(Trekker Series 4) Switzer Falls and Bear Canyon Water Holes

This event is to replace the Grotto Falls hike cancelled due to fire.

Organizer: Mike Cheng

Hike assistant: Christopher Hughes, Hex C.

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Location: Switzer Falls Picnic Area

Hike Difficulty: Moderate, mostly Level 3/10

Distance: 6 miles

Elevation Gain: 600'

Time: 3 hours

Trail condition: Single file trail, mostly shaded (We will cross Arroyo Seco Creek numerous times and swim in it. )

Water: Minimum 2 liter (4 bottles)

Dog: Dog on leash

Toilette: At the trail head

Parking: Public parking, Adventure Pass required

Please use the parking lot next to the entrance by the Angeles Crest HWY. Lower parking lot next to the picnic area will likely be full.

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Direction: Take Angeles Crest Highway (2) north from La Canada for 10 miles. Turn right at the junction of Angeles Crest and Angeles Forest (N3) Highways, and you will see the Angeles National Forest Clear Creek Infomation Station on your right. A halft-mile past the station, you will see the Switzer Falls Picnic Area sign on the right. Drive down the access road to reach the parking.

What to bring: water, hat, sunscreen, swimsuit, hiking boots, and the usual stuff.

This is intended to be a wet hike. That said, you can stay dry if you wish (but that would be so much less fun).

This is a social hike for fun-loving people.

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Trail Descriptions:

The Arroyo Seco Creek is a quiet and beautiful stream, lined with colonnades of alder, live oak and mountain lilac clinging to the narrow sides of the gorge, cascades over boulders of big gray granite. A hike through the upper Arroyo Seco will take us to the Switzer Falls.

After we rest our body and soul at the pool beneath the Fall, we will hike down the gorge to Bear Canyon, where we plan to visit 3 pools carved out of granite. In these pools, we will leave the world outside behind, enjoy ourselves or simply rest and soak in the beautiful surronding.

Link to photos taken last time. https://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/photos/10864762/

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Warning:

If you have prior medical condiction or a family history of illnesses pertaining to heart, lungs, brain, etc. that can be aggravated by heat and physical exertion, this is not the hike for you.

If you have never done a hike of this distance or difficulty before, this hike will be very difficult for you. It may well be your death march. The mountain is not going anywhere. We will schedule this event again in the future. Do it when your mind and body are ready.

Hiking is a recreation, not a suicide mission.

Release of Liability:

The organizer (me) of this trip is a volunteer and is not a professional guide. The function of the organizer is only to organize this trip. Each person who signs up for a trip/hike/or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests.

By signing up for this trip, or any other event organized by me, 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 (me) of this hike from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities.

In addition, you and your guests are acknowledging that you agree to the Meetup terms of service especially paragraph 6.2: https://www.meetup.com/terms/

Profile Photo:

Members interested in joining this hike must have a profile photo showing his/her face. This is a requirement of the L.A. Hiking Group. Without it, you will not be allowed to sign up.