Trail Canyon Waterfall Hike

TRAIL CANYON WATERFALL HIKE

DISTANCE: 3.7 Miles Roundtrip
ELEVATION: 2600'
ELEVATION GAIN: 700'
TYPE: Out and Back
HIKING TIME: 1.5 Hours
RATING: Moderate
FEATURES: 40' Seasonal Waterfall

TRAIL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Golden Creek, Trail Canyon

As a coastal community, the Los Angeles area boasts plenty of sand, sea and sunshine activities, and the surrounding mountains offer a myriad of hiking opportunities to commune with nature. Due to the arid environment, however, natural water features such as streams and waterfalls can be hard to come by. It’s not that they don’t exist, but it takes a little more effort to find these hidden gems. Some water courses flow year round, while others only dazzle during the brief rainy season in the winter and early spring months. One such cascade is the Canyon Trail Waterfall located on the western edge of the San Gabriel Mountains near Tujunga, CA.

This 40’ beauty is located approximately 2 miles in on the Trail Canyon Trail. The trail starts in the dirt parking area near several private cabins and follows a fire road for about .75 mile before becoming a single-track trail. The single-track winds through the lower Trail Canyon, crossing Golden Creek a number of times. Wider sections of the creek are crossed on footbridges, while smaller sections are forded on foot. The riparian creek bed, populated with sycamore and oak, stands in stark contrast to the chaparral dotted walls of the canyon.

Station Fire Damage, Trail Canyon

At just over a mile, the canyon opens up into a large wash. Much of this area was decimated by the Station Fire in 2009, and the trail can be hard to follow. Keep to the left and look for a cluster of oak trees at you 11 o’clock position, as the trail runs right past this cluster. From here, the trail is well delineated and begins to climb the canyon walls away from the creek. Your first view of the falls will be in about .5 mile. In the fall, the deciduous trees along the creek below may be ablaze with color and is a beautiful sight in itself.

Just before you reach the falls, there is a short, but steep spur trail that leads to the bottom of the falls and a very small wading pool. The foliage at the bottom may be very thick and some boulder scrambling is required, but is worth the effort to gaze up at the moss covered, horseshoe shaped walls. Continuing on the main trail above, you will reach a great overlook of the falls for some fantastic picture opportunities. A short distance beyond the overlook affords the chance to cross the upper creek and visit the head of the falls.

The Trail Canyon Falls can flow throughout the year, but summer months may see little more than a trickle. The best time is right after a rainfall when water flows will be heavier. Late fall adds some vibrant color to the lower creek bed, whereas early winter months can be bare. Late winter and early spring brings a lush green to the canyon, dotted with colorful wildflowers.

Click the full frame icon in the upper right corner for a larger map in a separate window.

Directions to Trailhead

19600 North Trail Canyon Road
Angeles National Forest
Tujunga, CA 91042

From the 210 Freeway, exit at Sunland Blvd. and head north. Just past the Ralph's Supermarket (approximately .4 mile), Sunland becomes Foothill Blvd. Continue straight on Foothill Blvd for another .4 mile to Oro Vista Ave. and turn left. Follow Oro Vista for .88 mile where it makes a sharp right turn and becomes Big Tujunga Canyon Road. Continue on Big Tujunga for 4.4 miles and turn left onto North Trail Canyon Road/Forest Route 3N29. North Trail Canyon Road is a dirt road and not well marked, so watch for it. In .2 mile North Trail Canyon Road and the Forest Route diverge. Take the fork on the right and continue for about .5 mile to the parking area.

Trail Canyon Waterfall Hike Trail Guide
Click for printable .pdf map and trail guide.

Parking

Park in the dirt lot opposite the trailhead signs.

Trailhead

Follow the sign post past the trailhead information signs along N
Trail Canyon Road to the yellow metal gate. Pass around the gate
and continue on N Trail Canyon Road. The first trail junction is
just under .1 miles ahead.

Trail Junction 1 (.07 mile)

Bear left and stay on the main road, hiking past a stone barbecue
pit on your right. Continue .2 to the next trail junction, hiking along
the upper perimeter of the Trail Canyon Wash.

Trail Junction 2 (.27 mile)

A dirt road veers off the trail to the left and downhill between two
oak trees. You should follow the trail marker and continue straight
on the main road, heading uphill. Just past the trail marker you will
pass a thin metal sign post indicating the trail is not maintained past
this point. Fear not. With the exception of a very short section of the
upper wash, the trail is easily followed. Continue approximately .38
mile to the next trail junction.

Trail Junction 3 (.68 mile)

The trail appears to hairpin at this point, but following the hairpin
leads to the ruins of several cabins destroyed in the 2009 Station
Fire. Resist the urge to hairpin and continue straight toward the tall
dead pine. You will see the trail drop down from the curve of the
hairpin. Here you will descend into the wash and for the next .75
mile or so, you will be following the creek bed in the Trail Canyon
Wash, fording the stream at several points.

First Footbridge (.7 miles)

A wider section of the creek is crossed via a footbridge fashioned
from several logs wrapped with metal fencing.

Second Footbridge (.8 miles)

Cross the stream again on a second footbridge comprised of two
logs and packed mud. (Position is approximate)

The Wash Boulder Field (1.1 miles)

The closeness of the canyon opens up as you enter a wide section
of wash covered in boulders. This is a newer section of trail, with
the original trail running parallel to your right. The original trail was
mostly lost following the 2009 Station Fire. Because this trail is no
longer maintained, it can be difficult to follow in about 250 feet. You
will want to cross the creek on your left and begin climbing on the
upper trail. If you are unsure, look for the cluster of oak trees at your
10 or 11 o'clock position. The trail runs right past them. Once you
pick up the trail again, it is well delineated.

Cluster of Oak Trees (1.17 miles)

As you reach the top of the wash, the trail becomes less defined. If
you are unsure of where to go, look for this cluster of oak trees. The
trail runs right past them. Follow the hairpin turn directly ahead and
stay on the trail with the rusted metal guard rails. There is a spur trail
off the hairpin curve that leads to a false, mostly dry waterfall that is
often mistaken for the Trail Canyon Falls.

False Waterfall (1.2 miles)

There is a waterfall located here that can pull you off the main trail.
This fall is usually dry except immediately following a heavy rain.
Other times it is a mere trickle or completely dry. Even so, it is easy
to step off the trail onto a spur trail leading to this dry fall. Stay on
the hairpin curve and look for the metal guard rails so you know
you are on the right trail.

First View (1.7 miles)

As you make this 90° turn you can hear the falls and should get
your first view as you round the corner.

Top of the Falls (1.85 miles)

Congratulations! You've reached the top of Trail Canyon Falls.
Continuing on the main trail a short distance will allow you to cross
the creek and reach the head of the falls directly. Bear in mind the
rocks are slippery and you should not venture out onto the falls
themselves. Help is a long ways away and there is no cell phone
service in the canyon.

Base of the Falls

About 200' before the Top of the Falls Lookout, you will pass a
steeply descending spur trail that leads to the base of the falls
and a small wading pool surrounded by the moss covered walls
of Trail Canyon. Attempt this trail at your discretion and use
extreme caution.

Click any photo below for a larger lightbox image.