Hike at Monrovia Canyon Park--Ben Overtuff Trail

We're going to Ben Overtuff Trail hike. It is 9 miles RT (from where we park) and 2,000 feet elevation gain. This is a hard hike. Not for beginners. The first 2 1/2 miles are on an open paved roads (cars are allowed here, so you need to be aware of cars) with not much shade. But it will get very scenic with a lot of shady trees and streams. Monrovia Canyon Park considers the trail to be a 7 mile loop that includes the portion of Sawpit Canyon Fire Road between the Park and Deer Park Junction.

This hike has a bathroom!

I've done part of this hike. I haven't done the whole hike so some of it will be an exploratory hike for me. I'll bring a map.

http://hikertechnologies.com/mcp_trails.htm

http://tchester.org/sgm/trails/overturff.html

Meeting spot:

Meet at the corner of Ridgeside and Canyon Blvd. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=N.+Canyon+Blvd+and+Ridgeside+Dr,+Monrovia,+CA&sll=34.166847,-117.99435&sspn=0.003196,0.004452&ie=UTF8&ll=34.171317,-117.988744&spn=0.012782,0.01781&z=16) at 12:00 PM. Leave at 12:15 PM.

This meeting spot is outside the park.

Why this hike sounds neat?

1. Check out the pictures here: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/LzxmfVZMvU43zL-9yuiRGw?select=16Py-VkcAmIQHNmUy4Zt4w

2. Deers are frequent here. We saw several deer here last time!

Description:

Overview: Monrovia Canyon Park is an 80-acre wilderness park hosting great diversity inherent to this region, including riparian, oak woodland, and chaparrel ecosystems. The Ben Overturff Trail is named for a historical Monrovian who made these canyons and Deer Park a popular recreation area in the early 1900s. The reconstructed trail follows the original path as much as possible through Sawpit, Sycamore and Twin Springs canyons.

Parking:

To avoid the $5.00 parking fee or to hike after hours, drive to the intersection of Canyon Drive and Ridgeside Drive (about 100 yards short of the Canyon Park three-foot tall monument sign). A big sign reading "Oak Woods" sits on the northwest corner. It's 0.6 mile from here to the park entrance. Park below this intersection on Canyon Drive. Be alert for the no-parking signs.

Don't park in the park because they lock the gate at 5 PM.

Map for driving directions:

http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/images/MonroviaMap.gif

What to Bring:

Bring 3 quarts of water.

Shoes with good traction (perhaps hiking boots).

Long pants & shirts with long sleeves due to ticks and poison oak.

Park Rules

Parking Fee is required (Sorry, this is a City Park - Adventure Passes are not applicable.)

No alcohol No smoking No portable barbecues No firearms or weapons Dogs must be on a leash No collecting of natural items Driving Directions to Canyon Park
Off the 210 Freeway, exit Myrtle Avenue, drive through Old Town Monrovia to Foothill Blvd, turn right, go two lights to Canyon Blvd, turn left, drive through residential area for about 1 mile staying to the right, turn right into Canyon Park at the 3-foot-tall sign.

Nature Center
The Nature Center contains displays of local flora and wildlife indigenous to Canyon Park. Learn about the early history of the Canyon residents, and the present day natural hazards in visiting a wilderness environment.

Wilderness Hazards

Visitors to Monrovia Canyon Park should respect and avoid these members of the wilderness community. Rattlesnakes - The Southern Pacific Rattlesnake is usually grayish brown with dark blotches on its back. The dark skin pattern is broken up by narrow, yellowish, diamond shaped lines. Its tail will rattle as an alarm as it gets older. It will not attack, but if disturbed or cornered, it will defend itself. It is an important member of the natural community eating rodents, lizards, toads, and insects. Snakes come out of hibernation when temperatures reach about 70 degrees.

What to do if you encounter a snake:
• Stop
• Locate the snake.
• Move away slowly
• Report sighting to Canyon Park Staff
• If bitten, stay calm, seek medical attention immediately

Poison Oak
Leaves of three, let it be
It's no joke it's poison oak!

This very common plant with leaflets in groups of three can appear as a vine, bush or spindly plant. Leaf color can vary from green to yellow and red. The leaves and even the bare stems found in wintertime contain an oil, which can irritate human skin. Petting a contaminated dog can transfer the oils to a human. An itchy rash lasts approximately for two weeks.

What do you do if you touch Poison Oak?

• Wash the area with soap and water at the first opportunity
• Check your pharmacy or doctor for medications

Ticks - This common year-round blood feeding bug is about an 1/8 of an inch or smaller in size with eight legs. Ticks do not fly, jump, or drop from trees. They climb on the tips of vegetation along trails or paths, and wait for an animal or human to brush up against them so they can attach themselves. A very low percentage of ticks may carry Lyme disease.

What do you do if you are exposed to ticks?

Do a Tick Check. Exam yourself and others in your group for any hitch-hiking ticks. Especially, check socks, pants, and neck areas. If a tick is attached, place fine-point tweezers around the tick's mouthparts, as close to the skin as possible, and gently pull the tick out. Wash area thoroughly. Call your doctor regarding potential treatment for tick bites.