Weekend Getaway

Climb every mountain

By Benjamin Acker
Staff Writer


ooking northward from campus--or virtually anywhere in the Los Angeles basin--you would be hard pressed not to see the rolling slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains. This range of foothills, mountain peaks, streams and valleys stretches 63 miles from the Pacific coastal plains to the east, where it joins the San Bernardino Mountains.
This mountain range provides an extraordinary number of activities for the weekend warrior. Hiking, horse-back riding, Rock-climbing, fishing, mountain biking, picnicking, swimming, back-packing, wildlife-viewing and nature photography are all distinct possibilities in the San Gabriels. The proximity of these mountains to the metropolitan area of Los Angeles makes them among the most utilized natural areas in the United States. Yet there are many pristine areas that remain relatively untouched by human encroachment, allowing visitors to leave the city behind and enjoy the natural splendor of these nearby mountains.
It is said that you could hike a different trail every day for 10 years in the San Gabriel Mountains and never pass the same spot twice. Although this might be an exaggeration, the many trails that criss-cross out local mountains provide great opportunities to see nature up close and personal.
There is a variety of wildlife in the San Gabriels. About 75 percent of the range is covered by chaparral, a thick blanket of thorny bushes and low-lying shrubs. Yucca, sage, scrub oak and manzanita plants cover the foothills, helping to prevent erosion and flowering into beautiful splashes of color during different times of the year.
A number of conifers grow above the chaparral areas. Incense cedar, sugar pine, white fir and big-cone spruce trees create entire forests. In lower valleys, bay trees, live oak and sycamore grow along the banks of streams at the bottoms of deep V-shaped canyons. Many of these streams hold stocked and native rainbow trout, making fishing an option.
Other animals in the San Gabriel Mountains include bobcats, squirrels, chipmunks, gray foxes, mule deer, skunks, raccoons, and even mountain lions, bighorn sheep and black bear. Many species of birds such as ravens, turkey vultures and scrub jays can be found throughout the range. Fence lizards, gopher snakes and western toads can also be spotted on occasion.
Access to the San Gabriel Mountains has greatly improved during this century. Angeles Crest Highway stretches from La Ca–ada deep into the Angeles National Forest. This two-lane highway makes many hiking and recreation areas accessible by car. Other trailheads are scattered along the foothills in Altadena, Pasadena, Arcadia and other communities at the base of the range.
Hiking in our local mountains is a rewarding experience and a wonderful escape from the troubles of city life. When smog chokes the valley below, the mountain air is always clean and fresh. The temperature in the San Gabriels is usually 15 to 30 degrees cooler than the basin, even in the middle of summer. The hikes themselves range from easy, level strolls up gently-sloping canyons with running streams like lower Eaton Canyon and Santa Anita Canyon to strenuous, steep climbs along the stony ridges of Waterman and Iron Mountain, the latter stretching over 10,000 feet above sea-level. But no matter where you choose to hike in our local mountains, there are a few rules and guidelines that will make the experience more enjoyable for you and for those that come after you.
Fire is possibly the greatest danger in the Angeles National Forest. The thick chaparral and stands of conifers can quickly be consumed by flames and take many years to grow back. Smoking is not permitted outside of vehicles and campgrounds, and campfires are only allowed in designated areas.
When hiking, do not litter, even if it is biodegradable material like orange peels and apple cores. It is common courtesy to pick up the trash you find and dispose of it later. The best rule of thumb is to try to leave the trail better than you found it, taking only photographs and leaving only footprints.
If possible, stay on the trail. Don't take "short-cuts"--they often speed erosion and can be dangerously unstable. Staying on the trail will almost always keep you from getting lost and will protect areas of delicate plant life that could be destroyed by one carelessly placed hiking boot.
Finally, check with local regulations before attempting to hike, horseback ride or mountain bike. Some trails and wilderness areas prohibit mountain bikes and vehicular travel. Other trails require you to sign in at the trailhead, and a few areas require permits. These regulations are established for the safety of visitors and to keep the wilderness in good condition.
Now that you know the rules, the following is a listing of just a few of the hiking opportunities in the San Gabriel Mountains, and what other activities can be enjoyed in these areas. Although hikes in our local mountains can trek over 20 miles and last several days, this list contains trips of a day or less.
Angeles Crest Highway
The northernmost portion of California State Highway 2, Angeles Crest Highway snakes into the heart of the San Gabriel Mountains. Since its construction earlier this century, areas that once required a three-day hike to reach are now accessible in an hour by car. While this has lead to greater pressure on the wilderness area, it has also made getting to some of the most beautiful parts of Southern California possible for an afternoon picnic or a leisurely stroll.
Angeles Crest Highway runs adjacent to many areas that offer excellent opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing and back-packing. There are scores of wonderful hikes that stem from this highway, including many that travel through alpine forests and areas that are covered with many feet of snow in the winter.
To get to Angeles Crest Highway from Campus, take the 110 Harbor freeway north to Interstate 5 freeway north. After about a mile, take the Glendale Freeway (highway 2) north. After about 10 miles, take the 210 Foothill freeway east toward Pasadena. The Angeles Crest Highway offramp will be on your right. At the top of the offramp, turn left. Remember to get plenty of gasoline and provisions before you enter the mountains--there are no gas stations or stores once you pass the offramp.
Switzer Picnic Area to Switzer Falls
The Switzer Picnic area is accessible by car from the Angeles Crest Highway. The hike is a four-mile round-trip, and since it is an easy hike, it is a great hike for beginners.
Drive up Angeles Crest Highway about 10.5 miles from La Ca–ada to the Switzer Picnic area road. From the picnic area, cross the bridge and hike down the canyon. Follow the trail across the stream to the fork in the trail. Take the left fork down into the ravine of the Arroyo Seco below the falls. When you get to the creek, go upstream to Switzer Falls. This is a great spot to have a picnic at the base of the 50-foot waterfall, but do not attempt to climb the falls, as they can be slippery and dangerous. Traveling downstream will take you past a number of small pools in the babbling brook beneath a canopy of oak and maple trees.
Altadena to Henninger Flats
From campus, take the 110 Harbor Freeway north to the Pasadena 110 freeway north. Exit at Orange Grove Boulevard, and turn left. After four miles, take the 210 Foothill freeway east about four miles, exit at Altadena Drive and turn left towards the mountains. Drive five miles through Pasadena and Altadena and turn right on Pinecrest Drive in Altadena, where the trailhead can be found.
Pass the locked gate and hike across the bridge of Eaton Canyon. The trail is the old Mt. Wilson Toll road, and used to be a long dirt-road drive up to the Mount Wilson Observatory. Today, the road is free, and serves as a hiking, horseback riding and fire-control road for visitors to the mountains. This hike is a moderate climb of 1400 feet elevation change, and is a five-mile round trip. Chaparral-covered mountains comprise much of the view, but at the top is Henninger Flats, where the first scientific experiments in reforestation were attempted. Visitors to the Flats will be welcomed by shady spruce and cedar trees, as well as a tree nursery that produces around 120,000 seedling trees per year. There is also drinking water, a short nature trail and a visitor center that is opened on weekends at Henninger Flats.
Chantry Flats to Sturtevant Waterfall
From the 210 Foothill freeway east in Pasadena (see above) travel east about 10 miles and exit at Santa Anita Avenue and turn left towards the mountains. Drive north about six miles to Chantry Flats. This hike is very easy, and it is good for beginners. It is a three-mile round trip that travels through a green canyon to the base of a 50 foot waterfall.
From Chantry Flats, take the Gabrielino Trail into Big Santa Anita Canyon. You will pass a number of private cabins and stands of ferns, oak trees and alders. This is another great hike to take a picnic lunch and relax in the shade at the base of the falls.
No matter where you hike, make sure that you are safe, take plenty of water, and follow forest regulations.