purchased at the Adam's Pack Station in Chantry Flats or the National Forest Office at 701 N Santa Anita Ave in Arcadia on the south side of the 210.

Sturtevant Falls Trail Guide
Click for printable .pdf map and trail guide.

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Parking

          Park in the Chantry Flats Recreation Area Parking Lot.  Parking 
          requires an Adventure Pass and may be purchased at the 
          Adam's Pack Station.

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Rest Rooms & Water

          Rest Rooms and a water fountain are located at the trailhead at 
          the south end of the parking area.

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Adam's Pack Station

        The Adam's Pack Station, built in 1936, is the base of operations 
        for moving freight and supplies to the cabins along the Santa Anita
        Wash by pack animal as motorized vehicles are prohibited on the 
        footpath through the canyon.  The Adam's Pack Station is believed
        to be the last of its kind in the US.  Drinks and ice cream are 
        available for purchase, as are Adventure Passes for parking.

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Trailhead

        The trail begins on the steps by the rest rooms and descends 
        steeply for about .6 mile on a paved road.  Benches are located 
        roughly every .25 mile along this paved section, which come in 
        handy on the return trip.  There is little shade along this first 
        section of the trail, but that will change drastically once the 
        pavement ends.

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Trail Junction 1 - Hermit Falls Trail

        At just over .1 into the hike you will pass the trailhead for Hermit 
        Falls.  There is a great swimming hole on this trail and may be a 
        place to visit on a return to trip to Big Santa Anita Canyon.  
        Continue downhill on the paved road toward Robert's Camp.

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Trail Junction 2 - Roberts Camp

        At .6 mile you will cross a bridge and arrive at Robert's Camp.  
        Here you will find the first of the many cabins along the wash as 
        well as pit toilets.  Continue along the dirt road following signs for 
        the Gabrielino Trail and Sturtevant Falls.  The trail meanders 
        through this heavily forested canyon of Alder, Oak and Pine and 
        begins an easy uphill climb as it follows the Santa Anita Wash.  
        There are a few water crossings along this section that are mostly 
        dry throughout the year, but may have heavy water flows during 
        the late winter and spring months.  There are numerous damn 
        built along the wash which make for nice cascading man-made 
        waterfalls during the rainy season.

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Pit Toilets

          Pit toilets are available at Robert's Camp.

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Trail Junction - Fiddler's Crossing

        At 1.4 miles you will reach Fiddler's Crossing and the last of the 
        cabins on the wash. Here you will find the trailhead for the 
        Gabrielino Trail, both upper and lower sections, on your left.  Stay 
        on the main trail angling to your right, keeping the cabins on your 
        left and cross the Santa Anita Wash.  This is the only point during 
        my fall hike that I had to cross water of any quantity and some 
        easy rock hopping kept my feet dry.

        After crossing the wash at Fiddler's Crossing the trail becomes a 
        single-track.  This last section is about .3 mile according to my GPS,
        which felt about right, but a sign at Fiddler's Crossing indicated a 
        length of .5 mile.

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Pit Toilet

          About .2 mile past Fiddler's Crossing you will reach a back
          country pit toilet.  Use this only in an emergency as it was quite 
          foul. 

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End of Trail - Lower Falls

        A short distance past the pit toilet you will cross a boulder field and
        the falls will come into sight on your left.  Continue in a slight 
        counter-clockwise direction and you will reach the base of the falls.

        After you have spent some time enjoying the falls and the wading 
        pool at their base, you may notice some people peering down at 
        you from the top of the falls.  If you would like to take in the view 
        from above, backtrack to Fiddler's Crossing and the junction for 
        the Gabrielino Trail.  Take the Lower Gabrielino trail on your right 
        and continue for about .25 mile to reach the upper falls.

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Abandoned Cabin

        As you make your way to the upper falls, you will pass the chimney
        and rock foundation for an abandoned cabin on a knoll up to your 
        left.  This is a great spot to have a picnic or enjoy the solitude of 
        the woods.

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End of Trail - Upper Falls

        The approach to the falls is on a single-track trail, which hugs the 
        slope of the canyon with steep drop-offs, particularly at the falls, 
        so caution is urged.  The falls are seen from a higher vantage 
        point along the trail, and the pond below the falls can be seen 
        from almost directly above the falls.  You may be inclined to climb
        down into the wash for direct view of the falls from above, but this 
        is discouraged.  A slip here leaves little room for recovery, 
        especially during heavy water flows.

        When you are ready to return to the parking lot, make your way 
        back down the trail to Fiddler's Crossing and turn right.  It's an 
        easy downhill grade all the way to Robert's Camp where you 
        rejoin the paved road.  From here it's a steep .6 mile climb back 
        to the parking lot.  This is where you'll be thankful for those 
        benches!

        The Big Santa Anita Canyon has a multitude of trails that will keep
        you coming back, including the Hermit's Trail, the Winter Trail and 
        both sections of the Gabrielino Trail, with the lower portion being 
        particularly scenic.  Sturtevant Falls will get your feet wet with this 
        small bit of urban wilderness, but it's up to you to discover more.  
        All you have to do is start walking.

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Sturtevant Falls
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Big Santa Anita Canyon from Chantry Flats
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Trailhead
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Footbridge
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Santa Anita Wash
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Big Santa Anita Canyon
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Fiddler's Crossing
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Wash at Fiddler's Crossing
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Boulder Field
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Abandoned Cabin
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Lower Gabrielino Trail
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Upper Falls
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