Hike to Fish Canyon Falls

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The is rated as an "easy" hike, but it is a HIKE, not a walk around the Rose Bowl. There will be hills, rocky, uneven trail, (easily avoidable) Poison Oak and whatever else nature has to offer.

THE HIKE: Fish Canyon to Fish Canyon Falls offers a splendid hike. The 80-foot, three-tier waterfalls is one of the very best in the San Gabriels, when in season. The sparkling creek dances and bubbles over boulders and is often graced with quite pools. Abundant sycamore, bay, bigleaf maples, alder, willow, and live oak provide refreshing shade in many sections along the trail. Lush ferns, poison oak, and other green plants create a tropical feel. The rugged, chaparral-covered canyon walls rise steeply above you. Easy access has been block for many years by quarry operations, but Vulcan Materials now extended access to the trailhead via a newly constructed access trail across the quarry plus a nice sized parking lot.

DIRECTIONS: From the I-210 Foothill Freeway, traveling west: exit at Irwindale Avenue in Irwindale. Turn right (north) and go 0.2 mile. Turn left (west) on Foothill Blvd.(which becomes Huntington Dr. at the San Gabriel River) and go 0.7 mile to Encanto Parkway. Turn right (north). From the I-210 Foothill Freeway, traveling east (or the I-605 traveling north): Exit Mt. Olive Avenue in Duarte. Turn right (east) on Huntington Drive and go 0.6 mile to Encanto Parkway. Turn left (north). Drive north on Encanto Parkway. You will see Fish Canyon Rd. entering from your left at a stop sign - DO NOT TURN LEFT - continue straight ahead. At 1.3 miles you'll pass the entrance to Encanto Equestrian Center (marked with a yellow sign), a dirt road going off to the left. Fish Canyon Rd. continues to the right. In another 0.2 mile there will be a dirt parking lot on the left side of the road. continue another 0.25 mile past this trailhead parking lot to the Vulcan gate (4099 Fish Canyon Rd. Duarte) There is a sign to the right of the gate that says "Trail" - follow the parking lot access road to the right. Find a place to park and meet us at the entrance to the trail near the handicapped parking.

I have some carpool space from Pasadena, please let me know if you are interested.

WHAT TO BRING: Comfortable hiking shoes, ample water, snacks, sunscreen(?) and maybe some Ivy Block (or have Technu soap available when you get home). Most articles warn of the abundant Poison Oak, but it is easily avoided if you are careful.

STATS:This is an easy hike of about 5.2 miles (round trip) with an elevation gain of about 900 ft. Please be advised - this is hiking on trails - not a stroll through the mall. There are hills and rocks and a couple of narrow places.

QUESTIONS: Any questions regarding this hike, please contact me at leetracy2@att.net

The Organizer, Assistant Organizers and event hosts in this group are not professional guides. The function of the organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests. By signing up for a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging. that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers and event hosts of this Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities