Subscribe
HIKE LOS ANGELES
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Griffith Park >
      • Mt. Hollywood
      • The Lonesome Pine
      • Bee Rock
      • Griffith Park Trail Run
      • Amir's Garden
      • Royce's Canyon
      • Hollywood Sign
      • Cahuenga Peak Hike
    • Santa Monica Mountains >
      • Escondido Canyon Hike
      • Inspiration Point Hike
      • Sandstone Peak Hike
      • The Grotto Hike
      • Calabasas Peak Hike
      • Paramount Ranch Hike
      • Fanklin Canyon Lake Loop Hike
    • San Gabriel Mtns./Angeles National Forest >
      • Sturtevant Falls Hike
      • Eaton Canyon Hike
      • Mt. Baldy Loop Hike
      • Echo Mountain Hike
      • Trail Canyon Waterfall Hike
      • Monrovia Canyon Waterfall Hike
      • San Gabriel Peak/Mt. Disappointment Hike
      • Mount Lowe Hike
      • Switzer Falls Hike
    • Verdugo Mountains >
      • Verdugo Peak
      • Mt. Thom Hike
      • Verdugo Sunset Hike
      • Cross of San Ysidro Sunrise Hike
    • Santa Susanna Mountains >
      • Oat Mountain Hike
      • Rocky Peak Hike
      • Don Mullally Trail Hike
      • Towsley View Loop Trail
  • Specialty Hikes
    • Sunrise/Sunset Hikes
    • Waterfall Hikes
    • Historic Hikes
    • Hollywood Sign
    • The 5 Peaks
  • Resources
  • Blog

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

PictureGolden 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.

PictureStation 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.

Picture
  Parking

          Park in the dirt lot opposite the trailhead signs.

Picture
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.

Picture
  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.
        

Picture
 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.        

Picture
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.

Picture
First Footbridge (.7 miles)

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

Picture
Second Footbridge (.8 miles)

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

Picture
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.

Picture
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.

Picture
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.

Picture
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.

Picture
  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.

Picture
  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.
Picture
Trail Canyon Trailhead
Picture
Trail Junction 1
Picture
Trail Junction 2
Picture
Lower Trail above Wash
Picture
Trail Junction 3
Picture
First Footbridge
Picture
Stream through Canyon
Picture
Trail through Wash
Picture
Upper Trail
Picture
Trail Canyon Falls
Picture
Trail Canyon below Falls

Trail Canyon Waterfall Hike Image Gallery
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.