Bear Creek via Smith Saddle

This is a 12-13 mile hike--- one-way with a car shuttle (1200 foot gain in the 1st 3 miles, then approximately 2800 foot drop the rest of the way).

After meeting at CVS in Azusa (directions above), we will drive about 30 minutes up the 39 to the West Fork parking area. We will leave one or more cars there, then continue (6 miles?) up 39 to the trailhead. From there we will hike up Smith Saddle (about 3 miles up switchbacks) and then back down into the canyon to Upper Bear Creek. We will EXPLORE a little north of Smith Saddle, then go back south all the way to Lower Bear Creek and then along the West Fork (of the San Gabriel River) to the West Fork parking area. From there someone will finish the car shuttle by driving the owners of the cars to their cars left at the trailhead where we started.

This area is really RUGGED AND BEAUTIFUL- truly the Wild Wild West! Lots of stream crossings and lots of rock hopping. This hike takes LOTS OF ENERGY SINCE WE WILL HIKE 9-12 HOURS and it is rocky and wet! We will be along the river the whole time. When we get to Upper Bear Creek (north of the Smith Saddle trail) we'll do some exploring. I'd like to find a waterfall and narrow gorge that I found once and haven't been able to find the last 3 times I went in there! We will go SLOW!!!!! WE MAY HIKE THE LAST HOUR IN THE DARK! (the last hour isn't that difficult, though- and the last 30 minutes are along a paved fire road along the West Fork).

Caution: There are rattlesnakes and mountain lions! Plenty of poison oak!

BRING: AT LEAST 2 quarts water, plenty of food, hat and sunscreen, bathing suit (optional), warm clothes, shoes or hiking boots THAT CAN GET WET, flashlight or headlamp, dry bags (if you have them- for when we go exploring). SEE PICTURES UNDER BEAR CREEK PHOTO ALBUMS.