Big Santa Anita Canyon

CHANTRY FLATS TO CAMP STURTEVANT 9+ mi round trip, 1400' elevation gain (gradual uphill going in) VERY SLOW paced hike through the beautiful Big Santa Anita Canyon. Lots of big-cone spruce, CA Laurels, canyon live oak, maple & alder trees. We will pass some old cabins and waterfalls on the way. Most of the hike is along a stream- very scenic! The first 20-30 minutes of the hike is a steep hill descending into the canyon- NOTE- we will have to walk back UP this hill on the way back (add another 500 feet or so of elevation for this)! We will take a side trip down the First Water Trail in the beginning of the hike to go to Hermit Falls (this adds about 1.5 miles to the hike which is usually 8 miles). We will have lunch at Camp Sturtevant, a very beautiful camp- with old cabins, a lodge, and mess hall (built in 1897). It is 4 miles from the camp back to the parking lot. It's a 6-7 hour hike round trip, depending on how fast the group is. Add another hour for a leisurely lunch break at the camp.

The trail is fairly smooth- not too rocky. It's not too difficult, but it IS UPHILL on the way in (and the hill at the very end of the hike). Please do not go if you have someplace you have to be by a certain time later that day/night- we do not want to have to rush back. Bring 2 quarts water, lunch, hiking boots, raincoat?, and warm clothes.

Rain does NOT cancel (unless it's a downpour)!!!!

****PLEASE ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR PARKING- the Chantry Flats parking lot can be a nightmare!! We sometimes have to park .5 mile from the parking lot because it is full. Sometimes they have optional paid parking to allow you to park closer to the trail head.

DIRECTIONS TO CHANTRY FLATS (TRAIL HEAD): From the SF valley: 134E 210E L (N) Santa Anita Av. will become Santa Anita Canyon Rd., winding up the mountain for 6 miles will end up in parking lot at Chantry Flats From the beach areas: 10E or 105E 110N L (N) Fair Oaks (in Pasadena) 210 E L (N) Santa Anita Av. will become Santa Anita Canyon Rd., winding up the mountain for 6 miles will end up in parking lot at Chantry Flats ***NOTE: allow 20-30 minutes for driving on Santa Anita Canyon Road (it's a windy mountain road), and another 20 minutes or so to park (the lot is often full by 8am- if so, you have to park at the bottom of a hill and hike up the hill to the trail head/parking lot). You WILL need an Adventure Pass (see home page for details on that).

WE WILL MEET IN THE LOWER PARKING LOT NEXT TO THE TRAIL HEAD (WHERE ALL THE HIKES START). I WILL HAVE A GREEN BACKPACK.